VALIANT PAINTED SIGN WINS REMINGTON PARK DERBY

by Richard Linihan

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – April 20, 2025 – He might not have won the futurity on Saturday night, but jockey Juan Pulido won’t be crying to anyone about his night, winning the two next largest purses in the Remington Park Derby and Oaks.

Both races are for Oklahoma-breds who qualified during trials earlier in the month.

Pulido wrapped up that two-bagger in the $185,420 Derby and the $160,670 Oaks when Valiant Painted Sign romped home a winner on a sloppy racetrack on the rainiest night of racing this meet.

It was not an easy task getting his riding double as Valiant Painted Sign (5-2) just got up by a head in the finale over Relentless American (9-2), a horse that had won 9-of-11 starts lifetime coming into the Derby. Flying Wrangler (14-1) checked in third, another half-length back of the runner-up. The 2-1 favorite at post-time, Toastin Heros, could do no better than seventh.

Pulido met trainer Josue Garcia and owner Darling Farms (Dan Darling) of Lamont, Okla., in the winner’s circle. Pulido won the Derby for the second year in a row. He also won last year aboard RJ Having Fun. It was the first time Garcia and his owner had won this race.

Running time for Valiant Painted Sign over a sloppy track at 400 yards was :19.863, earning a speed-index of 89. Past the top three in this Derby, the order of finish was Stetsonn (9-2) fourth, Sunnyside Dynasty (66-1) fifth, Mr Charlie Brown (67-1) sixth, Toastin Heros (2-1) seventh, Lomax (8-1) eighth, Pluto 22 (19-1) ninth and BV I B Quick (17-1) 10^th.

Valiant Painted Sign paid $7.20 to win, $4 to place and $3 to show. It was the first win in stakes company for this 3-year-old Oklahoma-bred gelding by Valiant Hero, out of the PYC Paint Your Wagon mare Third Painted Sign. The winner is a home-bred for the owner Darling Farms. He earned $74,168 and improved career marks to nine starts, three wins, two seconds and one third for a bankroll of $94,906.

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Remington Park has provided more than $377 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 $1,000,000 Heritage Place Futurity on May 31, the final night of this meet. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.