La Cholula And Ima Chili Dead Heat For Victory In $41,250 Karen Utecht Memorial At Lone Star Park

La Cholula and Ima Chili delivered a thrilling finish Saturday night at Lone Star Park, battling to a dead heat for first place in the $41,250 Karen Utecht Memorial Stakes. The two Chilitos offspring crossed the wire together in :17.711, each earning a 90 speed index in the 350-yard contest for Paints and Appaloosas.

La Cholula, ridden by J.R. Ramirez Jr., broke third before settling into fourth early. The four-year-old filly rallied strongly through the final yards, engaging Ima Chili in a late duel as the pair reached the wire together.

Owned and bred by Isabel Huitron and trained by Shae Cox, La Cholula was a $16,000 repurchase at the TQHA Yearling Sale before selling for $18,000 at the Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale. She is sired by Chilitos and is out of the Shazoom mare Trampstamp.

Saturday's victory improved La Cholula's career record to 11-5-0-0 and boosted her lifetime earnings to $53,226. Earlier this season, she captured the G.C.F.A. Paint & Appaloosa Maturity.

Ima Chili, the 8-5 favorite, overcame a slight stumble at the start under jockey Roman Huerta. Breaking fourth, the four-year-old gelding advanced into third before launching a late bid and engaging La Cholula in a determined stretch duel. Neither runner could gain a decisive advantage, resulting in the dead heat.

Owned by Darrell Hooper and trained by Zackery Rios, Ima Chili was bred in Texas by Sarah Huskey. The gelding is also sired by Chilitos and is out of the Executive Menace mare Im Not Hillary.

The victory added to an accomplished career for Ima Chili, who now has a record of 27-9-4-6 and $267,768 in earnings. Earlier this season, he finished second in the Sam Houston Classic Stakes (G2). His impressive 2025 campaign included victories in the B.F. Phillips Jr. Stakes (G2), Dr. Glenn Blodgett Stakes, Silver Bullet Stakes and Sam Houston 250 Stakes.

Rosario Tijeras finished third under Claudio Aguilar for owner and breeder Sarah Huskey and trainer Esteban Rubio. Breaking second, the four-year-old filly remained close to the early leaders before improving her position in the final stages. She finished just a head behind the dead-heating winners, stopping the clock in :17.736 and earning a 90 speed index.

The homebred filly is sired by Boknaii and is out of the View Me Flying mare Tres Miracles. Rosario Tijeras now has a career record of 18-3-5-4 and $60,553 in earnings. Last season, she finished second in both the Karen Utecht Memorial Stakes (G1) and Colors of the Alamo Paint & Appaloosa Maturity.

Jackson Davis 747 finished fourth, followed by Mrs Pyc Painted Nova, Just An Eagle, Cholulaa, Vp Dash For Texas, Moonpike and Vp Gravel Pit Dancer. I Do Not Recall was scratched.

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