Line Seven heads Retama Derby

Fastest qualifier Line Seven heads a competitive Grade 1, $139,700 Retama Park Derby, and the undefeated This Candys Red Hot tops the Grade 1, $328,725 Retama Park Futurity on closing weekend of the Retama Park Quarter Horse season.

The derby is on Saturday, and the futurity will be held on Sunday.

Line Seven has only started three times - all since March 6 - and will be facing the strongest competition of his career. He won a maiden race at Retama on May 13 as a 13-1 outsider, then won his derby trial by 2 3/4 lengths with the fastest qualifying time of 20.359 seconds for 400 yards.

Kathys Star Quest is well seasoned with 18 career starts, including nine wins, and has qualified for seven graded stakes, including winning the Grade 2 Manor Downs Futurity and the Grade 3 Longhorn Derby. She was the 8-5 favorite in her Retama Derby trial, finishing a close fourth while earning the seventh-fastest time.

In the futurity, This Candys Red Hot should be favored after racing to his second win from two starts on June 5 with a 1 3/4-length trial victory in 17.914 seconds for 350 yards, the fastest qualifying time.

Second-fastest qualifier Flying Shuttle closed well to win his trial in 18.056 seconds, about three-quarters of a length slower than This Candys Red Hot's time.