CANDY BLOOD BRINGS HOME DEE RAPER SOONER STATE STAKES TROPHY
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – April 18, 2022 – It seemed somewhat apropos that a horse named Candy Blood would win the Dee Raper Sooner State Stakes where all the horses wore crimson saddle cloths.
It was a tribute to Raper, who ran Belle Mere Farm in Norman, Okla., and was an avid Oklahoma Sooners fan before passing away in 2020. Dee and wife Betty stood the legendary Easy Jet as a stallion at one time. So, to see a horse named Candy Blood win the restricted Grade 1, $100,000 Sooner State Stakes in a red saddle cloth seemed pre-destined.
Raper was inducted into the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2010 and into the Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame at Remington Park in 2012. Dee and wife Betty stood the legendary Easy Jet as a stallion at one time and produced many great horses through the years.
Candy Blood a 4-year-old gelding by Apollitical Blood, out of the Wave Carver mare Ranch Candy, outlasted one of the toughest fields of 3-year-olds and older this meet. He outlasted JK Wildcat Red to the wire by a neck. The winner, owned by Rick Sumner and Dunn Ranch (Matt Dunn) of Wynnewood, Okla., is trained by Monty Arrossa and was ridden to victory by Francisco Calderon.
Candy Blood is a three-time stakes winner, taking the Dee Raper Sooner State Stakes for Oklahoma-breds, the $15,000 Z Wayne Griffin Directors Handicap and the $20,000 Holiday Handicap, both at Los Alamitos in California. He has had brushes with success in much larger races, however. In 2020, he won his Heritage Place Futurity trial and then ran fourth in the finals. He also won an All American Futurity trial but did not have a fast enough time to qualify for the finals. He went into the All American Juvenile Stakes and finished fourth in that stakes. In his 3-year-old year, Candy Blood won his Remington Park Derby trial, only to finish second by a neck in the $356,000 Derby final, losing to one of the most impressive 3-year-olds in the country, Empressum. Candy Blood went on to win an All American Derby trial and was the third-place finisher in the $929,000 finals.
Saturday night’s Dee Raper Sooner State Stakes win was his debut as a 4-year-old. Candy Blood was easily the most active horse in the paddock before the race, kicking and jumping, ready to run.
“That horse will keep you on your toes,” said Arrossa. “Every day is a new day with him. He has a lot of energy and is sometimes his own worst enemy. We were fortunate tonight that he channeled it into the race.”
Candy Blood stopped the timer in the Sooner State at 400 yards in :19.589 on a fast track. That compared to Dreamsville, a 3-year-old, in the Remington Park Derby at :19.460. Candy Blood was bred in Oklahoma by Sumner.
Leaving the gate as the prohibitive 3-5 favorite, Candy Blood proved his worth. JK Wildcat Red gave it his all, but could only get within a neck at the finish at 22-1 odds. JC Wild King, a multiple stakes winner, was third at 3-1 odds, another head behind in the photo finish.
The remaining order of finish in the Dee Raper Sooner State Stakes was Presidential Embrace (4th), O Donovan Rossa (5th), XF Wingman (6th) Apollitical Gold (7th) Its the Whiskey (8th) and BP Primetime (9th).
Candy Blood earned $57,600 from the purse and improved his record to 18 starts, nine wins, three seconds and one third for $477,475 in earnings.
It was the first win in the Dee Raper Sooner State Stakes for all connections.
•••••
Tracked by more than 168,000 fans on Facebook and 10,600 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $288 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, Remington Park will feature the $1,000,000 Heritage Place Futurity and the $250,000 Debbie Schauf Remington Park Championship on May 28. Simulcast horse is racing featured daily at Remington Park where the casino is always open! Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
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Fair Meadows Overnight Wednesday, July 16: bit.ly/FMT-071625 *(𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚎 𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝟷 & 𝟸 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚀𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙷𝚘𝚛𝚜𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚌𝚎𝚜)* Post time 6:00PM ... ’Expand’See Less
The Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission has discontinued processing award deductions for the transfer of ownership on OK Bred registered horses. You will need to submit your Transfer of Ownership application, W-9 (these are required annually), with a check, money order, or completed credit card authorization form, as well as a copy of the horse’s breed registration certificate, to update our records and have the award released.
You have one year from the date of the race to collect your award.
You can send your documents or any questions to the OKB Registry Department at OKBRED@OHRC.OK.GOV. ... ’Expand’See Less
In partnership with the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association (OQHRA), all Oklahoma racetracks—Remington Park, Fair Meadows at Tulsa, and Will Rogers Downs—have announced expanded hair testing measures for the 2026 Quarter Horse, Paint, and Appaloosa race meets. While pre-entry hair testing has been a condition of entry since 2018, the updated policy builds on that foundation by introducing new layers of accountability and a unified approach across all tracks.
“We are expanding our integrity efforts and working to hold everyone accountable for the horses in their care,” said Krissy Bamberg, Executive Director of OQHRA. “This is a collective effort among all Oklahoma tracks to protect the integrity of the sport and the welfare of the horse.”
The 2026 updates include a new provision that will exclude any trainer from participating at Oklahoma tracks for the remainder of a meet if three or more horses in their care test positive through official pre-entry hair tests for any prohibited substance. In addition, any owner with three or more positive tests during the meet will also be deemed ineligible to participate for the remainder of that meet.
Another upgrade to the policy is the expansion of unofficial testing. This informational hair-testing option will be available beginning with the fall yearling sales. These test kits can be requested through OQHRA. The hair samples can be collected by the owner or trainer and submitted to the lab for testing; results of these unofficial tests will not be considered official for entry purposes, but they will allow owners or trainers who have acquired horses from other barns to voluntarily test them in advance of entry to ensure they are clear of prohibited substances. It offers peace of mind, particularly before making financial commitments such as nomination fees, training investments, or early race preparations. It is important to note that many Sale Companies offer hair testing as a buyer protection within 24 hours of the sale; buyers are encouraged to contact the sales companies about the options available.
“Integrity is the backbone of everything we do,” said Matt Vance, Executive Vice President at Remington Park. “These policies help preserve the integrity of the sport by holding those who choose not to play by the rules accountable. We are proud to work with other Oklahoma tracks and OQHRA to lead the way in promoting fair competition in Quarter Horse racing.”
The core hair testing requirement remains in place: every Quarter Horse, Paint, or Appaloosa must submit to a one-time, pre-entry hair test before starting at any Oklahoma track. Official test results are sent directly to the racetrack, and positive results will lead to exclusion for the duration of that meet. These exclusions are track-specific only and do not constitute regulatory suspensions; participants remain eligible at other tracks unless a separate jurisdiction elects to take action. All horses with official positive tests will be listed publicly at www.OQHRA.com, and test results may be shared with other jurisdictions upon request.
To make the process easier for horsemen, farm visits for hair testing will be available in January and early February for Oklahoma-based trainers with 40 or more horses.
All details of the 2026 hair testing policy, including the unofficial testing option, are available at www.OQHRA.com or by calling (405) 881-5120. ... ’Expand’See Less
Won't matter Justin is so far ahead of the tracks, everyone knows you can't win a big race without the JRJ.
Thank you,
However we have got to get the results back presale from these yearlings sales at the Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino select sale and the New Mexico bred.
The Texas Quarter Horse sale needs it as well.
Oklahoma QHRA should at least mandate that the horse that are breeders and fitters are marketing for it be tested pre sale date with the horse .
Think of how Heritage Place would not want any part of a horse owner wanting his money back on a horse he bought from similar to large sale horse provider like the Flag Ranches size.
He would have to choose to do the right thing and force the return of the large ranch for illegal substances.
If we could get one sale barn to step up and require this
, we would owe it to them to get the others to follow suit to with the presale testing.
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CANDY BLOOD BRINGS HOME DEE RAPER SOONER STATE STAKES TROPHY
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – April 18, 2022 – It seemed somewhat apropos that a horse named Candy Blood would win the Dee Raper Sooner State Stakes where all the horses wore crimson saddle cloths.
It was a tribute to Raper, who ran Belle Mere Farm in Norman, Okla., and was an avid Oklahoma Sooners fan before passing away in 2020. Dee and wife Betty stood the legendary Easy Jet as a stallion at one time. So, to see a horse named Candy Blood win the restricted Grade 1, $100,000 Sooner State Stakes in a red saddle cloth seemed pre-destined.
Raper was inducted into the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2010 and into the Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame at Remington Park in 2012. Dee and wife Betty stood the legendary Easy Jet as a stallion at one time and produced many great horses through the years.
Candy Blood is a three-time stakes winner, taking the Dee Raper Sooner State Stakes for Oklahoma-breds, the $15,000 Z Wayne Griffin Directors Handicap and the $20,000 Holiday Handicap, both at Los Alamitos in California. He has had brushes with success in much larger races, however. In 2020, he won his Heritage Place Futurity trial and then ran fourth in the finals. He also won an All American Futurity trial but did not have a fast enough time to qualify for the finals. He went into the All American Juvenile Stakes and finished fourth in that stakes. In his 3-year-old year, Candy Blood won his Remington Park Derby trial, only to finish second by a neck in the $356,000 Derby final, losing to one of the most impressive 3-year-olds in the country, Empressum. Candy Blood went on to win an All American Derby trial and was the third-place finisher in the $929,000 finals.
Saturday night’s Dee Raper Sooner State Stakes win was his debut as a 4-year-old. Candy Blood was easily the most active horse in the paddock before the race, kicking and jumping, ready to run.
Candy Blood stopped the timer in the Sooner State at 400 yards in :19.589 on a fast track. That compared to Dreamsville, a 3-year-old, in the Remington Park Derby at :19.460. Candy Blood was bred in Oklahoma by Sumner.
Leaving the gate as the prohibitive 3-5 favorite, Candy Blood proved his worth. JK Wildcat Red gave it his all, but could only get within a neck at the finish at 22-1 odds. JC Wild King, a multiple stakes winner, was third at 3-1 odds, another head behind in the photo finish.
The remaining order of finish in the Dee Raper Sooner State Stakes was Presidential Embrace (4th), O Donovan Rossa (5th), XF Wingman (6th) Apollitical Gold (7th) Its the Whiskey (8th) and BP Primetime (9th).
Candy Blood earned $57,600 from the purse and improved his record to 18 starts, nine wins, three seconds and one third for $477,475 in earnings.
It was the first win in the Dee Raper Sooner State Stakes for all connections.
•••••
Tracked by more than 168,000 fans on Facebook and 10,600 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $288 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, Remington Park will feature the $1,000,000 Heritage Place Futurity and the $250,000 Debbie Schauf Remington Park Championship on May 28. Simulcast horse is racing featured daily at Remington Park where the casino is always open! Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
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Fair Meadows Overnight
Wednesday, July 16: bit.ly/FMT-071625
*(𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚎 𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝟷 & 𝟸 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚀𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙷𝚘𝚛𝚜𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚌𝚎𝚜)*
Post time 6:00PM ... ’Expand’See Less
13 hours ago
Comment on Facebook
The Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission has discontinued processing award deductions for the transfer of ownership on OK Bred registered horses. You will need to submit your Transfer of Ownership application, W-9 (these are required annually), with a check, money order, or completed credit card authorization form, as well as a copy of the horse’s breed registration certificate, to update our records and have the award released.
You have one year from the date of the race to collect your award.
You can send your documents or any questions to the OKB Registry Department at OKBRED@OHRC.OK.GOV. ... ’Expand’See Less
20 hours ago
Comment on Facebook
𝐎𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚 𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐢𝐫-𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲
In partnership with the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association (OQHRA), all Oklahoma racetracks—Remington Park, Fair Meadows at Tulsa, and Will Rogers Downs—have announced expanded hair testing measures for the 2026 Quarter Horse, Paint, and Appaloosa race meets. While pre-entry hair testing has been a condition of entry since 2018, the updated policy builds on that foundation by introducing new layers of accountability and a unified approach across all tracks.
“We are expanding our integrity efforts and working to hold everyone accountable for the horses in their care,” said Krissy Bamberg, Executive Director of OQHRA. “This is a collective effort among all Oklahoma tracks to protect the integrity of the sport and the welfare of the horse.”
The 2026 updates include a new provision that will exclude any trainer from participating at Oklahoma tracks for the remainder of a meet if three or more horses in their care test positive through official pre-entry hair tests for any prohibited substance. In addition, any owner with three or more positive tests during the meet will also be deemed ineligible to participate for the remainder of that meet.
Another upgrade to the policy is the expansion of unofficial testing. This informational hair-testing option will be available beginning with the fall yearling sales. These test kits can be requested through OQHRA. The hair samples can be collected by the owner or trainer and submitted to the lab for testing; results of these unofficial tests will not be considered official for entry purposes, but they will allow owners or trainers who have acquired horses from other barns to voluntarily test them in advance of entry to ensure they are clear of prohibited substances. It offers peace of mind, particularly before making financial commitments such as nomination fees, training investments, or early race preparations. It is important to note that many Sale Companies offer hair testing as a buyer protection within 24 hours of the sale; buyers are encouraged to contact the sales companies about the options available.
“Integrity is the backbone of everything we do,” said Matt Vance, Executive Vice President at Remington Park. “These policies help preserve the integrity of the sport by holding those who choose not to play by the rules accountable. We are proud to work with other Oklahoma tracks and OQHRA to lead the way in promoting fair competition in Quarter Horse racing.”
The core hair testing requirement remains in place: every Quarter Horse, Paint, or Appaloosa must submit to a one-time, pre-entry hair test before starting at any Oklahoma track. Official test results are sent directly to the racetrack, and positive results will lead to exclusion for the duration of that meet. These exclusions are track-specific only and do not constitute regulatory suspensions; participants remain eligible at other tracks unless a separate jurisdiction elects to take action. All horses with official positive tests will be listed publicly at www.OQHRA.com, and test results may be shared with other jurisdictions upon request.
To make the process easier for horsemen, farm visits for hair testing will be available in January and early February for Oklahoma-based trainers with 40 or more horses.
All details of the 2026 hair testing policy, including the unofficial testing option, are available at www.OQHRA.com or by calling (405) 881-5120. ... ’Expand’See Less
2 days ago
Comment on Facebook
Won't matter Justin is so far ahead of the tracks, everyone knows you can't win a big race without the JRJ.
Thank you, However we have got to get the results back presale from these yearlings sales at the Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino select sale and the New Mexico bred. The Texas Quarter Horse sale needs it as well. Oklahoma QHRA should at least mandate that the horse that are breeders and fitters are marketing for it be tested pre sale date with the horse . Think of how Heritage Place would not want any part of a horse owner wanting his money back on a horse he bought from similar to large sale horse provider like the Flag Ranches size. He would have to choose to do the right thing and force the return of the large ranch for illegal substances. If we could get one sale barn to step up and require this , we would owe it to them to get the others to follow suit to with the presale testing.
Who get the samples from the horses and when
How actual fuck did we ever get to this point?
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