FL RIZZO PULLS UPSET TO WIN REMINGTON PARK DISTANCE CHAMPIONSHIP
By Richard Linihan
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – May 31, 2025 – O Donovan Rossa had become known around these parts as the “King of the Hook,” but oddly enough, he had never won the Remington Park Distance Championship. Nothing changed Saturday as FL Rizzo went straight to the front in this Grade 1 race and held off the king in the late strides to win.
O Donovan Rossa was sent off as the heavy 4-5 odds-on favorite, but it was FL Rizzo that got his picture taken in the $51,840 event at 870 yards under jockey Gonzalo Gutierrez. FL Rizzo, a 5-year-old gelded Washington-bred son of KVN Corona, out of the Fly Jess Fly mare Fly Reba, had finished almost five lengths behind O Donovan Rossa when they last faced each other in the Grade 2, $50,000 Pauls Valley Stakes on May 3. Saturday, the winner drew the rail number-one post, the shortest way around the hook, and it made all the difference. Gutierrez sent him to the front like a rocket from a launching pad out of the gate and O Donovan Rossa never could get closer than 3-1/4 lengths at the end of the race for second.
FL Rizzo had not won a stakes race since last summer when he took down the $15,000 Walter Merrick Stakes on July 19 at Fair Meadows in Tulsa, Okla. O Donovan Rossa, a multiple graded stakes winner at 870 yards, had won around the hook in 9-of-19 starts. This was only the second time Fl Rizzo had won at this distance in seven tries.
Trained by Matt Whitekiller, FL Rizzo earned $29,400 for owners Lindley and Julia Myers of Prosser, Wash., also the breeders of the horse. FL Rizzo improved his record to 12 starts, four wins, four seconds and earnings of $84,443. He stopped the timer in :44.295 seconds for a speed-index of 109 over the fast track. FL Rizzo was just off the track record of :44.288, a long-standing mark set by Snowbound Superstar on May 10, 2009.
FL Rizzo went off at 9-2 odds and paid $11.60 to win, $4.20 to place and $3 to show. The rest of the order of finish behind him were O Donovan Rossa in second, another neck in front of Rock Ya Later (13-1) in third, Wynnchester (5-1) fourth, Volcoms Favorite (5-1) fifth, Big Daddy Dan (6-1) sixth and Freakin Patriot Dash (27-1) seventh.
It was the first win for all connections of FL Rizzo in the Remington Park Distance Championship.
••••
Remington Park has provided more than $380 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. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
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Fair Meadows Overnight Wednesday, July 16: bit.ly/FMT-071625 *(𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚎 𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝟷 & 𝟸 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚀𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙷𝚘𝚛𝚜𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚌𝚎𝚜)* Post time 6:00PM ... ’Expand’See Less
The Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission has discontinued processing award deductions for the transfer of ownership on OK Bred registered horses. You will need to submit your Transfer of Ownership application, W-9 (these are required annually), with a check, money order, or completed credit card authorization form, as well as a copy of the horse’s breed registration certificate, to update our records and have the award released.
You have one year from the date of the race to collect your award.
You can send your documents or any questions to the OKB Registry Department at OKBRED@OHRC.OK.GOV. ... ’Expand’See Less
In partnership with the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association (OQHRA), all Oklahoma racetracks—Remington Park, Fair Meadows at Tulsa, and Will Rogers Downs—have announced expanded hair testing measures for the 2026 Quarter Horse, Paint, and Appaloosa race meets. While pre-entry hair testing has been a condition of entry since 2018, the updated policy builds on that foundation by introducing new layers of accountability and a unified approach across all tracks.
“We are expanding our integrity efforts and working to hold everyone accountable for the horses in their care,” said Krissy Bamberg, Executive Director of OQHRA. “This is a collective effort among all Oklahoma tracks to protect the integrity of the sport and the welfare of the horse.”
The 2026 updates include a new provision that will exclude any trainer from participating at Oklahoma tracks for the remainder of a meet if three or more horses in their care test positive through official pre-entry hair tests for any prohibited substance. In addition, any owner with three or more positive tests during the meet will also be deemed ineligible to participate for the remainder of that meet.
Another upgrade to the policy is the expansion of unofficial testing. This informational hair-testing option will be available beginning with the fall yearling sales. These test kits can be requested through OQHRA. The hair samples can be collected by the owner or trainer and submitted to the lab for testing; results of these unofficial tests will not be considered official for entry purposes, but they will allow owners or trainers who have acquired horses from other barns to voluntarily test them in advance of entry to ensure they are clear of prohibited substances. It offers peace of mind, particularly before making financial commitments such as nomination fees, training investments, or early race preparations. It is important to note that many Sale Companies offer hair testing as a buyer protection within 24 hours of the sale; buyers are encouraged to contact the sales companies about the options available.
“Integrity is the backbone of everything we do,” said Matt Vance, Executive Vice President at Remington Park. “These policies help preserve the integrity of the sport by holding those who choose not to play by the rules accountable. We are proud to work with other Oklahoma tracks and OQHRA to lead the way in promoting fair competition in Quarter Horse racing.”
The core hair testing requirement remains in place: every Quarter Horse, Paint, or Appaloosa must submit to a one-time, pre-entry hair test before starting at any Oklahoma track. Official test results are sent directly to the racetrack, and positive results will lead to exclusion for the duration of that meet. These exclusions are track-specific only and do not constitute regulatory suspensions; participants remain eligible at other tracks unless a separate jurisdiction elects to take action. All horses with official positive tests will be listed publicly at www.OQHRA.com, and test results may be shared with other jurisdictions upon request.
To make the process easier for horsemen, farm visits for hair testing will be available in January and early February for Oklahoma-based trainers with 40 or more horses.
All details of the 2026 hair testing policy, including the unofficial testing option, are available at www.OQHRA.com or by calling (405) 881-5120. ... ’Expand’See Less
Won't matter Justin is so far ahead of the tracks, everyone knows you can't win a big race without the JRJ.
Thank you,
However we have got to get the results back presale from these yearlings sales at the Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino select sale and the New Mexico bred.
The Texas Quarter Horse sale needs it as well.
Oklahoma QHRA should at least mandate that the horse that are breeders and fitters are marketing for it be tested pre sale date with the horse .
Think of how Heritage Place would not want any part of a horse owner wanting his money back on a horse he bought from similar to large sale horse provider like the Flag Ranches size.
He would have to choose to do the right thing and force the return of the large ranch for illegal substances.
If we could get one sale barn to step up and require this
, we would owe it to them to get the others to follow suit to with the presale testing.
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FL RIZZO PULLS UPSET TO WIN REMINGTON PARK DISTANCE CHAMPIONSHIP
By Richard Linihan
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – May 31, 2025 – O Donovan Rossa had become known around these parts as the “King of the Hook,” but oddly enough, he had never won the Remington Park Distance Championship. Nothing changed Saturday as FL Rizzo went straight to the front in this Grade 1 race and held off the king in the late strides to win.
O Donovan Rossa was sent off as the heavy 4-5 odds-on favorite, but it was FL Rizzo that got his picture taken in the $51,840 event at 870 yards under jockey Gonzalo Gutierrez. FL Rizzo, a 5-year-old gelded Washington-bred son of KVN Corona, out of the Fly Jess Fly mare Fly Reba, had finished almost five lengths behind O Donovan Rossa when they last faced each other in the Grade 2, $50,000 Pauls Valley Stakes on May 3. Saturday, the winner drew the rail number-one post, the shortest way around the hook, and it made all the difference. Gutierrez sent him to the front like a rocket from a launching pad out of the gate and O Donovan Rossa never could get closer than 3-1/4 lengths at the end of the race for second.
FL Rizzo had not won a stakes race since last summer when he took down the $15,000 Walter Merrick Stakes on July 19 at Fair Meadows in Tulsa, Okla. O Donovan Rossa, a multiple graded stakes winner at 870 yards, had won around the hook in 9-of-19 starts. This was only the second time Fl Rizzo had won at this distance in seven tries.
Trained by Matt Whitekiller, FL Rizzo earned $29,400 for owners Lindley and Julia Myers of Prosser, Wash., also the breeders of the horse. FL Rizzo improved his record to 12 starts, four wins, four seconds and earnings of $84,443. He stopped the timer in :44.295 seconds for a speed-index of 109 over the fast track. FL Rizzo was just off the track record of :44.288, a long-standing mark set by Snowbound Superstar on May 10, 2009.
FL Rizzo went off at 9-2 odds and paid $11.60 to win, $4.20 to place and $3 to show. The rest of the order of finish behind him were O Donovan Rossa in second, another neck in front of Rock Ya Later (13-1) in third, Wynnchester (5-1) fourth, Volcoms Favorite (5-1) fifth, Big Daddy Dan (6-1) sixth and Freakin Patriot Dash (27-1) seventh.
It was the first win for all connections of FL Rizzo in the Remington Park Distance Championship.
••••
Remington Park has provided more than $380 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. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
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Fair Meadows Overnight
Wednesday, July 16: bit.ly/FMT-071625
*(𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚎 𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚎 𝟷 & 𝟸 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚀𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙷𝚘𝚛𝚜𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚌𝚎𝚜)*
Post time 6:00PM ... ’Expand’See Less
13 hours ago
Comment on Facebook
The Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission has discontinued processing award deductions for the transfer of ownership on OK Bred registered horses. You will need to submit your Transfer of Ownership application, W-9 (these are required annually), with a check, money order, or completed credit card authorization form, as well as a copy of the horse’s breed registration certificate, to update our records and have the award released.
You have one year from the date of the race to collect your award.
You can send your documents or any questions to the OKB Registry Department at OKBRED@OHRC.OK.GOV. ... ’Expand’See Less
20 hours ago
Comment on Facebook
𝐎𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚 𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐢𝐫-𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲
In partnership with the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association (OQHRA), all Oklahoma racetracks—Remington Park, Fair Meadows at Tulsa, and Will Rogers Downs—have announced expanded hair testing measures for the 2026 Quarter Horse, Paint, and Appaloosa race meets. While pre-entry hair testing has been a condition of entry since 2018, the updated policy builds on that foundation by introducing new layers of accountability and a unified approach across all tracks.
“We are expanding our integrity efforts and working to hold everyone accountable for the horses in their care,” said Krissy Bamberg, Executive Director of OQHRA. “This is a collective effort among all Oklahoma tracks to protect the integrity of the sport and the welfare of the horse.”
The 2026 updates include a new provision that will exclude any trainer from participating at Oklahoma tracks for the remainder of a meet if three or more horses in their care test positive through official pre-entry hair tests for any prohibited substance. In addition, any owner with three or more positive tests during the meet will also be deemed ineligible to participate for the remainder of that meet.
Another upgrade to the policy is the expansion of unofficial testing. This informational hair-testing option will be available beginning with the fall yearling sales. These test kits can be requested through OQHRA. The hair samples can be collected by the owner or trainer and submitted to the lab for testing; results of these unofficial tests will not be considered official for entry purposes, but they will allow owners or trainers who have acquired horses from other barns to voluntarily test them in advance of entry to ensure they are clear of prohibited substances. It offers peace of mind, particularly before making financial commitments such as nomination fees, training investments, or early race preparations. It is important to note that many Sale Companies offer hair testing as a buyer protection within 24 hours of the sale; buyers are encouraged to contact the sales companies about the options available.
“Integrity is the backbone of everything we do,” said Matt Vance, Executive Vice President at Remington Park. “These policies help preserve the integrity of the sport by holding those who choose not to play by the rules accountable. We are proud to work with other Oklahoma tracks and OQHRA to lead the way in promoting fair competition in Quarter Horse racing.”
The core hair testing requirement remains in place: every Quarter Horse, Paint, or Appaloosa must submit to a one-time, pre-entry hair test before starting at any Oklahoma track. Official test results are sent directly to the racetrack, and positive results will lead to exclusion for the duration of that meet. These exclusions are track-specific only and do not constitute regulatory suspensions; participants remain eligible at other tracks unless a separate jurisdiction elects to take action. All horses with official positive tests will be listed publicly at www.OQHRA.com, and test results may be shared with other jurisdictions upon request.
To make the process easier for horsemen, farm visits for hair testing will be available in January and early February for Oklahoma-based trainers with 40 or more horses.
All details of the 2026 hair testing policy, including the unofficial testing option, are available at www.OQHRA.com or by calling (405) 881-5120. ... ’Expand’See Less
2 days ago
Comment on Facebook
Won't matter Justin is so far ahead of the tracks, everyone knows you can't win a big race without the JRJ.
Thank you, However we have got to get the results back presale from these yearlings sales at the Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino select sale and the New Mexico bred. The Texas Quarter Horse sale needs it as well. Oklahoma QHRA should at least mandate that the horse that are breeders and fitters are marketing for it be tested pre sale date with the horse . Think of how Heritage Place would not want any part of a horse owner wanting his money back on a horse he bought from similar to large sale horse provider like the Flag Ranches size. He would have to choose to do the right thing and force the return of the large ranch for illegal substances. If we could get one sale barn to step up and require this , we would owe it to them to get the others to follow suit to with the presale testing.
Who get the samples from the horses and when
How actual fuck did we ever get to this point?
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