Favorites blanked at Retama

Favorites were shut out in all six of the restricted stakes that made up the annual Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame night at Retama Park near San Antonio. The final straw came in the featured $100,000 Texas Hall of Fame Stakes, when Rare Cure outgamed Shakethemhatersoff and favorite Desert Darby for a neck win in the mile and a sixteenth turf race. Together, the stakes made for the richest night of racing this meet at Retama.

Rare Cure, who paid $7.20 as second choice, ran to the sharp work he had posted leading into the Hall of Fame. He broke well in the race, challenged for the lead, and outdueled Shakethemhatersoff in the stretch, covering the distance in 1:42.24. Prior to the Hall of Fame, Rare Cure worked five furlongs in 58.40 seconds at his base at Remington Park.

Cliff Berry rode Rare Cure for trainer Joe Petalino. The horse earned $60,000 for the win, which was his 11th from 48 starts. He has now earned $475,450 for his owner and breeder, Larry Dyson.

In the $125,000 colts and geldings division of the Texas Hall of Fame Stakes, second choice Leaving On My Mind($7.80) rallied from next to last for a length and three-quarter win over 3-5 favorite Expect Will. Leaving On My Mind covered six furlongs in 1:11.89, and earned $75,000 for his owner, George Wolff. Roman Chapa rode the winner for trainer Danny Pish.

Chapa was also aboard the winner of the $125,000 fillies division of the Texas Stallion Stakes. He guided Tuned In($19.20) to a half-length win over Rocking Regent. Berdelia, who was the favorite in the race, finished seventh. Tuned In covered six furlongs in 1:13.05. She is a half-sister to stakes winners Charlie's Beau and Balkan, and is owned by Will Farish and trained by Steve Asmussen.

Seneca Song($28) overtook pacesetter Geri Kelly for a one-length win in the $40,000 Selma Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on turf. She covered five furlongs in 56.04 seconds. Amanda Crandall rode the winner for trainer John Locke. Hay Lauren and Wild Rezonution started as an entry in the race and were favored. They finished a respective fourth a sixth.

In the $40,000 Tejas for 3-year-olds on turf, Charming Socialite($21.60) closed from last to upset favorite Oncearoundtwice by a half-length. Larry Taylor rode the winner, who covered five furlongs in 56.23 seconds. Charming Socialite is trained by Bill Pettit.

Lady Mallory($19.60) trailed early and closed fast to win the $40,000 Fiesta Mile by a nose over Hay Madison, who was part of a favored entry with seventh-place finisher Jester Rehab. It was another half-length back in third to Leo's Baroness. Patrick Boxie rode Lady Mallory for trainer Tommie Morgan.

Attendance for the night was 6,900 and handle on Retama's races was $1,096,318.