Retama Park: Calhoun has strong hand for male division of Texas Stallion Stakes

Trainer Bret Calhoun will take a two-pronged approach to the colts-and-geldings division of the $75,000 Texas Stallion Stakes at Retama Park on Saturday night, when he sends out a proven stakes horse in Circustown Flyer and a flashy maiden winner in Ibaka. The horses are part of a field of 12.

The Stallion Stakes, restricted to the offspring of stallions nominated to the series, is for 2-year-olds at six furlongs. The race will share a card with the $75,000 fillies division led by Thegirlinthatsong.

Ibaka dazzled in a maiden special weight race for Oklahoma-breds in his second career start Nov. 7. He won the Remington Park race by more than six lengths, cruising through six furlongs in 1:09.80. The Beyer Speed Figure of 83 that Ibaka earned is the best career number in the field for the Stallion Stakes.

“I thought he was pretty impressive,” said Calhoun, who trains Ibaka for Doug Wall. “He showed a lot of speed, and he went on. He ran pretty quick that day.”

Cliff Berry was aboard and has the mount again from post 6.

Circustown Flyer is the lone stakes winner in the field by virtue of his victory in the $86,000 colts-and-geldings division of the Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Futurity at Lone Star Park in his second career start July 6. He has raced once since then, finishing eighth in the $75,000 Kip Deville at Remington Park on Sept. 29.

“He didn’t get a great opportunity first time back,” Calhoun said. “He had a bad post. He was down inside and was intimidated and basically retreated. He has trained very well [since the start]. I think he’ll show up.”

Lindey Wade has the mount from post 7 for Phil Louis Adams.

Thegirlinthatsong is the most accomplished of the 11 fillies in the Stallion Stakes by virtue of her win in the $100,000 Happy Ticket at Louisiana Downs in September. She will be moving back to a main-track sprint after finishing fifth as the favorite in last month’s $75,000 La Senorita at Retama. Don Simington has the mount for trainer Andrew Konkoly.