EMPRESSUM WINS DEBBIE SCHAUF REMINGTON PARK CHAMPIONSHIP IN THRILLING RALLY
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – May 31, 2026 – A tremendous field of 12 older American Quarter Horses went to the starting gate for the Grade 1, $256,160 Debbie Schauf Remington Park Championship on Saturday, May 30. It took every inch of the classic 440-yards for Empressum to make his way to the finish, winning by a nose in the final stride.
The 8-year-old Oklahoma-bred has captured most of the top races for older horses in his career, racking up 25 wins from 41 lifetime attempts coming into the championship with earnings north of $2.5 million. When he started, Empressum walked out of the gates and was ahead of only Holy Pete, trailing 10 others. As the race progressed, jockey Rodrigo Vallejo finally had Empressum on the move, picking off rivals and running his best in the final 100 yards. There, he made up nearly a full length on KJ Desparado who had won the early battle for the lead over Church Spire and was trying to outlast all those who were closing in. However, Empressum had one final burst and caught the all-time leading money earner in Quarter Horse racing at the finish, for the nose triumph.
Empressum handled the 440 yards in :21.307 on the fast track, good for a speed index of 105.
Owned by the Guthrie, Okla. partnership of Steve Holt and Jeff Jones, Empressum is now trained by Fernando Manriquez. It is the first victory in the Debbie Schauf Remington Park Championship for those connections. Vallejo was the winning jockey in the race in 2018 aboard Jessies First Down.
Empressum went off as the wagering favorite at 8-5 odds, paying $5.20 to win, $3.20 to place and $2.60 to show. KJ Desparado (6-1) returned $5.80 to place and $4 to show. Church Spire (5-1) paid $4.80 to show.
The remaining order of finish was: Hooked N Gone (11-1), fourth; Holy Pete (19-1) fifth; Shakers No Secret (19-1) sixth; Toastin Heros (5-1) seventh; Lethal Cowboy 123 (8-1) eighth; Cowboys Gun Z (32-1) ninth; Bigg Picture (38-1) 10th; Ultimate Battle (44-1) 11th and Stetsonn (26-1) 12th.
The winner’s share of $144,300 moves the career earnings for Empressum to $2,701,248. His last victory in Oklahoma City was in the 2021 Remington Park Derby. Overall he now has 42 starts, 26 wins, 11 seconds and no thirds. He is by Apollitical Jess from the First Down Dash mare Crazy Down Corona and was bred by his owners.
The Remington Park Championship, the top race for older American Quarter Horses locally, was renamed the Debbie Schauf Remington Park Championship in 2020 in honor of the late executive director of the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association.
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Remington Park has provided more than $411 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. The 2026 Thoroughbred Season at Remington Park will begin on August 21. Remington Park presents year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. Guests must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or to enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
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EMPRESSUM WINS DEBBIE SCHAUF REMINGTON PARK CHAMPIONSHIP IN THRILLING RALLY
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – May 31, 2026 – A tremendous field of 12 older American Quarter Horses went to the starting gate for the Grade 1, $256,160 Debbie Schauf Remington Park Championship on Saturday, May 30. It took every inch of the classic 440-yards for Empressum to make his way to the finish, winning by a nose in the final stride.
The 8-year-old Oklahoma-bred has captured most of the top races for older horses in his career, racking up 25 wins from 41 lifetime attempts coming into the championship with earnings north of $2.5 million. When he started, Empressum walked out of the gates and was ahead of only Holy Pete, trailing 10 others. As the race progressed, jockey Rodrigo Vallejo finally had Empressum on the move, picking off rivals and running his best in the final 100 yards. There, he made up nearly a full length on KJ Desparado who had won the early battle for the lead over Church Spire and was trying to outlast all those who were closing in. However, Empressum had one final burst and caught the all-time leading money earner in Quarter Horse racing at the finish, for the nose triumph.
Empressum handled the 440 yards in :21.307 on the fast track, good for a speed index of 105.
Owned by the Guthrie, Okla. partnership of Steve Holt and Jeff Jones, Empressum is now trained by Fernando Manriquez. It is the first victory in the Debbie Schauf Remington Park Championship for those connections. Vallejo was the winning jockey in the race in 2018 aboard Jessies First Down.
Empressum went off as the wagering favorite at 8-5 odds, paying $5.20 to win, $3.20 to place and $2.60 to show. KJ Desparado (6-1) returned $5.80 to place and $4 to show. Church Spire (5-1) paid $4.80 to show.
The remaining order of finish was: Hooked N Gone (11-1), fourth; Holy Pete (19-1) fifth; Shakers No Secret (19-1) sixth; Toastin Heros (5-1) seventh; Lethal Cowboy 123 (8-1) eighth; Cowboys Gun Z (32-1) ninth; Bigg Picture (38-1) 10th; Ultimate Battle (44-1) 11th and Stetsonn (26-1) 12th.
The winner’s share of $144,300 moves the career earnings for Empressum to $2,701,248. His last victory in Oklahoma City was in the 2021 Remington Park Derby. Overall he now has 42 starts, 26 wins, 11 seconds and no thirds. He is by Apollitical Jess from the First Down Dash mare Crazy Down Corona and was bred by his owners.
The Remington Park Championship, the top race for older American Quarter Horses locally, was renamed the Debbie Schauf Remington Park Championship in 2020 in honor of the late executive director of the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association.
•••••
Remington Park has provided more than $411 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. The 2026 Thoroughbred Season at Remington Park will begin on August 21. Remington Park presents year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. Guests must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or to enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
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