Eye Will Decide is headlining the $50,000 restricted Grade 2 Benny Pennington Memorial Stakes at 5-2 on the morning line.

© Jack Coady Photography

By StallioneSearch

SELMA, TX–JULY 21, 2025–A competitive field of accredited Texas-breds is set to square off in the $50,000 restricted Grade 2 Benny Pennington Memorial Stakes at Retama Park on Friday, July 25. The 870-yard event for three-year-olds and up is carded as Race 9 with a scheduled post time of 9:51 p.m. (CDT).
The race is part of a stakes-filled Texas Summer Showdown Series of races at Retama on Friday, where first post is 6:15 p.m..

Headlining the field at 5-2 on the morning line is Eye Will Decide, a 7-year-old gelding by Majestic Cartel out of Valiant Lil Lady by Valiant Hero. Bred in Texas by owner Bryon Gardner, Eye Will Decide enters off a narrow loss in the Jesse Yoakum Memorial Stakes at Sam Houston, where he dueled gamely to miss by a head while earning a 96 Speed Index.

Prior to that, he posted an easy front-running three-length allowance win on May 29. Trained by Adan Guzman, the bay gelding will again team up with Froylan Ramirez, who guided him to both recent efforts.

Eye Will Decide has banked $180,520 in his 28-race career and has excelled going the 870-yard distance with five wins and three placings from 13 attempts.

Second choice at 7-2 is Gladiator, a consistent 6-year-old gelding by Flyin Color out of Bling Bling Bok by Boknaai. Bred, owned, and trained by John Boegner, Gladiator was a dominant winner in his July 17 comeback, drawing away by nearly four lengths in an 870-yard allowance at Retama.

He previously hit the board in back-to-back starts at Lone Star, including a strong third in October’s optional claiming test. Adrian X. Morales retains the mount on the veteran, who boasts three wins and four additional top-three finishes in 22 starts with $52,009 in career earnings.

The 9-2 third choice is Gjr Rooster, a 4-year-old gelding by This Is An Eagle out of the Thoroughbred mare Granny Grump by A Little Illegal. Bred in Texas by Gerald Rich and purchased for $15,500 at the TQHA Yearling Sale, Gjr Rooster is owned by Richard Young, Joe David Yates, and trainer Zack Stinebaugh.

He’s been a model of consistency this year, finishing third in the June 14 Jesse Yoakum Memorial and third in the Q-Racing Video Distance Challenge at Sam Houston in May. Jockey Ali Rivera, aboard for both those efforts, has the return call. Gjr Rooster has hit the board in 10 of 15 lifetime starts while earning $54,974.

The Benny Pennington Memorial, named in honor of the respected Texas horseman, drew a full field of eight. The race will be run around the turn at 870 yards on the main track.

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