TRAINER GUILLERMO VALDIVIA’S HEAVENS UNCLE PROVES HEAVENLY FAST IN REMINGTON PARK TRAINING RACE WIN
by Richard Linihan
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – February 28, 2024 – Trainer Guillermo “Bill” Valdivia came away from Wednesday’s nine training races at Remington Park with two winners, including the fastest one of the day – Heavens Uncle.
That 2-year-old American Quarter Horse colt’s posting the top number of the day at :13.539 seconds for 250 yards, good for a speed index of 82. The effort was extra special for Valdivia.
“We ran his mama (Heavens Assured) and he is a home-bred from her,” said Valdivia. “He likes to run. We raised him in Sallisaw (Okla.)”
Heavens Uncle is owned and bred by Sherry Gilmore of Sallisaw and was ridden by Jesus Salazar.
Heavens Uncle’s time in the sixth race on Wednesday was four speed index points faster than the second-fastest winner of the afternoon, Red Iron, who won her training race in the seventh training race for last year’s leading Remington Park trainer Dee Keener.
Heavens Uncle won his heat by a head over Julia Belle, who actually would have been the second-fastest winner had she won a training race. She ran second for trainer Clint Crawford in :13.557. Her time was fast enough to win any other training race on the day.
It’s no wonder Heavens Uncle likes to run. His sire Uncle D ran second in the Grade 1 $1 million Heritage Place Futurity at Remington Park 2019, losing by three-quarters of a length to Uptowne Babe. Uncle D was the 9-5 wagering favorite. Heavens’ Uncle’s mama could fire off a big race as well. While Uncle D won 4-of-his-10 starts for $689,165 in earnings, Heavens Assured, sired by Streak and Dash, won three-of-six starts, including her maiden win at Remington and a Kansas Jackpot Futurity win at Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla., in 2014.
Uncle D went on to win the Grade 1 Rainbow Futurity at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico and ran second in his All American Futurity trial before winning the All American Juvenile Stakes there. He never won as a 3-year-old before being retired, but ran a second and two thirds in the trials for the Ruidoso Derby, the Rainbow Derby and the All American Derby.
Heavens Uncle raced over a fast track in the schooling races with the temperature at a brisk 40 degrees and the tailwind at his back at 9 mph.
Valdivia’s second win of the day came with Iteas Jessy in the eighth race, a 2-year-old filly by Flying Cowboy 123, out of the Corona Cartel mare Itea. He was one of four trainers that finished the day with two wins apiece Wednesday. Keener, Heath Taylor and Clint Crawford also won a pair of training races on the day. Jeffrey Tyer won the lone training race the others did not win.
Here’s the rest of the training race winners Wednesday (Quarter Horses and all 2-year-olds unless otherwise noted), their times (in order from fastest to slowest winners), speed index, trainers and race number were:
Red Iron, :13.630, 78, Dee Keener, race seven
Fine Wine Kisses, :13.690, 76, Heath Taylor, race four
Make Me Candy, :13.771, 73, Heath Taylor, race nine
John Wayne B, :13.848, 70, Clint Crawford, race five
Seven Cmon Eleven, :13.876, 68, Clint Crawford, race three
To the Wire (Paint), :13.920, 67, Dee Keener, race two
JT Lady Apportunity (Appaloosa), :14.074, 61, Jeffrey Tyer, race one
The Remington Park training, or schooling races, provide trainers the opportunity to gain experience for their 2-year-olds prior to making their first real pari-mutuel racing attempt.
The Remington Park racing office will compile the races for the upcoming season’s Opening Night when entries are taken on Friday morning. The season will begin March 7 and continue through June 1.
•••••
Remington Park has provided more than $344 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 simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. The 2024 racing schedule begins Thursday, March 7, as the American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season starts its 50-date season. Parking and admission are always free. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
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🚨Attn Horsemen: The OQHRA Board of Directors Elections are coming up this Fall. Make sure you renew your OQHRA membership by September 1st in order to Vote ☑️!
Please help us congratulate Troy! He is such an important part of all of our success at Fair Meadows! Be sure to tell him Thank You when you see him! ... ’Expand’See Less
Congratulations Troy!!! Thank you for all you have done for all of us. A special thanks for a special longtime friendship that I truly treasure.😊
Troy is the absolute BEST!! Congratulations my friend!
Congratulations Troy !!
Congrats
He deserves it.
Troy’s Awesome, congratulations and thank you for always taking such care of us🏇🏻🏇🏻
Way to go Troy !!!!!
Looking good troy. I miss those days.
He is one of the best people you will ever meet in the race horse business
Congratulations Troy! One of the nicest people I ever had the privilege to work with.
Congratulations Troy. You always do a great job
My man Troy i can remember FMT in the beginning and Troy would always be the 1st one you saw either pulling in of a morning to work or at night to race, Troy always had the chaos organized in the haul in barn. Jim and Nina got the best one possible with Troy, one amazing man!
The Stephens family!
Jim,Barb and Kevin
Congratulations! Track would be lost with out you, you are awesome.
Congrats Troy!!!
You are the man, Troy
Congratulations
Congrats!!!
Never ran anything in OKLA., but CONGRATULATIONS TROY!!! Ppl like you are gold on ANY TRACK.
The Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association (OQHRA) has confirmed the detection of Olodaterol through pre-entry hair testing protocols required for participation at Oklahoma racetracks. Olodaterol is a long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist, a class of bronchodilators that includes strictly prohibited substances such as clenbuterol, albuterol, and carmoterol.
Olodaterol is not an approved substance in racehorses, and its presence constitutes a violation of integrity standards. The positive findings were made as a condition of entry through OQHRA-managed hair testing, not by the regulatory body, and as such, horses testing positive were ruled ineligible for entry.
While reports of Olodaterol have surfaced in other states through hair samples, OQHRA is not currently aware of any confirmed positives in blood or urine samples. This reinforces the value of hair testing in identifying substances that may otherwise go undetected.
“This is a clear example of why hair testing matters,” said Krissy Bamberg, Executive Director of OQHRA. “Whether used pre-entry to prevent horses from competing, or post-race for official adjudication, hair testing provides a longer detection window and a clearer picture of the medications and substances a horse has been exposed to.”
OQHRA will continue to support and expand the use of hair testing as part of its integrity and welfare program. In addition, the association will continue to advocate for the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission to adopt hair testing as a standard matrix within the state’s official biological testing program. This includes both post-race testing and out-of-competition testing.
“We strongly encourage the Commission to expand its use of hair testing,” said Bamberg. “It's a reliable, science-based tool that gives regulators the ability to detect long-term exposure to prohibited substances and strengthens our ability to ensure fairness and safety in the sport.”
OQHRA and our partner racetracks remain committed to identifying and deterring the use of new and emerging substances and protecting the integrity of racing in Oklahoma. ... ’Expand’See Less
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TRAINER GUILLERMO VALDIVIA’S HEAVENS UNCLE PROVES HEAVENLY FAST IN REMINGTON PARK TRAINING RACE WIN
by Richard Linihan
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – February 28, 2024 – Trainer Guillermo “Bill” Valdivia came away from Wednesday’s nine training races at Remington Park with two winners, including the fastest one of the day – Heavens Uncle.
That 2-year-old American Quarter Horse colt’s posting the top number of the day at :13.539 seconds for 250 yards, good for a speed index of 82. The effort was extra special for Valdivia.
“We ran his mama (Heavens Assured) and he is a home-bred from her,” said Valdivia. “He likes to run. We raised him in Sallisaw (Okla.)”
Heavens Uncle is owned and bred by Sherry Gilmore of Sallisaw and was ridden by Jesus Salazar.
Heavens Uncle’s time in the sixth race on Wednesday was four speed index points faster than the second-fastest winner of the afternoon, Red Iron, who won her training race in the seventh training race for last year’s leading Remington Park trainer Dee Keener.
Heavens Uncle won his heat by a head over Julia Belle, who actually would have been the second-fastest winner had she won a training race. She ran second for trainer Clint Crawford in :13.557. Her time was fast enough to win any other training race on the day.
It’s no wonder Heavens Uncle likes to run. His sire Uncle D ran second in the Grade 1 $1 million Heritage Place Futurity at Remington Park 2019, losing by three-quarters of a length to Uptowne Babe. Uncle D was the 9-5 wagering favorite. Heavens’ Uncle’s mama could fire off a big race as well. While Uncle D won 4-of-his-10 starts for $689,165 in earnings, Heavens Assured, sired by Streak and Dash, won three-of-six starts, including her maiden win at Remington and a Kansas Jackpot Futurity win at Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla., in 2014.
Uncle D went on to win the Grade 1 Rainbow Futurity at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico and ran second in his All American Futurity trial before winning the All American Juvenile Stakes there. He never won as a 3-year-old before being retired, but ran a second and two thirds in the trials for the Ruidoso Derby, the Rainbow Derby and the All American Derby.
Heavens Uncle raced over a fast track in the schooling races with the temperature at a brisk 40 degrees and the tailwind at his back at 9 mph.
Valdivia’s second win of the day came with Iteas Jessy in the eighth race, a 2-year-old filly by Flying Cowboy 123, out of the Corona Cartel mare Itea. He was one of four trainers that finished the day with two wins apiece Wednesday. Keener, Heath Taylor and Clint Crawford also won a pair of training races on the day. Jeffrey Tyer won the lone training race the others did not win.
Here’s the rest of the training race winners Wednesday (Quarter Horses and all 2-year-olds unless otherwise noted), their times (in order from fastest to slowest winners), speed index, trainers and race number were:
The Remington Park training, or schooling races, provide trainers the opportunity to gain experience for their 2-year-olds prior to making their first real pari-mutuel racing attempt.
The Remington Park racing office will compile the races for the upcoming season’s Opening Night when entries are taken on Friday morning. The season will begin March 7 and continue through June 1.
•••••
Remington Park has provided more than $344 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 simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. The 2024 racing schedule begins Thursday, March 7, as the American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season starts its 50-date season. Parking and admission are always free. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
Facebook Feed
🚨Attn Horsemen: The OQHRA Board of Directors Elections are coming up this Fall. Make sure you renew your OQHRA membership by September 1st in order to Vote ☑️!
Online OQHRA Membership form --> bit.ly/3E8BOFb ... ’Expand’See Less
3 hours ago
Comment on Facebook
Please help us congratulate Troy! He is such an important part of all of our success at Fair Meadows! Be sure to tell him Thank You when you see him! ... ’Expand’See Less
2 days ago
Comment on Facebook
Congratulations Troy!!! Thank you for all you have done for all of us. A special thanks for a special longtime friendship that I truly treasure.😊
Troy is the absolute BEST!! Congratulations my friend!
Congratulations Troy !!
Congrats
He deserves it.
Troy’s Awesome, congratulations and thank you for always taking such care of us🏇🏻🏇🏻
Way to go Troy !!!!!
Looking good troy. I miss those days.
He is one of the best people you will ever meet in the race horse business
Congratulations Troy! One of the nicest people I ever had the privilege to work with.
Congratulations Troy. You always do a great job
My man Troy i can remember FMT in the beginning and Troy would always be the 1st one you saw either pulling in of a morning to work or at night to race, Troy always had the chaos organized in the haul in barn. Jim and Nina got the best one possible with Troy, one amazing man! The Stephens family! Jim,Barb and Kevin
Congratulations! Track would be lost with out you, you are awesome.
Congrats Troy!!!
You are the man, Troy
Congratulations
Congrats!!!
Never ran anything in OKLA., but CONGRATULATIONS TROY!!! Ppl like you are gold on ANY TRACK.
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𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗢𝗹𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗿𝗲-𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
The Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association (OQHRA) has confirmed the detection of Olodaterol through pre-entry hair testing protocols required for participation at Oklahoma racetracks. Olodaterol is a long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist, a class of bronchodilators that includes strictly prohibited substances such as clenbuterol, albuterol, and carmoterol.
Olodaterol is not an approved substance in racehorses, and its presence constitutes a violation of integrity standards. The positive findings were made as a condition of entry through OQHRA-managed hair testing, not by the regulatory body, and as such, horses testing positive were ruled ineligible for entry.
While reports of Olodaterol have surfaced in other states through hair samples, OQHRA is not currently aware of any confirmed positives in blood or urine samples. This reinforces the value of hair testing in identifying substances that may otherwise go undetected.
“This is a clear example of why hair testing matters,” said Krissy Bamberg, Executive Director of OQHRA. “Whether used pre-entry to prevent horses from competing, or post-race for official adjudication, hair testing provides a longer detection window and a clearer picture of the medications and substances a horse has been exposed to.”
OQHRA will continue to support and expand the use of hair testing as part of its integrity and welfare program. In addition, the association will continue to advocate for the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission to adopt hair testing as a standard matrix within the state’s official biological testing program. This includes both post-race testing and out-of-competition testing.
“We strongly encourage the Commission to expand its use of hair testing,” said Bamberg. “It's a reliable, science-based tool that gives regulators the ability to detect long-term exposure to prohibited substances and strengthens our ability to ensure fairness and safety in the sport.”
OQHRA and our partner racetracks remain committed to identifying and deterring the use of new and emerging substances and protecting the integrity of racing in Oklahoma. ... ’Expand’See Less
3 days ago
Comment on Facebook
Why don’t you just require hair testing in test barn of top 2 finishers. Wouldn’t that be a more accurate chance to catch abuse?
You don’t find it in blood and urine because hair testing is highly variable and substances can last for years after it’s been administered.
Felipe Martinez this what you Ben saying all along
The Louisiana Racing Commission STILL does not recognize the hair testing we owners have been paying for the last few years!
Guess you missed the news from LA??
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