Fastest qualifier The Lion Kingg has been set at the 5-2 morning line favorite in Saturday's $223,000 restricted Grade 3 Sires’ Cup Futurity at Retama Park.

© Jack Coady Photography

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

SELMA, TX–AUGUST 12, 2025–Retama Park will host the $223,000 restricted Grade 2 Sires’ Cup Futurity on Saturday, August 16, featuring a competitive field of 2-year-olds sired by participating stallions who earned their berths in the August 1 trials.

The 350-yard final is carded as Race 10, with an approximate post time of 10:24 p.m. (CDT). First post for the evening’s program is 6:15 p.m.

The 5-2 morning line favorite is the fastest qualifier The Lion Kingg, a Louisiana-bred gelding by champion Tempting Dash out of Tres of Jess by Tres Seis. Bred by Ross Roark he was purchased for $97,000 at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.

Owned by J.A. Racing LLC and trained by Dimas Sanchez, The Lion Kingg is undefeated in three starts, including a driving win in his trial where he posted an 93 speed index while holding off Fire Chilitos.

Ridden in all starts by Nestor Duran, his victories also include a 330-yard allowance at Retama and a maiden score at Sam Houston.

Second choice on the morning line at 3-1 is The Valiant Flame, a Texas-bred filly by The Louisiana Cartel out of Valiant Flame by Valiant Hero, bred and owned by Torres Buildings.

Trained by Brian Stroud and ridden by Jose Herbert, she comes into the final off a sharp trial win, dueling throughout to earn the second fastest qualifying time and her second victory from four starts. Earlier this year, she captured a maiden race at Sam Houston before finishing runner-up in an allowance and a trial where she qualified for the Grade 3 John Deere Juvenile Challenge.

At 9-2, Prize Time Lelo is another strong contender. The Texas-bred colt is by Pyc Prize Time out of Cosmo Lela by Cosmograph, bred and owned by Jose Edelio Cantu Jr.

Trained by Juan Isidro Cantu and to be ridden by Froylan T. Ramirez, Prize Time Lelo is perfect in two starts at 350 yards, including a dominant trial victory by over a length with a 90 speed index. His four-race record shows three wins and a maiden-breaking debut in April at Sam Houston.

With a lucrative purse and a lineup of proven trial performers, Saturday’s Sires’ Cup Futurity promises a thrilling finish to the summer juvenile stakes calendar at Retama Park.

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