KNOCKOUTS EYES, HALF-SISTER TO MULTIPLE STAKES HERO MAJOR TOM, WINS INAUGURAL REMINGTON PARK APPALOOSA FUTURITY

By Richard Linihan

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – April 25, 2026 – Knockouts Eyes, a beautiful gray 2-year-old Appaloosa half-sister to multiple stakes winner Major Tom, did her sibling proud Friday night by winning the first running of the Grade 3, $31,700 Remington Park Appaloosa Futurity.

Knockouts Eyes and Major Tom share the same dam, Eyesa Knockout, and both run like the wind, a wind of hurricane proportion. Under the guidance of jockey Mario Delgado, Knockouts Eyes broke fourth from the gate in the field of nine Appaloosas, but soon cruised to the lead halfway through the 250-yard race. She hit the wire a neck in front of runner-up First Speeding Bullet (8-1), who was another nose ahead of third-place finisher R Tyme Will Tell (7-5 favorite, and the winner’s stablemate). Remington Park’s leading trainer, Dee Keener, saddled Knockouts Eyes.

Knockouts Eyes is now two-for-three in her career and appears to be on the same course as her half-brother, Major Tom, when he raced from 2013-2015. Major Tom won seven races in a row at one point of his career, including two futurities, a Derby and two stakes races. His career record was 13-8-4-1, $234,517. Both horses were bred by owner Mike Vaughan’s brother Gary. Mike runs Knockouts Eyes under Wishbone Partnership of Norman, Okla.

“I believe this mare (Eyesa Knockout) is now the all-time earnings producing mare for Appaloosas,” said Mike after the race.

Knockouts Eyes stopped the timer in :13.519, earning an 80 speed index over the fast track. This daughter of the American Quarter Horse sire Cyber Monday earned $16,599 from the purse and now has a racing tab of three starts and two wins for $19,764 in earnings.

Major Tom started his stakes streak with a $249,175 futurity at Remington Park on June 1, 2013 in the Speedhorse Graham. He followed that with an $89,355 futurity at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas on Nov. 2 of that year; a $46,200 derby at Remington Park on March 22, 2014; and then two more stakes at Remington Park on April 19, 2014, and May 24 here. Major Tom was trained by Eddie Willis and ridden by two riders who are still going at each other after all those years – Cody Smith and Jimmy Brooks.

Major Tom’s speedy sister gave Delgado everything he asked for in the race and especially the idea that she would be the first winner of this particular event.

“I was very confident in her,” said Delgado. “She came back super from her previous race.”

Knockouts Eyes was the fastest qualifier to this final and somehow still went off at generous 5-2 odds, paying $7.40 to win, $3.60 to place and $2.80 to show.

The complete order of finish past the top three Apps was Kembers Moon Pop (44-1) fourth, Jess Say Bye (7-2) fifth, Union Willy (5-1) sixth, Bigwig Bart (37-1) seventh, Dashin Deacon (70-1) eighth and Panda Express (55-1) ninth. Hearts of Jettastic was scratched after acting up in the gate, causing a short delay.

The Remington Park Appaloosa Futurity is the first futurity for just the Appaloosa breed at Remington Park since 2007, the final year of the Americana Appaloosa Futurity here.

Remington Park racing continues Saturday and Sunday, April 25 & 26. Racing starts Saturday at 6pm with Sunday action at 4pm. All times are Central.

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Remington Park has provided more than $410 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District. The $1,000,000 Heritage Place Futurity takes place on the final night of the spring season on Saturday, May 30. Remington Park presents year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. Guests must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or to enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.