COWBOY BLUE Z WINS HIS FIRST STAKES RACE, TAKING OKLAHOMA DERBY AT REMINGTON PARK

by Richard Linihan

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – March 24, 2025 – It was no surprise that Cowboy Blue Z was sent off the heavy wagering favorite at 1-2 odds in the Grade 3, $219,635 Oklahoma Derby on Saturday night after posting the fastest time of any finalist.

What was surprising is that the Oklahoma Derby was the first stakes win in his career. Trainer Michael Joiner pointed the 3-year-old Texas-bred colt by Flying Cowboy 123, out of the PYC Paint Your Wagon mare Indescribably Blue, to the Oklahoma Futurity at Remington Park last year and then tried the Grade 1, $912,000 Texas Classic Futurity at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, in November. The result of both finals were somewhat disappointing. He ran fourth in the Oklahoma Futurity to Joose Boxx, and then even worse, running seventh, well beaten more than three lengths back in the Texas Classic Futurity.

“He had a couple of issues after the Oklahoma Futurity last year, so we waited on him,” said Joiner. “He got healed up and now he’s just a super horse, but I think this is about as far as he can run, 350 yards. He’s paid up in the Heritage Place Derby, so that might be next.”

Jockey Francisco Calderon was in the saddle and directed the heavy chalk in a straight line down the track as fast as the horse could run. As it was, Calderon had to hold his breath the whole way as a longshot in post-position one, Baby Ruth, was bearing down, trying pull off the upset at 26-1 odds.

“We left there running,” said Calderon, “but the last 50 yards, I thought the 1-horse had me beat. I asked my horse, ‘Is that all you got?’ That’s when he went back to it and didn’t give up. Thank God he had more left.”

This was the third Oklahoma Derby for Calderon from the last four years. He also scored with All Pointz Bulletin (2022) and Proximity (2023).

Cowboy Blue Z won the race by the shortest of noses over Baby Ruth and Apolitical  Time (27-1) came in third another half-length behind. With another horse higher than 20-1 running fourth, AJs Flashnthachicks (27-1) the 10-cent superfecta was a tremendous payoff with a 1-2 horse winning the race. It returned $294.52 for those who solved the puzzle.

The rest of the order of finish past the top four were Nine One Won (14-1) fifth, Apollitical Muse (7-1) sixth, Tempt Me Sass (5-1) seventh, Fairlea Flyin (45-1) eighth, Rocker S (9-1) ninth and Beast N Me (31-1) last.

Cowboy Blue Z earned $87,854 from the purse and improved to 10 starts, five wins, one second and a bankroll of $188,143. He was purchased from the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale in 2023 for $120,000 by owner West Texas Racing Partners (Joe Dee Brooks) of Levelland, Texas.

Remington Park racing continues Sunday, March 23 with a card that begins at 4pm-Central.

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Remington Park has provided more than $376 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 presents year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. The 2025 American Quarter Horse Season, features the $800,000 (estimated) Remington Park Futurity on Saturday, April 19. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.