OPENING NIGHT PROVES FRUITFUL FOR SEVERAL MAINSTAY JOCKEYS, TRAINERS; GETWREKT BY VITO GETS FIRST WIN OF SEASON

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – March 4, 2022 – Paints and Appaloosas kicked off the 2022 Remington Park American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season on Thursday night with Getrekt by Vito the first horse to make it to the winner’s circle.

The 3-year-old gelded Paint out of trainer Ty Blackwell’s barn was ridden to victory by jockey Cody Smith for owners Kyle and Kellie Taylor of Woodward, Okla. Getrekt by Vito proved to be the class of this maiden race as he had run in two of the top futurities last year for Paints and Appaloosas. He ran seventh in last year’s $289,075 Speedhorse Graham Paint and Appaloosa Futurity at Remington Park on May 29, 2021, when he broke slowly.

Getrekt by Vito then went on to qualify for the final of the $79,070 Texas Hero Paints and Appaloosas Futurity at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, on Dec. 18. He ran sixth in that try. In five of his nine starts lifetime, Getrekt by Vito had run second or third in futurity trials or maiden races last year. Somehow, he was still a maiden in his first try at 3 years old on Thursday night. Consequently, it was no surprise when he was sent off as the 2-5 betting favorite in this maiden race. He drew off by 1-1/4 lengths to get his first win lifetime in his 10^th start.

The opening race was the first of two wins on the card for Smith on Opening Night. He also won the sixth race with BV If I Had Wings for trainer Mary Meza and owner Diego Meza.

Getrekt by Vito finished ahead of runner-up Coronado Flash, a 4-year-old first-time starter, who was another three-quarters of a length in front of third-place finisher Coronas Livewire. The son of Coronado Cartel (QH), out of the Reckless Dash (QH) mare Recketta, was bred in Oklahoma by Taylor Farms. His record improved to 10 starts, one win, three seconds and two thirds. He earned $11,236 from the $19,740 maiden purse and now has $41,183 in his bankroll.

Last year’s winner of the riding title at Remington Park, Juan Pulido, also started the season red hot, grabbing two wins, aboard PYC Avenue in the second and Jess Angel Blood in the fourth. Trainer Santos Carrizales sent both of those winners to the track. Add jockey Justine Klaiber and trainer Eddie Willis to those with exceptional nights as that pair took the late daily double, winning races seven and eight with Suzy de Capi and Definitely a Hero. Willis is a 12-time training title champion at Remington Park including the last three in a row. Klaiber rides first call for Willis.

The 2022 Remington Park American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season has  50 dates of live racing through May 28.

Mighty Deck Three Stakes

The season’s stakes schedule features a total of seven Grade 1 events for Quarter Horses, two of them restricted. They will include Friday’s first stakes race of the meet, the $68,000 Mighty Deck Stakes. Charlies Fury has been established as the 2-1 morning line favorite for the 250 yard sprint for Quarter Horses, 3-year-olds and older. Charlie, a 6-year-old gelded son of Furyofthewind, out of the Take Off Jess mare Jess Charlena, has won $358,451 in his career, winning 10-of-25 starts.

Charlie’s Fury is owned by Tom and Kathleen McNally of Guthrie, Okla., and trained by Michelle Hurdle. He won the $50,000 Bob Moore Stakes at Remington Park last year. Agustin Silva, his regular rider, gets the call.

Apocalyptical Jess also is a part of the field, 3-1 in the morning line, a former All American Futurity winner. The 6-year-old gelding by Apollitical Jess, out of the Holland Ease mare Cassandra Crest, won the All American in 2018. He is owned by Bill T. Robbins of San Jose, Calif., and trained by Trey Wood, who gives jockey Tanner Thedford a leg up.

Racing continues Friday night with 11 races, also featuring trials for the Oklahoma Paint & Appaloosa Futurity. The first race is set for 6pm.

•••••

Tracked by more than 167,000 fans on Facebook and 10,600 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $285 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 the home of the historic Oklahoma Futurity on March 19. Simulcast horse racing featured daily, the casino is always open! Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.