JOCKEY JAMES FLORES WINS LAICO BIRD STAKES FOR THIRD TIME, THIS ONE UNDER RGS DEBUTANT

by Richard Linihan

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – April 20, 2026 – Jockey James Flores continued his dominating ways in the Laico Bird Stakes at Remington Park, winning this race for the third time. His career hat trick in the race was aboard 2-year-old Oklahoma-bred gelding RGs Debutant on Saturday night.

Flores had won the race in 2016 with Dicecapades and also with Vintage Candy in 2023. Three years later he was back in the winner’s circle aboard 19-1 longshot RGs Debutant for trainer Steve Jordan and owner GGG Racing of Mission, Texas. The winner is a gelded son of Prized Wagon, out of the Gol mare JA Gols Debutante. It was the first win in the stakes series for trainer and owner.

One doesn’t see it that often, but this gelding broke his maiden Saturday with stakes company in the $75,000 Laico Bird. He paid a healthy $40.80 to win, $17.20 to place and $9 to show. In his defense, the first time out in his career on March 12 at Remington Park, RGs Debutant hooked Apolliticalgolddigger in a maiden race, the fastest qualifier for one night of trials for the $971,955 Remington Park Futurity and lost by three-quarters of a length. He finished third to him. The next time out, he ran second, losing by only a head in the Remington Park Futurity trials on April 2.

RGs Debutant stopped the timer for 330 yards in :16.638, good for a 92 speed index. He just barely nosed out another longshot, Mister Sinatra (8-1), who lost the head-bob at the wire. They both took advantage of an awkward break from the gate from even-money favorite Gipsie Rose, who beat only two horses in the nine-horse field. No Vacancee was an early scratch from the race.

Whiskey Doc (6-1) got up for third, a half-length back of the top two. The rest of the order of finish was BP Jet Liner (5-1) fourth, Royal Candy P (15-1) fifth, Auntie D (23-1) sixth, Gipsie Rose (1-1) seventh, Eyesa Chick Magnet (5-1) eighth and County Line Capo (39-1) ninth.

RGs Debutant earned $43,200 for the victory and improved to 3-1-1-1, $49,668. He was bred by Roy Garza and was not purchased at auction.

The Laico Bird Stakes is named after the 1967 All American Futurity winner and American Quarter Horse Association World Champion who was bred in Oklahoma and campaigned over her career by Jimmy Jones, of Norman, Okla.

Remington Park racing continues Sunday with a first post time of 4pm-Central.

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Remington Park has provided more than $410 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 $1,000,000 Heritage Place Futurity takes place on the final night of the spring season on Saturday, May 30. 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.