TRAINER EDDIE WILLIS WINS MR MASTER BUG STAKES FOR SECOND YEAR IN ROW, THIS TIME WITH BRAN NU DAE

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – April 18, 2021 – Trainer Eddie Willis won the Mr Master Bug Stakes for the second year in a row and the third time in its history, taking it this year with Bran Nu Dae on Saturday night at Remington Park.

Willis, who led by two wins coming into the night in the trainers’ standings, won last year with Love is Everything V and back in 2011 with Blackwater Command. On Saturday, it was jockey Jose Alvarez getting the call from Willis and it was that jockey’s first victory in this stakes race. It also was the first win in the series for owner Alona James of Ada, Okla.

Bran Nu Dae, at 17-1 odds, came home a surprise, just nipping Dalts Fancy Pistol (7-1) at the wire for the win by a nose. Contender (13-1) was another half-length back in third. It was the second win in a row for this 3-year-old daughter of Freighttrain B, out of the Streak and Dash mare The Dashing Attitude, but her first visit to the winner’s circle as a stakes winner.

Alvarez broke fourth in the 350-yard race for 3-year-old Oklahoma-breds and came to the wire in a blanket finish from first to sixth. The margins for those places were nose, a half-length, a neck, a neck, and a nose.

Bran Nu Dae’s record improved to six starts, three wins and a third, picking up $38,400 for the Mr Master Bug score to push her career money to $66,758. She was bred in Oklahoma by the owner.

At her long odds, Bran Nu Dae returned a generous $37 to win, $15.60 to place and $10.80 to show. Running time for the 350 yards was :17.451, for a 92-speed index. Bran Nu Dae had previously won against maidens at Remington Park on March 19 last year and then beat an allowance, non-winners of two field, at Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla., on Oct. 10. She now has won two-of-five at Remington Park.

The favorite in the race, Saturday Nite Secret (2-1), beat only one horse, finishing eighth of nine starters. The remaining order of finish included: Facing the Fire (4^th), Best of You (5^th), Cindydoesitagain (6^th), Gym N Jam (7^th) and LR Tempting Beast (9^th).

The Mr Master Bug is named after the 1982 All American Futurity winner who was bred and owned by Marvin and Lela Barnes of Ada, Okla. Mr Master Bug earned American Quarter Horse Champion honors in three consecutive years from 1982-1984 and retired with more than $1.7 million in earnings.

Remington Park racing continues on Sunday, April 18, with the first of 11 events at 6pm-Central.

•••••

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.