Turf stakes highlight Retama meet

The El Joven and La Senorita, a pair of turf stakes for 2-year-olds, will be the richest Thoroughbred offerings during the upcoming meet at Retama Park. The races will each be worth $75,000 when they are run on a Wednesday card, Aug. 14.

Retama opens a mixed meet for Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses on July 4. The season will run through Sept. 11.

There will be a total of six stakes for Thoroughbreds. The El Joven, which is for colts and geldings, and the La Senorita, which is for fillies, will each be run at a mile. Nominations close July 19.

The $50,000 Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame Stakes and the $50,000 Fiesta Mile will share a card Sept. 6. The turf routes are restricted to horses bred in Texas and traditionally complement annual inductions into the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame at Retama.

The final stakes for Thoroughbreds are a set of $65,000 Texas Stallion Stakes divisions for 2-year-olds at six furlongs. The races will share a Wednesday card on Sept. 11.

Retama also will feature 12 stakes for Quarter Horses from July 4 to July 27.

◗ Houston Strong invades from Churchill Downs for the Sunday opener at Lone Star, a first-level allowance route for fillies and mares at 7 1/2 furlongs on turf. Iram Diego has the mount for trainer Bret Calhoun.