Dr Pepper 123 has been set at 2-1 as the morning line favorite in Saturday's $205,300 Retama Park Derby on Friday, July 18, at Retama Park

© Jack Coady Photography

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

SELMA, TX–JULY 22, 2025–A talented cast of 10 three-year-olds is set to contest the 400-yard $205,300 Retama Park Derby on Saturday, July 26, at Retama Park, with first post time at 6:15 p.m. (CDT).

Headlining the field is the 2-1 morning-line favorite Graded Stakes Winner Dr Pepper 123, who brings a strong resume into Race 9.

Owned and bred in Texas by Mary Lou Zoeller, Dr Pepper 123 has shown top-class form in 2025 with three wins from four starts, including a gritty score in the $275,000 Sam Houston Derby (G3) on June 14.

Trained by J.W. Plunkett and ridden by Noe Villatoro, the son of second-crop sire Chilitos out of My Glory Dash by Shazooms Glory Dash enters off a sharp trial win on July 2, clocking 400 yards in 19.681, a 104 speed index on a muddy surface. He’s banked over $142,000 lifetime and appears to be peaking at the right time.

Also drawing attention is Dk Marney Jess (4-1), a multiple graded stakes winning filly with a remarkable 9-for-12 record and earnings of $561,063.

Owned by CH Horse Racing LLC, trained by Patrick Clemons, and piloted by top rider Nestor Duran, the daughter of Apollitical Jess—bred in Mexico by Cuadra La Presita—was third in the Grade 2 Heritage Place Oaks earlier this year and exits a commanding trial win in 19.934, a 102 speed index. Her consistency and experience make her a major contender.

She was third in the Grade Heritage Place Oaks at Remington Park in May and second in the Dash For Cash Futurity(G2) last fall.

Another rising star is Apolitical Time (9-1), a colt by leading sire Apollitical Jess out of Breitling Time by Fishers Dash, bred by Flag Ranch LLC and purchased for $87,000 at the Ruidoso Select Sale.

Representing Jimenas Ranch and trained by Raul Ramirez, he will be ridden by Esgar Ramirez. Apolitical Time scored impressively in his trial with a time of 19.975, a 101 speed index, rebounding from a sixth-place finish in the Heritage Place Derby (G2) final. Third in the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby in March, he has shown improvement and maturity this summer.

Supporting cast members include El Senador Tequila (5-1), runner-up to Dr Pepper 123 in the trials. The Fly Thru the Fire gelding is owned by Joe Ruiz Jr., trained by Santiago Riojas Jr., and bred in California by Steve D. Burns DVM. He was a $27,000 Heritage Place yearling and is a past winner of the Gillespie County Futurity.

The race also features solid contenders like Monty Cristo (30-1), a Favorite Cartel gelding bred in Oklahoma and purchased for $65,000; and Texas Temper (10-1), a Tempting Dash gelding bred by Garlyn O. Shelton and bought for $45,000 at the TQHA Yearling Sale.

The Retama Park Derby is carded as Race 9 with an approximate post time of 9:51 p.m., offering wagering options including Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, and Daily Double.

All qualified finalists will carry 125 lbs. as they vie for one of the richest titles of the Retama summer season.

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