DANJER VOTED CHAMPION HORSE OF MEET FOR 2021 REMINGTON PARK SPRING SEASON
OKLAHOMA CITY – June 7, 2021 – The 2020 AQHA Champion Aged Horse and Gelding, Danjer, is doing his best to repeat in that category, being named Horse of the Meet at Remington Park for the recently completed 2021 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season.
The 5-year-old gelding, trained by Dean Frey and owned by Frey, Downtime Enterprises and Billy G. Smith of Rancho Mirage, Calif., raised some doubts in his season debut, running second in the Grade 1 Leo Stakes as the 8-5 betting favorite on May 1. Danjer avenged that nose loss to Jess My Hocks in one of the toughest races for older horses ever put together in the Grade 1, $322,081 Debbie Schauf Remington Park Championship on May 29.
Among the competitors he beat that night were Apollitical Pence, who is a millionaire racehorse and had won the $600,000 Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos in California last winter; Jess My Hocks, a winner in four of his last five starts, coming into the race, three of them stakes victories; Valiant Tiberias, who was on a three stakes win streak coming into the race; Mi Amor Secreto, an earner of $604,344 that had run a head back of Danjer in the $252,000 Challenge Championship at the Downs at Albuquerque, and Perrys Double Down, winner of the $393,000 Texas Classic Derby on Nov. 28 last year.
Danjer’s win in the Debbie Schauf Remington Park Championship was amazing in the manner that it was done. The son of FDD Dynasty, from the Take Off Jess mare Shez Jess Toxic, broke a full length behind Apollitical Pence and Mi Amor Secreto and made up the full length and more in the final 100 yards, squeezing through those two horses to get up for the win. Cody Smith booted him home for the win that was so visibly impressive, Danjer came close to being a unanimous vote for Horse of the Meet. He was voted unanimous Champion in the Older Male category and was also named Champion Oklahoma-bred.
Here’s a look at the rest of the 2021 Remington Park Champions:
Champion 2-year-old – Jet Black Grace This gelded son of Jet Black Patriot, out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Thrill and Grace, won the richest race in Oklahoma horse racing history, taking down the Grade 1, $1,314,980 Heritage Place Futurity on May 29. Despite remaining undefeated in his career at three-for-three, he went off at generous odds of 8-1. The gelding is owned by Zitro Racing Corp. of Forney, Texas, trained by Fidencio Jimenez and was ridden to victory by Remington’s champion jockey this meet, Juan Pulido.
Champion 3-year-old – Relentlessly Upsetting Instygator, a horse that had lost the 2020 Grade 1, $3 million All American Futurity by a neck, went a long way to giving Relentlessly the Championship in this category. The 3-year-old colt pulled off the upset in the Grade 2, $361,010 Heritage Place Derby on May 29.
He won three-of-four starts this meet, including two derby trials for owner Aguila Negra Racing of Fairview Heights, Ill. It was his fourth win in seven tries at Remington Park lifetime. The son of Hes Relentless, out of the Carters Cartel mare Runaway Renata, was ridden to victory by Raul Valenzuela in the Heritage Place Derby.
Champion Older Female – Cat Daddys Lil Girl This 5-year-old gray mare by Big Daddy Cartel, out of the Man On the Move mare Girlonthego, only had two starts, but won both of them against stakes horses. She won the $75,000 Easy Date Stakes on April 17 and finished the meet with a score in the Grade 1, $128,241 Junos Request Stakes on May 29. She was a unanimous winner of her category. She is owned by Jimmy Negrete and Jimmy Vasquez of Carlsbad, N.M., trained by Jason Giles and was taken to the winner’s circle by jockey Noe Garcia, Jr.
Champion Distance Runner – Wascallywittlewabbit This 6-year-old gelding came into his own after running fourth in his first race of the meet off a November-March layoff. He was much stronger for the two best 870-yard distance stakes of the season, the Grade 2 Pauls Valley on April 1 and the Grade 1, $64,000 Remington Park Distance Championship on May 29. He beat past champions Ms Esther and Madewell in that final stake. Ms Esther was distance champion at Remington Park two years ago and Madewell was last year’s AQHA Distance Champion. This gelding won by unanimous vote.
Wascallywittlewabbit, by Heza Motor Scooter, out of the Rabbits Rainbow mare Rabbits N Diamonds, is owned by Rogers Farms in Clint, Texas. He is trained by Michael Joiner and was ridden to both stakes victories at Remington by Benito Baca.
Champion Paint – Smithworks Smithworks was not only Champion Paint but most likely the feel good story of the year, having barely survived birth, losing his mother in the process, refusing to eat for a few days after being foaled and then turning into an incredible runner. The 2-year-old colt by multiple World Champion Painted Turnpike, out of the Mighty Invictus (QH) late mare Shesa Mighty Chick, won the $196,100 Oklahoma Paint & Appaloosa Futurity. He lost his next stakes final to RF Livies Livewire in the $159,500 American Paint Classic Futurity in April, when this champ was not feeling well.
Smithworks came back and showed what he was made of by winning sharply in the richest Paint and Appaloosa race ever run, the Grade 1, $289,075 Speedhorse Graham Paint and Appaloosa Futurity on May 29. He is owned by Bryan Hawk of Shawnee, Okla. and trained by Matt Whitekiller, his breeder. Smithworks was ridden to victory in the Oklahoma Paint & Appaloosa Futurity by Francisco Calderon. Jockey Cody Smith had the winning mount in the Speedhorse Graham Futurity.
Champion Appaloosa – Queen For Cash For the second year in a row this 3-year-old filly was voted top Appaloosa.
The daughter of Hes Relentless (QH), out of the Ivory James (QH) mare Ivory Queen, won the $40,250 Speedhorse Stakes on March 20 and then finished third in the Grade 1, $43,500 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Stakes on May 29.
Queen For Cash is owned by Gary Vaughan of Coalgate, Okla., trained by Carlos Ruiz and was ridden this meet by Daniel Torres. Queen of Cash was a unanimous choice in her category.
Champion Claimer – Alotalota This 4-year-old gelding by Lota PYC, out of the Corona Cartel mare Crazy About Corona, won three-of-four starts this meet, taking his picture in a conditional allowance race, an optional $40,000 claiming race, an optional $100,000 claiming race and running second in an optional $50,000 claiming race. He is owned by Whiting Ranch of Bells, Texas, trained by Delbert McDowell and was ridden to victory by Raul Herrera, Benito Baca and Jesus Ayala. It didn’t matter who rode him, he was intent to win regardless.
Tracked by more than 167,000 fans on Facebook and 10,400 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $261 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 features live and simulcast horse racing, and the casino is always open! Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – April 20, 2025 – Shy Kisser wasn’t shy about showing her competition to losers alley as she won the $100,000 Dee Raper Sooner State Stakes on Saturday at Remington Park as a 22-1 longshot.
The race is a restricted Grade 1 for Oklahoma-breds, 3-years-old and older at 400 yards.
Jockey Mario Delgado used every ounce of energy encouraging the 6-year-old Oklahoma-bred mare to get there first. In the end, Shy Kisser slapped the kiss of fate on her opponents with a win by a head. She returned a healthy $47.80 to win, $27.80 to place and $7.40 to show.
Hooked N Gone, the class of the field with $570,323 earned, held the lead most of the race until Shy Kisser just nailed him at the wire. Hooked N Gone is a graded stakes winner and Shy Kisser’s only previous stakes win came in the $24,000 Miss Ellen Stakes at Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla., last fall.
Shy Kisser earned $57,600 for her efforts and improved her career running lines to 26 starts, five wins, six seconds and six thirds. The mare has made $234,364 in earnings for owner Leobardo Soria of Oklahoma City, who won the Sooner State for the first time. She was bought for $19,000 at the Heritage Place September Yearling Sale in Oklahoma City. Trainer Juvenal Licona-Vazquez won this race for the first time, but it was the second time Delgado has made it to the winner’s circle in the Sooner State. He also won this race in 2020 with Eagles Fly Higher.
Running time for the winner was :19.574 for a speed-index of 96, over a sloppy track. The rest of the order of finish past the top two was Lucky Luke (21-1) third, One Stolin Eagle (7-2) fourth, Paint Your Lips P (32-1) fifth, Cardiac Cowboy (6-1) sixth, Heza Relentless Mess (21-1) seventh, Rare Roy (46-1) eighth and the even-money favorite RGs Gold Wagon was last after rearing up high at the start of the race.
The Sooner State Stakes honors influential Oklahoma horseman Dee Raper. He played a key role in helping Oklahoma pass pari-mutuel racing legislation in the early 1980s. Raper also served 14 years as president of the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association, all while operating Belle Mere Farms in Norman, Okla. with his wife Betty. Belle Mere stood such top stallions Bully Bullion and Mr Eye Opener, while campaigning the likes of Eye Yin You to multiple stakes triumphs. Dee Raper was inducted into the Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame at Remington Park in 2012.
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Remington Park has provided more than $377 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 $1,000,000 Heritage Place Futurity on May 31, the final night of this meet. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
Photo: Shy Kisser (8) wins the Dee Raper Sooner State Stakes on Saturday, April 19, 2025 at Remington Park. Jockey Mario Delgado was up for the triumph. 📸: Dustin Orona Photography... ’Expand’See Less
𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐒 𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐋𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐒 𝐁𝐎𝐁 𝐌𝐎𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐓 𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐀𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐒 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍 𝐔𝐏 by Richard Linihan
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – April 20, 2025 – Heavens Uncle won for the fourth time in five starts at Remington Park as he cruised over a sloppy racing surface to win the Grade 2, $54,800 Bob Moore Memorial Stakes in a heavy downpour.
The 3-year-old Oklahoma-bred gelded son of Uncle D, out of the Streak and Dash mare Heavens Assured, sped to his second stakes victory here after winning the Grade 1 (restricted) $854,775 Remington Park Futurity on April 29, 2024 by a head. Bryan Candanosa was up for that futurity score and had the leg up from trainer Guillermo Valdivia again on Saturday night in the Bob Moore while sent off as the betting favorite at 2-1 odds. His only loss at Remington Park was a second-place finish in his first career start among maidens when he fell short by a neck on March 16, 2024. He has not lost at Remington Park since that initial attempt.
This was the first time Heavens Uncle had raced over an off track and he seemed to like it just fine. He won $34,500 from the purse, improving his career record to nine starts, five wins, two seconds and one third, getting ever closer to the half-million dollar mark in earnings with $497,519. Heavens Uncle was bred and is owned by Sherry Gilmore of Sallisaw, Okla.
Candanosa broke on top with Heavens Uncle and held onto his half-length margin from mid-stretch to the wire. The top four favorites in the race completed the superfecta in the exact order. AB Boogie (3-1) was the runner-up, a head in front of third-place finisher Apollitical Ike (5-1). Believe in Perry (6-1) ran fourth, one length behind the winner. The rest of the order of finish was The Swamp (13-1) fifth, Rustys Cowgirl (12-1) sixth, Eye Dynasty (30-1) seventh, Striking Breeze (34-1) eighth, and Liberty for Jess (24-1) ninth.
Running time for the winner at 300 yards was :15.049, the fastest time of the meet at that distance. Heavens Uncle earned a speed-index of 106 for the effort.
Heavens Uncle paid $4.40 to win, $2.80 to place and $2.20 to show. Cowboys Gun Z, the 5-2 morning line favorite, was an early scratch from the Bob Moore.
It was the second win in the Bob Moore for Valdivia, who also won this race in 2019 with Eye Captain. Candanosa and Gilmore won for the first time in this series.
The Bob Moore Memorial is named in honor of the Hall of Fame horseman who was prominent in American Quarter Horse racing for over four decades, operating from his Norman, Okla. farm. Bob Moore Farms continues to be a leader in breeding quality horses. ••••
Remington Park has provided more than $377 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 $1,000,000 Heritage Place Futurity on May 31, the final night of this meet. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
Photo: Heavens Uncle (7) wins the Bob Moore Memorial on Saturday, April 19, 2025 at Remington Park. Jockey Bryan Candanosa was up for the victory. 📸: Dustin Orona Photography... ’Expand’See Less
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – April 20, 2025 – Nearly everyone forgot that Alliekat Dynasty loves the Remington Park racetrack like she loves sweet feed on a day off. The 4-year-old mare didn’t forget how to win, however, as she flew to victory Saturday night in the Grade 2, $82,520 Easy Date Stakes at 13-1 odds.
The Easy Date is for fillies and mares, three and older, at 350 yards.
Alliekat Dynasty, an Oklahoma-bred mare by FDD Dynasty, out of the Apollitical Jess mare Pollitical Scorpion, won for the seventh time in 11 starts at Remington Park and pocketed $47,925 from the purse for owner Arrowhead Racing (Anita Ruiz) of Wapanucka, Okla. Alliekat Dynasty is trained by Jesus Ruiz.
Alliekat Dynasty has now won three stakes races in Oklahoma City – the FL Lady Bug Stakes in 2023; the Grade 2 Decketta Stakes in 2024, and now the Easy Date. She was bred by Jahree Standridge. Interestingly enough, Standridge won the Easy Date Stakes as an owner and it was done with Alliekat Dynasty’s dam (mother), Pollitical Scorpion in 2016.
Alliekat Dynasty provided the first win in the Easy Date Stakes for all her connections.
The reason Alliekat Dynasty may have been ignored at 13-1 odds, was that she had not won a race in almost a year (May 12, 2024) and was on a four-race non-winning streak going into the Easy Date. Jockey Roman Cruz put her on the lead over a sloppy track with rain falling and nothing bothered her as she battled to the wire for a win by a head over Curls Joyful Wagon.
Those who stayed loyal to Alliekat Dynasty on this night were rewarded with a return of $28 to win, $7.60 to place and $5.60 to show. Curls Joyful Wagon (the heavy 3-5 favorite), was coming hard at the winner in the latter stages, but couldn’t quite catch her. The favorite was a nose ahead of 43-1 longshot Paige. That 50-cent trifecta paid $541.50. The 10-cent superfecta with 13-1 longshot Hallmarke running fourth was worth $893.03.
The rest of the order of finish in the Easy date was BP Moonlight (10-1) fifth, First Time for Wine (6-1) sixth, Flying Sophia (5-1) seventh, I Got Thiss (20-1) eighth, and Relentless Diamond (27-1) ninth. Edelyns PYC was a gate scratch in the race.
Alliekat Dynasty improved her career record to 15 starts, nine wins, one second and two thirds for a bankroll of $299,867. The winner won for the sixth time in seven starts at 350 yards.
The Easy Date Stakes is named after the 1974 All American Futurity winner and 1975 American Quarter Horse World Champion who was bred, owned and trained by Walter Merrick of Sayre, Okla.
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Remington Park has provided more than $377 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 $1,000,000 Heritage Place Futurity on May 31, the final night of this meet. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
Photo: Alliekat Dynasty (yellow shadow roll) wins the Easy Date Stakes on Saturday, April 19, 2025 at Remington Park. Jockey Roman Cruz was up for the score. 📸: Dustin Orona Photography... ’Expand’See Less
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DANJER VOTED CHAMPION HORSE OF MEET FOR 2021 REMINGTON PARK SPRING SEASON
OKLAHOMA CITY – June 7, 2021 – The 2020 AQHA Champion Aged Horse and Gelding, Danjer, is doing his best to repeat in that category, being named Horse of the Meet at Remington Park for the recently completed 2021 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season.
The 5-year-old gelding, trained by Dean Frey and owned by Frey, Downtime Enterprises and Billy G. Smith of Rancho Mirage, Calif., raised some doubts in his season debut, running second in the Grade 1 Leo Stakes as the 8-5 betting favorite on May 1. Danjer avenged that nose loss to Jess My Hocks in one of the toughest races for older horses ever put together in the Grade 1, $322,081 Debbie Schauf Remington Park Championship on May 29.
Among the competitors he beat that night were Apollitical Pence, who is a millionaire racehorse and had won the $600,000 Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos in California last winter; Jess My Hocks, a winner in four of his last five starts, coming into the race, three of them stakes victories; Valiant Tiberias, who was on a three stakes win streak coming into the race; Mi Amor Secreto, an earner of $604,344 that had run a head back of Danjer in the $252,000 Challenge Championship at the Downs at Albuquerque, and Perrys Double Down, winner of the $393,000 Texas Classic Derby on Nov. 28 last year.
Danjer’s win in the Debbie Schauf Remington Park Championship was amazing in the manner that it was done. The son of FDD Dynasty, from the Take Off Jess mare Shez Jess Toxic, broke a full length behind Apollitical Pence and Mi Amor Secreto and made up the full length and more in the final 100 yards, squeezing through those two horses to get up for the win. Cody Smith booted him home for the win that was so visibly impressive, Danjer came close to being a unanimous vote for Horse of the Meet. He was voted unanimous Champion in the Older Male category and was also named Champion Oklahoma-bred.
Here’s a look at the rest of the 2021 Remington Park Champions:
Champion 2-year-old – Jet Black Grace
This gelded son of Jet Black Patriot, out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Thrill and Grace, won the richest race in Oklahoma horse racing history, taking down the Grade 1, $1,314,980 Heritage Place Futurity on May 29. Despite remaining undefeated in his career at three-for-three, he went off at generous odds of 8-1. The gelding is owned by Zitro Racing Corp. of Forney, Texas, trained by Fidencio Jimenez and was ridden to victory by Remington’s champion jockey this meet, Juan Pulido.
Champion 3-year-old – Relentlessly
Upsetting Instygator, a horse that had lost the 2020 Grade 1, $3 million All American Futurity by a neck, went a long way to giving Relentlessly the Championship in this category. The 3-year-old colt pulled off the upset in the Grade 2, $361,010 Heritage Place Derby on May 29.
He won three-of-four starts this meet, including two derby trials for owner Aguila Negra Racing of Fairview Heights, Ill. It was his fourth win in seven tries at Remington Park lifetime. The son of Hes Relentless, out of the Carters Cartel mare Runaway Renata, was ridden to victory by Raul Valenzuela in the Heritage Place Derby.
Champion Older Female – Cat Daddys Lil Girl
This 5-year-old gray mare by Big Daddy Cartel, out of the Man On the Move mare Girlonthego, only had two starts, but won both of them against stakes horses. She won the $75,000 Easy Date Stakes on April 17 and finished the meet with a score in the Grade 1, $128,241 Junos Request Stakes on May 29. She was a unanimous winner of her category. She is owned by Jimmy Negrete and Jimmy Vasquez of Carlsbad, N.M., trained by Jason Giles and was taken to the winner’s circle by jockey Noe Garcia, Jr.
Champion Distance Runner – Wascallywittlewabbit
This 6-year-old gelding came into his own after running fourth in his first race of the meet off a November-March layoff. He was much stronger for the two best 870-yard distance stakes of the season, the Grade 2 Pauls Valley on April 1 and the Grade 1, $64,000 Remington Park Distance Championship on May 29. He beat past champions Ms Esther and Madewell in that final stake. Ms Esther was distance champion at Remington Park two years ago and Madewell was last year’s AQHA Distance Champion. This gelding won by unanimous vote.
Wascallywittlewabbit, by Heza Motor Scooter, out of the Rabbits Rainbow mare Rabbits N Diamonds, is owned by Rogers Farms in Clint, Texas. He is trained by Michael Joiner and was ridden to both stakes victories at Remington by Benito Baca.
Champion Paint – Smithworks
Smithworks was not only Champion Paint but most likely the feel good story of the year, having barely survived birth, losing his mother in the process, refusing to eat for a few days after being foaled and then turning into an incredible runner. The 2-year-old colt by multiple World Champion Painted Turnpike, out of the Mighty Invictus (QH) late mare Shesa Mighty Chick, won the $196,100 Oklahoma Paint & Appaloosa Futurity. He lost his next stakes final to RF Livies Livewire in the $159,500 American Paint Classic Futurity in April, when this champ was not feeling well.
Smithworks came back and showed what he was made of by winning sharply in the richest Paint and Appaloosa race ever run, the Grade 1, $289,075 Speedhorse Graham Paint and Appaloosa Futurity on May 29. He is owned by Bryan Hawk of Shawnee, Okla. and trained by Matt Whitekiller, his breeder. Smithworks was ridden to victory in the Oklahoma Paint & Appaloosa Futurity by Francisco Calderon. Jockey Cody Smith had the winning mount in the Speedhorse Graham Futurity.
Champion Appaloosa – Queen For Cash
For the second year in a row this 3-year-old filly was voted top Appaloosa.
The daughter of Hes Relentless (QH), out of the Ivory James (QH) mare Ivory Queen, won the $40,250 Speedhorse Stakes on March 20 and then finished third in the Grade 1, $43,500 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Stakes on May 29.
Queen For Cash is owned by Gary Vaughan of Coalgate, Okla., trained by Carlos Ruiz and was ridden this meet by Daniel Torres. Queen of Cash was a unanimous choice in her category.
Champion Claimer – Alotalota
This 4-year-old gelding by Lota PYC, out of the Corona Cartel mare Crazy About Corona, won three-of-four starts this meet, taking his picture in a conditional allowance race, an optional $40,000 claiming race, an optional $100,000 claiming race and running second in an optional $50,000 claiming race. He is owned by Whiting Ranch of Bells, Texas, trained by Delbert McDowell and was ridden to victory by Raul Herrera, Benito Baca and Jesus Ayala. It didn’t matter who rode him, he was intent to win regardless.
Tracked by more than 167,000 fans on Facebook and 10,400 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $261 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 features live and simulcast horse racing, and the casino is always open! Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
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𝐒𝐇𝐘 𝐊𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐋𝐀𝐏𝐒 𝐁𝐈𝐆 𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐎𝐍 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐒, 𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐄 𝐑𝐀𝐏𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐎𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐓 𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊
By Richard Linihan
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – April 20, 2025 – Shy Kisser wasn’t shy about showing her competition to losers alley as she won the $100,000 Dee Raper Sooner State Stakes on Saturday at Remington Park as a 22-1 longshot.
The race is a restricted Grade 1 for Oklahoma-breds, 3-years-old and older at 400 yards.
Jockey Mario Delgado used every ounce of energy encouraging the 6-year-old Oklahoma-bred mare to get there first. In the end, Shy Kisser slapped the kiss of fate on her opponents with a win by a head. She returned a healthy $47.80 to win, $27.80 to place and $7.40 to show.
Hooked N Gone, the class of the field with $570,323 earned, held the lead most of the race until Shy Kisser just nailed him at the wire. Hooked N Gone is a graded stakes winner and Shy Kisser’s only previous stakes win came in the $24,000 Miss Ellen Stakes at Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla., last fall.
Shy Kisser earned $57,600 for her efforts and improved her career running lines to 26 starts, five wins, six seconds and six thirds. The mare has made $234,364 in earnings for owner Leobardo Soria of Oklahoma City, who won the Sooner State for the first time. She was bought for $19,000 at the Heritage Place September Yearling Sale in Oklahoma City. Trainer Juvenal Licona-Vazquez won this race for the first time, but it was the second time Delgado has made it to the winner’s circle in the Sooner State. He also won this race in 2020 with Eagles Fly Higher.
Running time for the winner was :19.574 for a speed-index of 96, over a sloppy track. The rest of the order of finish past the top two was Lucky Luke (21-1) third, One Stolin Eagle (7-2) fourth, Paint Your Lips P (32-1) fifth, Cardiac Cowboy (6-1) sixth, Heza Relentless Mess (21-1) seventh, Rare Roy (46-1) eighth and the even-money favorite RGs Gold Wagon was last after rearing up high at the start of the race.
The Sooner State Stakes honors influential Oklahoma horseman Dee Raper. He played a key role in helping Oklahoma pass pari-mutuel racing legislation in the early 1980s. Raper also served 14 years as president of the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association, all while operating Belle Mere Farms in Norman, Okla. with his wife Betty. Belle Mere stood such top stallions Bully Bullion and Mr Eye Opener, while campaigning the likes of Eye Yin You to multiple stakes triumphs. Dee Raper was inducted into the Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame at Remington Park in 2012.
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Remington Park has provided more than $377 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 $1,000,000 Heritage Place Futurity on May 31, the final night of this meet. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
Photo: Shy Kisser (8) wins the Dee Raper Sooner State Stakes on Saturday, April 19, 2025 at Remington Park. Jockey Mario Delgado was up for the triumph. 📸: Dustin Orona Photography ... ’Expand’See Less
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𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐒 𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐋𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐒 𝐁𝐎𝐁 𝐌𝐎𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐓 𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐀𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐒 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍 𝐔𝐏
by Richard Linihan
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – April 20, 2025 – Heavens Uncle won for the fourth time in five starts at Remington Park as he cruised over a sloppy racing surface to win the Grade 2, $54,800 Bob Moore Memorial Stakes in a heavy downpour.
The 3-year-old Oklahoma-bred gelded son of Uncle D, out of the Streak and Dash mare Heavens Assured, sped to his second stakes victory here after winning the Grade 1 (restricted) $854,775 Remington Park Futurity on April 29, 2024 by a head. Bryan Candanosa was up for that futurity score and had the leg up from trainer Guillermo Valdivia again on Saturday night in the Bob Moore while sent off as the betting favorite at 2-1 odds. His only loss at Remington Park was a second-place finish in his first career start among maidens when he fell short by a neck on March 16, 2024. He has not lost at Remington Park since that initial attempt.
This was the first time Heavens Uncle had raced over an off track and he seemed to like it just fine. He won $34,500 from the purse, improving his career record to nine starts, five wins, two seconds and one third, getting ever closer to the half-million dollar mark in earnings with $497,519. Heavens Uncle was bred and is owned by Sherry Gilmore of Sallisaw, Okla.
Candanosa broke on top with Heavens Uncle and held onto his half-length margin from mid-stretch to the wire. The top four favorites in the race completed the superfecta in the exact order. AB Boogie (3-1) was the runner-up, a head in front of third-place finisher Apollitical Ike (5-1). Believe in Perry (6-1) ran fourth, one length behind the winner. The rest of the order of finish was The Swamp (13-1) fifth, Rustys Cowgirl (12-1) sixth, Eye Dynasty (30-1) seventh, Striking Breeze (34-1) eighth, and Liberty for Jess (24-1) ninth.
Running time for the winner at 300 yards was :15.049, the fastest time of the meet at that distance. Heavens Uncle earned a speed-index of 106 for the effort.
Heavens Uncle paid $4.40 to win, $2.80 to place and $2.20 to show. Cowboys Gun Z, the 5-2 morning line favorite, was an early scratch from the Bob Moore.
It was the second win in the Bob Moore for Valdivia, who also won this race in 2019 with Eye Captain. Candanosa and Gilmore won for the first time in this series.
The Bob Moore Memorial is named in honor of the Hall of Fame horseman who was prominent in American Quarter Horse racing for over four decades, operating from his Norman, Okla. farm. Bob Moore Farms continues to be a leader in breeding quality horses.
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Remington Park has provided more than $377 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 $1,000,000 Heritage Place Futurity on May 31, the final night of this meet. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
Photo: Heavens Uncle (7) wins the Bob Moore Memorial on Saturday, April 19, 2025 at Remington Park. Jockey Bryan Candanosa was up for the victory. 📸: Dustin Orona Photography ... ’Expand’See Less
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𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐊𝐀𝐓 𝐃𝐘𝐍𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐘, 𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐓 𝟏𝟑-𝟏 𝐎𝐃𝐃𝐒, 𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐀𝐒 𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐎𝐏 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐓 𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐈𝐍 𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐘 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐒
by Richard Linihan
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – April 20, 2025 – Nearly everyone forgot that Alliekat Dynasty loves the Remington Park racetrack like she loves sweet feed on a day off. The 4-year-old mare didn’t forget how to win, however, as she flew to victory Saturday night in the Grade 2, $82,520 Easy Date Stakes at 13-1 odds.
The Easy Date is for fillies and mares, three and older, at 350 yards.
Alliekat Dynasty, an Oklahoma-bred mare by FDD Dynasty, out of the Apollitical Jess mare Pollitical Scorpion, won for the seventh time in 11 starts at Remington Park and pocketed $47,925 from the purse for owner Arrowhead Racing (Anita Ruiz) of Wapanucka, Okla. Alliekat Dynasty is trained by Jesus Ruiz.
Alliekat Dynasty has now won three stakes races in Oklahoma City – the FL Lady Bug Stakes in 2023; the Grade 2 Decketta Stakes in 2024, and now the Easy Date. She was bred by Jahree Standridge. Interestingly enough, Standridge won the Easy Date Stakes as an owner and it was done with Alliekat Dynasty’s dam (mother), Pollitical Scorpion in 2016.
Alliekat Dynasty provided the first win in the Easy Date Stakes for all her connections.
The reason Alliekat Dynasty may have been ignored at 13-1 odds, was that she had not won a race in almost a year (May 12, 2024) and was on a four-race non-winning streak going into the Easy Date. Jockey Roman Cruz put her on the lead over a sloppy track with rain falling and nothing bothered her as she battled to the wire for a win by a head over Curls Joyful Wagon.
Those who stayed loyal to Alliekat Dynasty on this night were rewarded with a return of $28 to win, $7.60 to place and $5.60 to show. Curls Joyful Wagon (the heavy 3-5 favorite), was coming hard at the winner in the latter stages, but couldn’t quite catch her. The favorite was a nose ahead of 43-1 longshot Paige. That 50-cent trifecta paid $541.50. The 10-cent superfecta with 13-1 longshot Hallmarke running fourth was worth $893.03.
The rest of the order of finish in the Easy date was BP Moonlight (10-1) fifth, First Time for Wine (6-1) sixth, Flying Sophia (5-1) seventh, I Got Thiss (20-1) eighth, and Relentless Diamond (27-1) ninth. Edelyns PYC was a gate scratch in the race.
Alliekat Dynasty improved her career record to 15 starts, nine wins, one second and two thirds for a bankroll of $299,867. The winner won for the sixth time in seven starts at 350 yards.
The Easy Date Stakes is named after the 1974 All American Futurity winner and 1975 American Quarter Horse World Champion who was bred, owned and trained by Walter Merrick of Sayre, Okla.
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Remington Park has provided more than $377 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 $1,000,000 Heritage Place Futurity on May 31, the final night of this meet. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
Photo: Alliekat Dynasty (yellow shadow roll) wins the Easy Date Stakes on Saturday, April 19, 2025 at Remington Park. Jockey Roman Cruz was up for the score. 📸: Dustin Orona Photography ... ’Expand’See Less
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