OATMAN CREEK SENATOR PULLS OFF MINOR UPSET, WINNING $84,800 BOYD MORRIS MEMORIAL STAKES

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – May 23, 2021 – While all eyes were on the rematch of Charlies Fury and Eagles Fly Higher, Oatman Creek Senator had his eyes on the finish line in the restricted Grade 3, $84,800 Boyd Morris Memorial Stakes at Remington Park.

The 4-year-old gelding, on Saturday night, ran his best race ever in Oklahoma City, while the two favorites possibly ran their worst here. Oatman Creek Senator, with Raul Ramirez, Jr., in the saddle, hit the wire in the 400-yard stakes race a half-length in front. However, the two favorites, No. 6, Charlies Fury (6-5 post-time favorite), and No. 5, Eagles Fly Higher (2-1 second choice), could do no better than fourth and fifth in the six-horse field. Oatman Creek Senator, a 4-year-old gelding by Louisiana Senator, out of the Lil Bit Cuervo mare Eyesa Lil Cuervo, was sent off as the third favorite at 3-1 odds and he paid $8 to win, $4.40 to place and $3.40 to show.

It was the first win in this stakes race for Ramirez, Jr., trainer Michael Joiner and owner Orlando Villa-Barraza of Holdenville, Okla. The winner picked up $50,280 for the victory. Oatman Creek Senator stopped the timer in :19.819 over the fast surface, ahead of runner-up Hooked On a Win (18-1), who was a nose ahead of third-place finisher Uncurled Fist.

Even though the margin of victory was only a half-length and a nose in front of the second and third-place horses, Ramirez said he wasn’t worried.

“I was more worried about the 5 and the 6 and when I saw I had them dominated, I knew I could beat those inside horses,” he said. “He ran great, stood well in the gate and everything was perfect. When he decides to give it all he’s got, this is what happens.”

Oatman Creek Senator added the $50,280 winner’s share of the purse to his lifetime bankroll and his record now stands at 14 starts, four wins, six seconds and two thirds for $405,660 in lifetime earnings. Much of that was compiled at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico and Los Alamitos in California. He raced in the All American Derby trials last August at Ruidoso and only finished a nose back of Fernweh. To put that into perspective, that filly beat 2019 All American Futurity winner Mr Jess Jenkins in the 2020 Remington Park Derby. Oatman Creek Senator didn’t qualify for the All American Derby final, but won the $100,000 All American Invitational, a consolation to the big race.

After the Ruidoso stop, Oatman Creek Senator headed to the West Coast where he finished third in the $1,020,350 Los Alamitos Super Derby Stakes and earned a 103 speed index.

The Boyd Morris Memorial is named after the famed Quarter Horse jockey who won the 1964 All American Futurity on Decketta. The Blanchard, Okla. jockey went on to be a prominent trainer of both Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds once his successful riding career ended. He was a mainstay from the beginning at Remington Park prior to his passing.

Remington Park racing continues Sunday, May 23 with a 12-race program underway at 6pm-Central.

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Tracked by more than 167,000 fans on Facebook and 10,400 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $261 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 is home to the $1.2 million Heritage Place Futurity on the Night of Champions, Saturday, May 29, the final evening of the American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season. The casino is always open. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.