JOCKEY RICKY RAMIREZ MOVES INTO TIE FOR SECOND IN RIDER STANDINGS WITH THREE WINS, ALL FOR TRAINER BLANE WOOD

OKLAHOMA CITY – March 14, 2020 – Jockey Ricky Ramirez took a jump into second place in the rider standings at Remington Park on Friday night, winning three times for trainer Blane Wood.

The big night lifted him into a tie for second place with Agustin Silva. They have six wins apiece in the standings, six behind leading rider James Flores, who also had a riding triple Friday night. Flores is atop the colony with 12 wins.

Ramirez’s first victory came in the third race aboard Shifting Ground, a 2-year-old first-time starter in a maiden race. The gelded son of Maknmoves, out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Goddess Artemis, won his training race on Valentine’s Day at Remington Park and then followed that up with victory in his career debut. Shifting Ground won in a field of eight, covering 250 yards in a swift 13.155 seconds for a speed index of 94. Shifting Ground won by 1-3/4 lengths over a sloppy track. Ramirez never went to his whip in getting the win at 3-1 odds as Shifting Ground paid $8.80 to win, $4.80 to place and $3.60 to show across the board.

Shifting Ground is owned by the Newman Cattle Company of Stanton, Texas, and was bred in Oklahoma by Garvan Kelly and Nancy Yearsley.

Ramirez’s second win came in the fifth race in the saddle of Big Edge, a 3-year-old running in allowance non-winners of two lifetime conditions at 330 yards. He won by a nose in a time of :16.816 for a 90 speed index. Big Edge is a 3-year-old gelded son of Big Daddy Cartel, out of Separatist mare Da Edge, owned by Adam Smith of Southlake, Texas, and was bred in New Mexico by MJ Farms. Big Edge paid $4.40 to win, $3.60 to place and $2.80 to show as the wagering favorite at 6-5 odds.

Ramirez’s third win came in the 12^th race with the No. 12 horse, Smokin Volcom. The extreme outside post position this season has suddenly become an oasis for horses compared to its likeness as a barren desert last year. In 2019, horses only managed two wins from the 12-post position. That post position has already produced three winners in this young season of only five completed race dates.

Smokin Volcom, a 3-year-old filly, broke her maiden status in the finale Friday after racing in tougher company last time out at Lone Star Park this past October, facing trial horses. The drop in class did the trick, coming off a bullet workout Feb. 25 at Remington Park when she posted the fastest effort of the day at 220 yards in :11.12 handily. That was the best work of 43 at that distance that day.

The winner is a daughter of Volcom, out of the Dean Miracle mare Lethal Delight. She is owned by Gene and Tod Bradley of Dimmit, Texas, and was bred in Texas by P.K. Thomas. She won by a neck at 5-1 odds with a time of 16.677 seconds at 330 yards. Smokin Volcom returned $13.20 to win, $5.20 to place and $5.40 to show.

Saturday night racing at Remington Park features the Grade 3, $50,000 SLM Big Daddy Stakes at 550 yards. The first race of the evening is at 6pm. Sunday afternoon racing is underway at 1:30pm. All times are Central.

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Tracked by more than 162,000 fans on Facebook and more than 10,100 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. Located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District, Remington Park presents the Grade 2 Oklahoma Futurity on Saturday, March 21. The 2020 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season continues through May 30. For more information, reservations and group bookings please call 405-424-1000, 866-456-9880 or visit remingtonpark.com.