EMPRESSUM OVERCOMES A ROUGH START AND SHOW DETERMINATION TO WIN REMINGTON PARK DERBY
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – April 18, 2021 – Top Oklahoma-bred 3-year-olds battled over 400 yards in the $355,800 Remington Park Derbyon Saturday night. The restricted Grade 2 race was taken with an outstanding effort by Empressum.
Owned by the Guthrie, Okla. Partnership of Jeff Jones and Steve Holt, Empressum had to overcome a poor start, contact from rivals on both sides and then move between those same rivals to contend before getting victory.
“He showed a tremendous amount of heart and determination after what happened out of the gate,” noted winning trainer Heath Taylor. “Rodrigo (Vallejo, jockey) told me he had to split horses in tight to pass those two (Candy Blood, No. 1 and B Cause Im a Hero, No. 3). That tells you something about our horse right there.”
A gelding by Apollitical Jess from the First Down Dash mare Crazy Down Corona, Empressum was fifth just before the halfway point of the derby. Vallejo continued to hand-ride his mount into a slight opening before going to work once they found more room. HR Princess Jess led out of the gate but could not sustain that effort for the entire measure. Candy Blood, who made early contact with Empressum, was very game but didn’t have enough late to hold off the winner.
Empressum crossed the finish line a neck better than Candy Blood, the beaten 6-5 wagering favorite. HR Princess Jess settled for third, another neck back. Empressum handled the 400 yards in :19.625 to earn a speed index of 92. The remaining order of finish included Apollitical Bird (4th), B Cause Im a Hero (5th), A Pollitical Gal (6th), Apollitical Gold (7th), Everlong (8th) and MH Apollitical Spy (9th).
Overlooked at 16-1 odds, Empressum paid $34 to win, $11 to place and $6.40 to show. He won his sixth career race from nine attempts. The first-place derby check of $142,320 moves his lifetime bankroll to $213,478.
This was the first Remington Park Derby win for owners Jones and Holt, also for jockey Vallejo. Empressum provided the second win in the race for Taylor who saddled First Carolina to victory in 2007.
Now a winner of two consecutive races, Empressum may not be finished with what has turned out to be a solid spring at Remington Park, according to Taylor.
“There are some stakes at the end of the meet we might run him in here but he’s also paid into some Texas races too. We’ll let the horse tell us what to do after we see how he came out of this.”
Remington Park racing continues on Sunday, April 18, with the first of 11 events at 6pm-Central.
•••••
Tracked by more than 165,000 fans on Facebook and 10,400 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $260 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 home to the $1 million Heritage Place Futurity on May 29. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – April 18, 2025 – Entice Me Ona Monday, the top qualifier from the first of two nights of trials, has been tabbed as the morning-line favorite for Saturday night’s $868,455 Remington Park Futurity.
Entice Me Ona Monday is the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the restricted Grade 1 event, for eligible Oklahoma-bred 2-year-olds. Owned by Tejas Troubadours of Rhome, Texas and trained by Jason Olmstead, Entice Me Ona Monday put up the best time at 330 yards on Friday, April 4 to head a group of five from that first night of trials for the Remington Park Futurity. Jockey Ramiro Garcia was up for the trial and has chosen to stay on the gelding by Cyber Monday from the Make It Anywhere mare Enticilizeur.
Garcia also qualified three other Olmstead runners for the Remington Park Futurity in Illegal Cowgirl 123, Good Blue Candy and AJs Secret Cash but elected to stay with Entice Me Ona Monday.
The Oklahoma Futurity winner in March, Flying Joy 1, is the second morning-line favorite at 9-2 odds. She finished second on trials night to Entice Me Ona Monday, beaten a half-length. The placing was the first defeat for Flying Joy 1 from three starts this season. She posted victory in the Oklahoma Futurity on March 22 for owner David Rogers of Graham, Texas and trainer Trey Wood. Jockey Ricky Ramirez keeps his usual mount for the Remington Park Futurity.
Jamies Sin Tacha, the top qualifier from the second evening of trials on Saturday, April 5, is the third morning-line favorite at 5-1 odds. Jamies Sin Tacha is owned by Miguel Vargas of Grand Prairie, Texas and trained by James J. Gonzales III. He will be ridden again by Christian Cardenas.
The field of 10, by post-position and program order, for the Remington Park Futurity with trainer, jockey and morning-line odds:
• Illegal Cowgirl 123: Jason Olmstead, Armando Alvidrez, 6-1 • Jamies Sin Tacha: James J. Gonzales III, Christian Cardenas, 5-1 • MM Rampage: Trey Wood, Angel O. Ramirez, 10-1 • Entice Me Ona Monday: Jason Olmstead, Ramiro Garcia, 2-1 • Maverykk: Michael Joiner, Francisco Calderon, 20-1 • Eyem D Prince: Salimm Hernandez, Agustin Silva, 20-1 • Good Blue Candy: Jason Olmstead, Eugenio Navarrete, 20-1 • AJs Secret Cash: Jason Olmstead, Francisco Ramirez, Jr., 8-1 • Ima Bigg Flash: John Stinebaugh, Ali Rivera, 8-1 • Flying Joy 1: Trey Wood, Ricky Ramirez, 9-2
The Remington Park Futurity, at 330 yards, is the 10th of 12 races on Saturday night and is scheduled to leave the gate at 10:03pm. The racing program for the evening also boasts eight other stakes events, including: $100,000 Dee Raper Sooner State Stakes; the $160,670 Remington Park Oaks and the $185,420 Remington Park Derby, among the others. The total purses for the 12-race program stand at more than $1.6 million.
The first race on Saturday is at 6pm. All times are Central.
Remington Park racing resumes tonight through Saturday, April 17-19. Saturday, April 19 is Remington Park Futurity Night. First race nightly is 6pm-Central. There is no Remington Park racing on Easter.
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EMPRESSUM OVERCOMES A ROUGH START AND SHOW DETERMINATION TO WIN REMINGTON PARK DERBY
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – April 18, 2021 – Top Oklahoma-bred 3-year-olds battled over 400 yards in the $355,800 Remington Park Derbyon Saturday night. The restricted Grade 2 race was taken with an outstanding effort by Empressum.
Owned by the Guthrie, Okla. Partnership of Jeff Jones and Steve Holt, Empressum had to overcome a poor start, contact from rivals on both sides and then move between those same rivals to contend before getting victory.
“He showed a tremendous amount of heart and determination after what happened out of the gate,” noted winning trainer Heath Taylor. “Rodrigo (Vallejo, jockey) told me he had to split horses in tight to pass those two (Candy Blood, No. 1 and B Cause Im a Hero, No. 3). That tells you something about our horse right there.”
A gelding by Apollitical Jess from the First Down Dash mare Crazy Down Corona, Empressum was fifth just before the halfway point of the derby. Vallejo continued to hand-ride his mount into a slight opening before going to work once they found more room. HR Princess Jess led out of the gate but could not sustain that effort for the entire measure. Candy Blood, who made early contact with Empressum, was very game but didn’t have enough late to hold off the winner.
Empressum crossed the finish line a neck better than Candy Blood, the beaten 6-5 wagering favorite. HR Princess Jess settled for third, another neck back. Empressum handled the 400 yards in :19.625 to earn a speed index of 92. The remaining order of finish included Apollitical Bird (4th), B Cause Im a Hero (5th), A Pollitical Gal (6th), Apollitical Gold (7th), Everlong (8th) and MH Apollitical Spy (9th).
Overlooked at 16-1 odds, Empressum paid $34 to win, $11 to place and $6.40 to show. He won his sixth career race from nine attempts. The first-place derby check of $142,320 moves his lifetime bankroll to $213,478.
This was the first Remington Park Derby win for owners Jones and Holt, also for jockey Vallejo. Empressum provided the second win in the race for Taylor who saddled First Carolina to victory in 2007.
Now a winner of two consecutive races, Empressum may not be finished with what has turned out to be a solid spring at Remington Park, according to Taylor.
“There are some stakes at the end of the meet we might run him in here but he’s also paid into some Texas races too. We’ll let the horse tell us what to do after we see how he came out of this.”
Remington Park racing continues on Sunday, April 18, with the first of 11 events at 6pm-Central.
•••••
Tracked by more than 165,000 fans on Facebook and 10,400 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $260 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 home to the $1 million Heritage Place Futurity on May 29. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – April 18, 2025 – Entice Me Ona Monday, the top qualifier from the first of two nights of trials, has been tabbed as the morning-line favorite for Saturday night’s $868,455 Remington Park Futurity.
Entice Me Ona Monday is the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the restricted Grade 1 event, for eligible Oklahoma-bred 2-year-olds. Owned by Tejas Troubadours of Rhome, Texas and trained by Jason Olmstead, Entice Me Ona Monday put up the best time at 330 yards on Friday, April 4 to head a group of five from that first night of trials for the Remington Park Futurity. Jockey Ramiro Garcia was up for the trial and has chosen to stay on the gelding by Cyber Monday from the Make It Anywhere mare Enticilizeur.
Garcia also qualified three other Olmstead runners for the Remington Park Futurity in Illegal Cowgirl 123, Good Blue Candy and AJs Secret Cash but elected to stay with Entice Me Ona Monday.
The Oklahoma Futurity winner in March, Flying Joy 1, is the second morning-line favorite at 9-2 odds. She finished second on trials night to Entice Me Ona Monday, beaten a half-length. The placing was the first defeat for Flying Joy 1 from three starts this season. She posted victory in the Oklahoma Futurity on March 22 for owner David Rogers of Graham, Texas and trainer Trey Wood. Jockey Ricky Ramirez keeps his usual mount for the Remington Park Futurity.
Jamies Sin Tacha, the top qualifier from the second evening of trials on Saturday, April 5, is the third morning-line favorite at 5-1 odds. Jamies Sin Tacha is owned by Miguel Vargas of Grand Prairie, Texas and trained by James J. Gonzales III. He will be ridden again by Christian Cardenas.
The field of 10, by post-position and program order, for the Remington Park Futurity with trainer, jockey and morning-line odds:
• Illegal Cowgirl 123: Jason Olmstead, Armando Alvidrez,
6-1
• Jamies Sin Tacha: James J. Gonzales III, Christian Cardenas,
5-1
• MM Rampage: Trey Wood, Angel O. Ramirez,
10-1
• Entice Me Ona Monday: Jason Olmstead, Ramiro Garcia,
2-1
• Maverykk: Michael Joiner, Francisco Calderon,
20-1
• Eyem D Prince: Salimm Hernandez, Agustin Silva,
20-1
• Good Blue Candy: Jason Olmstead, Eugenio Navarrete,
20-1
• AJs Secret Cash: Jason Olmstead, Francisco Ramirez, Jr.,
8-1
• Ima Bigg Flash: John Stinebaugh, Ali Rivera,
8-1
• Flying Joy 1: Trey Wood, Ricky Ramirez,
9-2
The Remington Park Futurity, at 330 yards, is the 10th of 12 races on Saturday night and is scheduled to leave the gate at 10:03pm. The racing program for the evening also boasts eight other stakes events, including: $100,000 Dee Raper Sooner State Stakes; the $160,670 Remington Park Oaks and the $185,420 Remington Park Derby, among the others. The total purses for the 12-race program stand at more than $1.6 million.
The first race on Saturday is at 6pm. All times are Central.
Remington Park racing resumes tonight through Saturday, April 17-19. Saturday, April 19 is Remington Park Futurity Night. First race nightly is 6pm-Central. There is no Remington Park racing on Easter.
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