RELENTLESS CORONADO PULLS OFF MINOR UPSET, WINNING EASTEX STAKES AT REMINGTON PARK

by Richard Linihan

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – March 15, 2025 – Relentless Coronado was virtually ignored by the betting public in the Grade 2, $56,160 Eastex Stakes on Saturday night at Remington Park. He left the starting gate at 6-1 odds in a five-horse field, but he ran more like he was an odds-on favorite, beating a solid group of older competitors at 350 yards.

Cardiac Cowboy, an even-money favorite and a five-time winner at the distance, could do no better than fourth in the Eastex Stakes, his first race of 2025.

Leading rider Edwin Escobedo had Relentless Coronado ready at the break and he jumped out second before taking over about halfway down the stretch.

“It was my first time on him, but I just wanted to keep everything calm for him and even though we broke behind (Cardiac Cowboy), about halfway the race was ours. Nobody was going to beat him.”

As Cardiac Cowboy faded, Relentless Coronado persevered and got to the finish line a half-length in front of a hard-charging runner-up, Hes a Jet One (5-2 second favorite), who was another half-length up on third-place finisher Sir James (7-1), who beat Cardiac Cowboy by a head for that position. Sunday Sylence (3-1) rounded out the field in fifth place, a full length behind the favorite.

Relentless Coronado, a 4-year-old Oklahoma-bred gelded son of Hes Relentless, out of the Coronado Cartel mare SC Coronada, was bred by Reliance Ranches. It was the first time this gelding had won at 350 yards in five tries. Trainer Joe Davis was confident, however, coming off an impressive Southern California Derby trial win at Los Alamitos in California last year. Relentless Coronado broke a bit slow in that one as well, but came on to win. He was sent off at 19-1 odds in the Grade 2, $157,000 SoCal Derby, but was bumped at the start of that final on Dec. 22 and never had a chance, finishing eighth. That was his last race before Saturday night’s huge effort about three months after his layoff.

The winner returned $14.80 to win, $6.60 to place and $4.20 to show to his backers and stopped the timer in :17.419 seconds for a speed index of 96 over the fast track with a slight tailwind.

“I thought we would either win or run second,” said Davis. “That Cardiac Cowboy is tough to beat. We will probably run him once more here this meet.”

Relentless Coronado earned $34,800 from the purse and improved his lifetime marks to 19 starts, six wins, two seconds and three thirds for a bankroll of $174,186. He originally was purchased for $52,000 at the Heritage Place September Yearling Sale in Oklahoma City in 2022. He raced twice in stakes company last year at Remington Park, but did not fare well with a seventh-place finish in the Jack Brooks Stakes and sixth in the Remington Park Derby.

The Eastex is named after the winner of the 1984 All American Futurity who at one time was the sport’s all-time leading money earner. He held the record for most money earned by a 2-year-old until 2008. Eastex retired in his home state, living out his years in Norman, Okla. He often led the post parade of the race named in his honor before passing away at age 32, in 2013.

Remington Park racing continues Sunday, March 16 with the first race at 4pm-Central.

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Remington Park has provided more than $376 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 year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. The 2025 American Quarter Horse Season, features the historic 84^th edition of the Oklahoma Futurity on Saturday, March 22. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.