O DONOVAN ROSSA SHINES LIKE A DIAMOND, BLOWING AWAY FIELD BY MORE THAN 10 LENGTHS IN 870-YARD REMINGTON PARK FEATURE
OKLAHOMA CITY – O Donovan Rossa blasted to the front in Sunday’s featured allowance race and annihilated the field at 870 yards, drawing off to win by 10-1/2 lengths in the fastest time of the meet around the hook.
The race was part of Remington Park’s annual Extreme Race Day promotion, featuring uncommon distances for the horse racing and exhibition events for Camels, Zebras, Ostriches and Clydesdales.
The “Rumble Around the Hook” as the 870-yard allowance was called, went to the 5-year-old gelded son of Apollitical Jess, out of the Country Chicks Man mare Shanachee, stamped his name as possibly the one to beat in ensuing distance challenges at Remington Park after this eye-opening victory. O Donovan Rossa covered the 870 yards in :44.451 on a fast track for a speed index of 107. If he is not at the head of this turn-racing class at Remington Park, he has certainly thrown his hat into the ring with the likes of Dak and two American Quarter Horse Association champions – Wascallywittlewabbit and Shockinglyfamous.
O Donovan Rossa, trained by leading conditioner Dee Keener, and ridden by Bryan Candanosa, won for the fourth time in five tries around the hook and was just a couple of ticks off the track record of :44.288 at 870, set by Snowbound Superstar on May 10, 2009. He was three lengths in front almost immediately as the gate opened and never looked back from there.
Dak won the only stakes race around the hook this meet when he won the Grade 2, $36,327 AQHA Remington Park Distance Challenge on April 2 and he did it impressively, putting away the two champions in a time of :45.102 for a 99 speed index. On that night, he won easily over Wascallywittlewabbit, the 2021 and 2022 AQHA Champion Distance horse and Shockinglyfamous, last year’s AQHA Champion Aged Stallion. Those two softened each other up for the late-running Dak in the upset.
On Sunday night, there was no one to soften up O Donovan Rossa as he had much too much early speed for the other contenders to hang close. He opened up in the stretch to a seven-length lead after changing leads and kept pulling away under Candanosa. He earned $21,213 for owner Kelly Yother Equine, LLC of Culver City, Calif. The gelding improved his career record to 28 starts, eight wins, five seconds and three thirds for a bankroll of $184,683. He seems to have found his niche at 870 yards where he is 5-4-1-0 for $78,593 earned around the turn.
O Donovan Rossa is a two-time stakes winner around the hook, having won the $50,000 Devil His Due Stakes at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, on Nov. 26, 2022, over a sloppy racetrack and the $15,000 Walter Merrick Stakes at Fair Meadows in Tulsa, Okla., on July 24 last year. His other win at 870 yards came at Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla., among allowance horses on Oct. 23, 2022. Remington Park became the fourth track at which O Donovan Rossa has won at 870 yards.
The O Donovan Rossa competition was not an easy bunch Sunday either. It included another stakes winner around the hook, Heza Classy Now, who had won the $50,000 Bill Reed Stakes at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico last fall. The best he could do as the 8-5 second wagering favorite Sunday was a fourth-place finish, 13-1/4 lengths behind the winner. O Donovan Rossa was sent off as the odds-on 4-5 people’s choice and paid $3.60 to win, $2.60 to place and $2.20 to show across the board.
Bojangles Comin (9-1) checked in second, two lengths in front of third-place finisher We Call Him Joneson (20-1).
Extreme Racing Exhibitions
Many Remington Park jockeys showed their sportsmanship, and bravery, in riding in the three “Extreme Racing” exhibitions aboard zebras, ostriches and camels. The exotic animal exhibitions thrilled the largest crowd of the season with approximately 20,000 on hand, taking place in between the regular horse racing.
Jockey Cordarelton Benn scored in the zebra race after the opening daily double on the card. Rolando Raudales joined the winning fun aboard on ostrich after the fourth race of the day. Raudales also won the third horse race of the afternoon on GG Queen Of The South when the 2-year-old Paint won her first career race.
Edwin Escobedo has rocketed toward the top of the jockey standings with plenty of racing wins over the last two weeks. He won the final race of the night aboard Beep Beep Rev Rev in an allowance that pitted older females vs. older males at 250 yards. The triumph came about 45 minutes after Escobedo showed his prowess aboard a camel in winning the final exhibition race, prior to O Donovan Rossa’s turn victory.
••••••
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.
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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.
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: OQHRA. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
O DONOVAN ROSSA SHINES LIKE A DIAMOND, BLOWING AWAY FIELD BY MORE THAN 10 LENGTHS IN 870-YARD REMINGTON PARK FEATURE
OKLAHOMA CITY – O Donovan Rossa blasted to the front in Sunday’s featured allowance race and annihilated the field at 870 yards, drawing off to win by 10-1/2 lengths in the fastest time of the meet around the hook.
The race was part of Remington Park’s annual Extreme Race Day promotion, featuring uncommon distances for the horse racing and exhibition events for Camels, Zebras, Ostriches and Clydesdales.
The “Rumble Around the Hook” as the 870-yard allowance was called, went to the 5-year-old gelded son of Apollitical Jess, out of the Country Chicks Man mare Shanachee, stamped his name as possibly the one to beat in ensuing distance challenges at Remington Park after this eye-opening victory. O Donovan Rossa covered the 870 yards in :44.451 on a fast track for a speed index of 107. If he is not at the head of this turn-racing class at Remington Park, he has certainly thrown his hat into the ring with the likes of Dak and two American Quarter Horse Association champions – Wascallywittlewabbit and Shockinglyfamous.
O Donovan Rossa, trained by leading conditioner Dee Keener, and ridden by Bryan Candanosa, won for the fourth time in five tries around the hook and was just a couple of ticks off the track record of :44.288 at 870, set by Snowbound Superstar on May 10, 2009. He was three lengths in front almost immediately as the gate opened and never looked back from there.
Dak won the only stakes race around the hook this meet when he won the Grade 2, $36,327 AQHA Remington Park Distance Challenge on April 2 and he did it impressively, putting away the two champions in a time of :45.102 for a 99 speed index. On that night, he won easily over Wascallywittlewabbit, the 2021 and 2022 AQHA Champion Distance horse and Shockinglyfamous, last year’s AQHA Champion Aged Stallion. Those two softened each other up for the late-running Dak in the upset.
On Sunday night, there was no one to soften up O Donovan Rossa as he had much too much early speed for the other contenders to hang close. He opened up in the stretch to a seven-length lead after changing leads and kept pulling away under Candanosa. He earned $21,213 for owner Kelly Yother Equine, LLC of Culver City, Calif. The gelding improved his career record to 28 starts, eight wins, five seconds and three thirds for a bankroll of $184,683. He seems to have found his niche at 870 yards where he is 5-4-1-0 for $78,593 earned around the turn.
O Donovan Rossa is a two-time stakes winner around the hook, having won the $50,000 Devil His Due Stakes at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, on Nov. 26, 2022, over a sloppy racetrack and the $15,000 Walter Merrick Stakes at Fair Meadows in Tulsa, Okla., on July 24 last year. His other win at 870 yards came at Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla., among allowance horses on Oct. 23, 2022. Remington Park became the fourth track at which O Donovan Rossa has won at 870 yards.
The O Donovan Rossa competition was not an easy bunch Sunday either. It included another stakes winner around the hook, Heza Classy Now, who had won the $50,000 Bill Reed Stakes at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico last fall. The best he could do as the 8-5 second wagering favorite Sunday was a fourth-place finish, 13-1/4 lengths behind the winner. O Donovan Rossa was sent off as the odds-on 4-5 people’s choice and paid $3.60 to win, $2.60 to place and $2.20 to show across the board.
Bojangles Comin (9-1) checked in second, two lengths in front of third-place finisher We Call Him Joneson (20-1).
Extreme Racing Exhibitions
Many Remington Park jockeys showed their sportsmanship, and bravery, in riding in the three “Extreme Racing” exhibitions aboard zebras, ostriches and camels. The exotic animal exhibitions thrilled the largest crowd of the season with approximately 20,000 on hand, taking place in between the regular horse racing.
Jockey Cordarelton Benn scored in the zebra race after the opening daily double on the card. Rolando Raudales joined the winning fun aboard on ostrich after the fourth race of the day. Raudales also won the third horse race of the afternoon on GG Queen Of The South when the 2-year-old Paint won her first career race.
Edwin Escobedo has rocketed toward the top of the jockey standings with plenty of racing wins over the last two weeks. He won the final race of the night aboard Beep Beep Rev Rev in an allowance that pitted older females vs. older males at 250 yards. The triumph came about 45 minutes after Escobedo showed his prowess aboard a camel in winning the final exhibition race, prior to O Donovan Rossa’s turn victory.
••••••
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.
Facebook Feed
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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