Texas Sale Graduates Deliver Big Returns at the Racetrack

The Texas Summer Yearling and Horses of Racing Age Sale has quietly become one of the most reliable sources of value in the Thoroughbred industry, and recent graduates are proving it on the biggest stages in the sport. From Kentucky Derby contenders to consistent stakes winners, horses who went through the ring at Lone Star Park are delivering multiples of their purchase price for savvy buyers.

With the 2026 edition of the sale set for Tuesday, Aug. 25 at the Mary Ruyle Sales Pavilion at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, now is a good time to look at the top 10 graduates of the 2023 and 2024 sales who have made their mark as 3- and 4-year-olds in 2026.

What makes the Texas sale a smart investment?

The Texas Yearling Sale has evolved from a regional marketplace into a launching pad for national success. Graduates have climbed all the way to the Kentucky Derby in recent years, while many others have built solid careers through steady campaigns and stakes victories on regional circuits.

For Iowa horse owners and breeders, the Texas sale offers an accessible entry point into the industry, with horses available at a fraction of the cost of major East Coast sales while still offering significant upside potential.

#1 Coal Battle: From Texas sale ring to the Kentucky Derby

The gold standard of Texas sale graduates is Coal Battle, a dark bay colt by Coal Front who sold for $70,000 as a yearling. He carried the auction's flag all the way to the 2025 Kentucky Derby after racking up victories as a 2-year-old in the Jean Lafitte Stakes at Delta Downs and the listed Remington Springboard Mile at Remington Park.

Owned by Norman Stables and trained by Lonnie Briley, Coal Battle continued his ascent at three, winning the listed Smarty Jones Stakes and Grade 2 Rebel Stakes before finishing third in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby to secure his spot at Churchill Downs. He added Grade 3 placings in the Matt Winn Stakes and Indiana Derby later that season.

Now a multiple stakes-placed runner at four, Coal Battle sits with five wins in 15 career starts and earnings of $1,363,350, a return of nearly 20 times his purchase price.

#2 Secret Faith: Louisiana champion with a winning streak

From the same breeding operation that produced Coal Battle, Secret Faith has been a force on the Louisiana-bred stakes circuit with earnings of $726,022. The filly by Aurelius Maximus kicked off her career with a five-race winning streak, including four stakes races at four different tracks.

She took the Texas Thoroughbred Association Futurity at Lone Star Park, the D.S. Shine Young Futurity at Evangeline Downs, the Louisiana Jewel Stakes at Delta Downs, and the Donovan L. Ferguson Memorial Stakes at the Fair Grounds before closing her juvenile season with another stakes win in the Louisiana Futurity.

Secret Faith was named Louisiana's champion 2-year-old filly of 2024 and 3-year-old filly of 2025, and she has continued her winning ways this year for trainer Jayde Gelner.

#3 He's Late Again: A $20,000 bargain

The gelding by Aurelius Maximus was a late bloomer, making his first start at three, but he made up for lost time by winning five of his first seven starts for owner Larry Romero and trainer Allen Landry. That run featured wins in the Ragin Cajun Stakes, Louisiana Legends Cheval Stakes, and the Louisiana Stallion Stakes at Evangeline Downs.

Earlier this year, He's Late Again added the Star Guitar Stakes to his resume, and he now sits with earnings of $325,730, more than 16 times his $20,000 purchase price.

#4 Ring Seeker: Early stakes success at Lone Star Park

Ring Seeker wasted no time getting down to business, racking up stakes victories in each of his first two starts as a juvenile at Lone Star Park. The homebred for W.S. Farish and trained by Steve Asmussen dusted the Texas Stallion Staunch Avenger Division by 10 ¼ lengths in his debut, then followed with a front-running score in the Texas Thoroughbred Association Futurity.

He kicked off his 3-year-old season with a stretch duel victory in the My Dandy Division of the Clarence Scharbauer Jr. Texas Stallion Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park. With four wins in 18 starts and earnings of $259,708, Ring Seeker has been a consistent performer.

#5 It's All Right: Texas success with an Iowa connection

It's All Right provided fast dividends for owner Ron Stolich and trainer H. Ray Ashford Jr., taking his debut at Lone Star Park by two lengths before returning to win the Texas Thoroughbred Association Futurity. The gelding was then moved to Iowa, where he finished third in the Prairie Meadows Freshman Stakes before bouncing back to win the Bison Strides Mile Stakes.

For Iowa racing fans, It's All Right represents the kind of horse that can compete at Prairie Meadows while building a solid career. He remains a solid runner in 2026, placing in a trio of stakes races and winning an allowance optional claiming race at Lone Star Park, bringing his record to four wins in nine starts and earnings of $239,923.

#6 Mor Force: Consistency pays off

Another home run for breeders Adcock and Wornall, Mor Force finished second or better in each of his first four starts, including an effortless 5 ½-length score on debut at Lone Star Park. He later annexed the D.S. Shine Young Futurity at Evangeline Downs and kicked off his 3-year-old season with a 6 ½-length stomping of the Louisiana Futurity at the Fair Grounds.

The ultra-consistent Mor Force has won three of nine starts, finishing worse than third just twice, for earnings of $220,302.

#7 Cajun Mitole: Holding on pays off

Sometimes the best decision is to keep the horse, and that was the case for breeder Coulee Croche Thoroughbreds with Cajun Mitole. The gelding rewarded them with a come-from-behind win in the LA Bred Premier Night Prince Stakes at Delta Downs during his 3-year-old season.

Still racing today, Cajun Mitole carries a record of four wins in 17 starts and earnings of $228,850.

#8 Blingster: Finding a stride at three

This filly by Bradester found her stride early in her 3-year-old season during the Sam Houston portion of the Texas racing calendar, winning the Darby's Daughter Division of the Clarence Scharbauer Jr. Texas Stallion Stakes and the Two Altazano Stakes. She continues to run well for owner Mansfield Racing and trainer Bret Calhoun, winning two of her last three starts to bring her record to three wins in 14 races for earnings of $178,735.

#9 Fast Flame: Multiple connections, consistent results

Fast Flame began her career in the barn of trainer Joe Sharp for owner Jody Mihalic, winning on debut at the Fair Grounds. She was later acquired by owners WG Racing and Sarpy Creek Racing, who campaigned her to a victory in the Acadiana Stakes at Evangeline Downs. Now trained by Antonio Alberto and Jason Lovern, Fast Flame's record sits at four wins in 13 starts for $156,470.

#10 Powdered Sugar: Pinhook success story

Powdered Sugar was a successful pinhook, selling for $95,000 at the following year's OBS March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, one of the biggest returns of the 2023 Texas sale grads. She then finished her career winning three of her final five starts, bowing out with a victory in the Cajun Miss Stakes at Evangeline Downs.

Racing for trainer Whit Beckman and owners Michael Eiserman, Earl Silver, and Kenneth Fishbein, Powdered Sugar won eight of 13 starts and earned $135,440.

What does this mean for Iowa horse owners?

The success of these Texas sale graduates demonstrates that quality Thoroughbreds can be found at regional auctions without breaking the bank. For Iowa owners and breeders looking to enter the sport or expand their operations, the Texas Yearling Sale offers an opportunity to acquire young horses with proven bloodlines at accessible prices.

The 2026 Texas Yearling and HORA Sale takes place Tuesday, Aug. 25 at the Mary Ruyle Sales Pavilion at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas. Interested buyers can view this year's catalog online.

This story was originally published by Paulick Report on Aug. 19, 2026.