Ten apiece for co-featured turf stakes for 2-year-olds

Large fields have been the norm this season at Retama Park near San Antonio, so it was no surprise that the El Joven and La Senorita both drew big fields to close out the meet Saturday night. The one-mile turf races are for 2-year-olds, with the Wesley Ward-trained R Boy Bill heading the El Joven and Jazzy Jessy, recent winner of the Happy Ticket Stakes at Louisiana Downs, the one to beat in the La Senorita. Both races are worth $75,000.

“We’ve got 10 on each side, 10 colts and 10 fillies,” said Retama racing secretary James Leatherman. “The thing that really jumps out in the boys’ division is that five horses were supplemental nominations. That was unbelievable.”

Leatherman said the cost to supplement to the El Joven was $4,500. He said there were also two fillies who supplemented to the La Senorita. Entries for the races were taken Wednesday. The El Joven will go as the sixth race, and the La Senorita as the eighth.

Retama has raced on Fridays and Saturdays this meet and is averaging 10.4 starters per race. Friday night’s program has 126 horses in 10 races, which is a record for the track, according to Retama spokesperson Doug Vair.

“We’ve been averaging close to 200 horses entered per day,” said Leatherman.

Retama added a race to each of its programs earlier in the meet to help accommodate the overflow entries. Texas has shifted its racing schedule, and Retama is the last Texas stop for Thoroughbreds this year until Sam Houston opens its meet in late January.

◗ Lynn Reardon will be signing her book, “Beyond the Homestretch: What I’ve Learned from Saving Racehorses” on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. She is the founder of the retired racehorse placement program LOPE.