TELLER ILL RETURN SHOWS HIS CLASS, WINNING FEATURED ALLOWANCE RACE

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – April 19, 2021 – Teller Ill Return had raced only four times coming into Sunday night’s featured allowance race at Remington Park, but in three of those starts, he had run against horses that qualified for this year’s $355,800 Remington Park Derby, including the winner.

As the 5-2 favorite, the 3-year-old gelded Oklahoma-bred son of High Rate of Return, out of the Teller Cartel mare Cartel Chica, Teller Ill Return broke 10^th of 12 horses out of the starting gate. However, he picked up the pace swiftly, taking the lead before half the 350-yard race was over. Under jockey Jimmy Brooks, he cruised to victory, holding off B Boujee (4-1) in the final strides by a head. Brooks rode this horse for leading trainer Eddie Willis and owner Ivonne Sanchez of Maysville, Okla.

Last year, Teller Ill Return raced in the Remington Park Futurity trials in his career debut against one of the best 2-year-old Oklahoma-breds on the grounds in Eye Work For You. All that horse has done is win seven-of-nine races in his career. So, Teller Ill Return was a little overmatched in his debut, running sixth.

In his next race, Teller Ill Return broke his maiden status, then he jumped back into the fire against Heritage Place Futurity horses in those trials. He ran the best race of his life in his Heritage Place heat, finishing second to a horse named Empressum, beaten only a half-length. Empressum won last night’s $355,800 Remington Park Derby and has now won six-of-nine starts lifetime. So, the only surprise about Teller Ill Return winning against allowance non-winner of two horses on Sunday was that he was allowed to go off at 5-2 odds, as the wagering favorite. He paid $7.20 to win, $3.60 to place and $2.80 to show.

Teller Ill Return stopped the timer for 300 yards in :15.398 on a fast track, earning a speed index of 90. B Boujee was a half-length in front of On a New Note (4-1) in third. He earned $15,022 from the $26,000 purse and improved his record to five starts, two wins, one second and one third for a bankroll of $30,002. He was bred in Oklahoma by Andy Knight.

Teller Ill Return was one of two Willis wins on Sunday night. The defending training champion and 11-time winner at Remington Park, increased his lead in this year’s standings to four wins, 24 to Clint Crawford’s 20. The top five going into next week’s races are 1) Willis, 24; 2) Crawford, 20; 3) Matt Whitekiller,10; tied for 4^th) Trey Wood and Kelly Heltzel, 9.

Brooks’ two wins on the card moved him into third place in the jockeys’ standings with 16 trips to the winner’s circle. Leading rider Juan Pulido continued his hot streak Sunday, winning two on the card, and now sits atop the throne with 26 wins. The top five are 1) Pulido, 26; 2) Francisco Calderon, 22; 3) Brooks, 16; 4) Jorge Torres, 15; and 5) Cristian Esqueda, 11.

The top five owners are 1) Dunn Ranch of Wynnewood, Okla., 6; tie for second with four wins each) Bella Vista Farms; Jose E. Guzman; Rogelio Marquez, Jr.; Zitro Racing Corp.; Regina Laymon, and Reliance Ranches.

Next week’s live racing schedule is Thursday-Sunday, April 22-25, with the first post time nightly of 6pm-Central.

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Tracked by more than 165,000 fans on Facebook and 10,400 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $260 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 million Heritage Place Futurity on May 29. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.