HOOKED N GONE WINS STAKES RACE for SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR ON REMINGTON PARK FUTURITY NIGHT, THIS TIME IN DERBY

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – April 23, 2023 – Last year, Hooked N Gone won the Remington Park Juvenile Stakes on the Remington Park Futurity undercard as a 2-year-old. On Saturday night, his talent returned him to the place he loves best, the winner’s circle, in the $189,515 Remington Park Derby.

The derby is restricted to eligible Oklahoma-bred 3-year-olds.

The last place you want to be is standing next to Hooked N Gone’s trainer Victor Ibarra when his horse is getting ready to run. He was more nervous than a cat in a rocking chair factory. His body language was all over the place as he was shown the replay of Hooked N Gone winning the Derby. It wasn’t the winning part that was tough for Ibarra to watch, but the way his horse crawled out of the gate.

“OK, I’ll watch the replay, but just watch him,” Ibarra said as the replay showed the slow gathering by Hooked N Gone. “Oh, oh, oh! It’s so frustrating watching him break like that. But, man, does he have a lot of heart. Oh, man. Look at him!”

Regina Laymon of Neosho Falls, Kan., owns and bred the winner in Oklahoma.

“It is really awesome to do both,” Laymon said. “This is really wonderful. Thank you, Oklahoma, for doing this.”

Hooked N Gone was beaten only a half-length in last year’s $1.1 million Heritage Place Futurity by Tres Crystals after winning his trial by 2-1/4 lengths. He wasn’t quite as impressive in the Remington Park Derby trials. He broke slowly on April 8 and wound up running fourth, beaten a half-length by War Admiral.

“He was coming off a layoff (from Aug. 19, 2022 to April 8) and had been sick,” said Ibarra. “It was his first race of the year, so you can forgive that.”

On Saturday night, he was back at peak form and bounced home a winner by a half-length over 21-1 longshot Defours, who was another half-length ahead of post-time 8-5 favorite Aristides in third. Hooked N Gone went off at 4-1 odds and paid $10.40 to win, $5.60 to place and $3.20 to show. His winning time, under jockey Cristian Esqueda, was :19.710 for 400 yards on the fast track, good enough for a 93 speed index. It was the first win in this stakes for all connections.

Hooked N Gone won $75,806 for Laymon and improved to nine starts, three wins, four seconds and earnings of $229,134. He is by PYC Paint Your Wagon from the Pretty Boy Perry broodmare Pretty Girl Kate.

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Tracked by more than 174,000 fans on Facebook and 10,700 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $317 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 the 2023 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa season through June 3. Remington Park presents simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.