LAWLESS WALLACE PUTS UP FASTEST TIME IN FIRST OKLAHOMA DERBY TRIAL, MAKES IT HOLD UP

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — March 13, 2023 – Lawless Wallace put up a lightning fast time in the first of six Oklahoma Derby trials Sunday at Remington Park and made it hold up, becoming the fastest qualifier for the Grade III, $234,860 final set for Saturday, March 25.

That trial was supposed to be a battle between a couple of the top 3-year-olds on the grounds and it proved to be just that as Lawless Wallace would try to upset last year’s $1.1 million Heritage Place Futurity winner Tres Crystals. Tres Crystals went off as the 3-2 betting favorite in the heat and Lawless Wallace was 8-5.

Lawless Wallace, a 3-year-old son of Tres Seis, out of the Apollitical Jess mare Elicity, was bumped at the start but quickly regained his composure and flew down the track, finishing a neck ahead of Tres Crystals in a time of :17.557 for the 350 yards, earning a speed index of 92. He did it with a 13 mph tailwind.

The colt is owned by Ronald, Melany and Brad Shalz of Colby, Kan,; trained by Eddie Willis and was ridden to victory by Jimmy Brooks. Tres Crystals, owned by 96-year-old Elizabeth Logan of Haskell, Okla., is trained by Dee Keener and was ridden by Bryan Candanosa. Tres Crystals ran the distance in :17.600 for a 91.

Lawless Wallace paid $5.40 to win, $2.80 to place and $2.40 to show across the board and was bred in Colorado by Papas Place.

Tres Crystals became the first American Quarter Horse to win both the $441,000 Oklahoma Futurity and the Heritage Place Futurity as a 2-year-old at Remington Park. In fact, the 3-year-old gelded son of Tres Seis, out of the Walk Thru Fire mare Crystal Sola, was undefeated in four starts in Oklahoma City last year. He didn’t much care for a sloppy Ruidoso Downs track in New Mexico in the All American Futurity trials in August after he left, running seventh there in his first loss. He then took some time off before resurfacing at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, in October. His struggles continued there, bobbling at the start of his Texas Classic Futurity trial and then stumbling at the start after being fractious for the Texas Classic Juvenile consolation race. Off since November, Tres Crystals had his troubles follow him back to his home track. Once again he stumbled at the start of his trial race, and could never quite catch Lawless Wallace.

The top 10 qualifiers for the finals of the Oklahoma Derby were (with their jockey, trainer, trial number, times and speed index) were:

• Lawless Wallace, Jimmy Brooks, Eddie Willis, trial one, :17.557, 92
• AP Scout, Ricky Ramirez, Trey Wood, trial three, :17.581, 92
• Apollitical Face, Rodrigo Vallejo, Heath Taylor, trial two, :17.583, 92
• Tres Crystals, Bryan Candanosa, Dee Keener, trial one, :17.600, 91
• Proximity, Francisco Calderon, Monty Arrossa, trial one, :17.608, 91
• A Political Eye, Raul Valenzuela, Jose Huerta, trial three, :17.630, 90
• Teller Ima Eagle, James Flores, Troy Carter, trial four, :17.680, 89
• Water or Corona, Edwin Escobedo, Jason Olmstead, trial three, :17.680, 88
• Pink Kiss, Mario Delgado, Jason Driver, trial four, :17.704, 88
• Divas Perry, Daniel Torres, Xavier Alonso III, trial one, :17.719, 88

The 2023 Remington Park American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season continues next week with a Thursday-Sunday schedule, March 16-19. First post time is 6 p.m. every day except Sunday when it’s 4 p.m. There are 10 races scheduled Thursday.

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Tracked by more than 172,000 fans on Facebook and 10,700 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $316 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.