Retama: One winning streak must end in Texas Quarter Horse Association Sale Futurity

Won to Watch and The Kat in the Hat each brings significant win streaks into Saturday night’s $441,790 Texas Quarter Horse Association Sale Futurity at Retama Park. The 350-yard race is one of two major stakes on the card. The Grade 3, $193,600 Retama Park Derby drew the Grade 1-winning Quarter Horse El Duero.

Won to Watch will be seeking to win her fifth consecutive race when she starts in the TQHA. She was the second fastest qualifier for what is the richest race of the meet, winning her 350-yard trial in 17.87 seconds July 12. The score came one start after Won to Watch captured the $75,000 Heritage Place Juvenile at Remington Park.

Won to Watch began her streak in her second career start, a maiden race at Sam Houston on April 20. Jockey Luis Vivanco has the mount for trainer Cindi Keeton, who trains Won to Watch for the partnership of Ashley Vera and Alberto Vera Jr.

The Kat in the Hat is looking to win his fourth straight race, and like Won to Watch his streak began in his second career start and has included a stakes win. He captured the Grade 3 Sam Houston Juvenile Challenge in May. Cipriano Vidana has the mount on The Kat in the Hat, who races for his trainer, Jose R. Espinosa.

Cartel Arrangement set the fastest qualifying time for the TQHA Futurity, a restricted race, when she won her trial in 17.84.

El Duero will be making his third start of the year in the Retama Park Derby. He is the class of the field as the winner of last year’s Grade 1 West Texas Futurity at Sunland Park. El Duero also was second by a head in last year’s Grade 1 Heritage Place Futurity at Remington.

His chief rivals include Dash for Coronas, winner of last year’s Grade 2 Oklahoma Futurity at Remington, and Flirtingwithamiracle, winner of the Grade 3 Sam Houston Derby in April.