FACING THE FIRE UPSETS UNDEFEATED EYE WORK FOR YOU IN $45,000 EASY JET STAKES

OKLAHOMA CITY – May 31, 2020 – Eye Work for You came into the Restricted Grade 3, $45,000 Easy Jet Stakes as an undefeated gelding after three starts, including a win in the $891,900 Remington Park Futurity last month.

A poor break from the gate for Eye Work for You left it wide open for the rest of this Easy Jet field and Facing the Fire took advantage of that, breaking like a shot to win his second stakes in a row. He had won the $100,000 Remington Park Juvenile previously on April 18. Despite that fact, this 2-year-old gelded son by Valiant Hero, out of the Walk Thru Fire mare DM Sashay N Fire, was let go generous 6-1 odds and won by a full length over longshot First Lucy Lark (16-1) who was second. Eye Work for You was the prohibitive favorite for the public at 3-5 odds, but could do no better than a fifth-place finish.

A Political Passion checked in for third place at 14-1 odds, another head back of the second-place horse.

Facing the Fire, trained by 11-time title-winning trainer here, Eddie Willis, was ridden to victory by Jimmy Brooks. It was the fourth win for Willis in this event. No other trainer has won more than two Easy Jet Stakes. He also won this race in 2006 with Too Tough To Catch with Larry Payne up; 2010 with BV Mr Azoom, also Brooks, and 2011 with BP Cartels Fastmoney with Cody Smith in the irons. Brooks ties G.R. Carter for most wins in the Easy Jet. They are the only two riders to win it more than once.

Facing the Fire, also owned by Willis, returned $14, $5.40 and $3.80 to win, place and show. He was a winner in 17.653 seconds for the 350 yards on a fast track and earned an 86 speed index.

Bred in Oklahoma by Alona James, Facing the Fire earned $26,730 from the purse and increased his bankroll to $74,053 in four starts. His record is now 4 attempts, two wins and one second with no thirds.

The Easy Jet Stakes is named in honor of the great Oklahoma-bred and 1969 American Quarter Horse Association World Champion. Bred, owned and trained by Hall of Famer Walter Merrick of Sayre, Okla., Easy Jet was also the winner of the 1969 All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs, N.M. After a stellar racing career, he became one of the sports prominent sires, until his passing in 1992.

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Tracked by more than 163,000 fans on Facebook and more than 10,400 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $242 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Remington Park is located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District.