CARD ONE STARTER WINS GRADE 3 OKLAHOMA DERBY AS HEAVY FAVORITE

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – March 21, 2021 – Card One Starter ran his winning streak to three in a row by taking down the Grade 3, $251,600 Oklahoma Derby on Saturday night at Remington Park.

The 3-year-old gelding also won for the sixth time in 10 tries during his career. Ridden to victory by Juan Pulido for trainer Edelmiro Carrizales and owner Jose Guzman of Donna, Texas, Card One Starter is a son of Docs Best Card, out of the Tempting Dash mare Stable Dancer. He won for the first time in stakes company.

Despite his winning prowess, Card One Starter had just missed in the only other two stakes races on his record. On the Fourth of July last year, Card One Starter was at 17-1 odds when he went to post in the $151,000 Old South Futurity at Delta Downs and finished a strong second, beaten only a neck in the Vinton, La. race. He followed that with a run in a restricted-stakes at Retama Park in Selma, Texas, the $221,000 Texas Quarter Horse Association Sires Futurity. Card One Starter was the even-money favorite in that race on Aug. 29, but finished third, beaten three-quarters of a length.

On Saturday night, Card One Starter fought to the wire as the 3-2 wagering favorite and managed to out finish Apollitical Redflash (8-1) by a head. The winner hit the finish line in :17.635 on a fast track for an 87 speed index. It was the first win in the race for all the connections. He was bred in Oklahoma by the owner.

Squid Word (28-1) was another neck behind the runner-up in third place. Relentlessly, the co-favorite at 3-2, but with slightly lesser money bet to win on him, ran himself into traffic problems, causing trouble for other horses and was disqualified from fifth and placed last.

Card One Starter paid $5, $3.20 and $2.60 across the board to win, place and show. He earned $100,640 for the victory and improved his record to 10 starts, six wins, two seconds and two thirds for a bankroll of $188,865.

“I just tried to keep him out of trouble,” said Pulido. “I asked him and he gave me everything I asked for. He’s done everything good for me.”

Live racing continues Sunday, March 21 with first post time of 6pm-Central.

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Tracked by more than 165,000 fans on Facebook and 10,400 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $258 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 is open daily for casino gaming and simulcast horse racing. The 2021 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season continues through May 29. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.