OPENING WEEKEND CLOSES WITH FAST PRIZE MIKE WINNING EASTEX HANDICAP, LLANO CARTEL TOP QUALIFIER FOR OKLAHOMA DERBY

For Immediate Release
Sunday, March 10, 2013

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Opening Weekend of the 2013 Remington Park American Quarter Horse & Mixed-Breed Season closed Sunday afternoon. The program included the first stakes races of the season and a field set through trials for the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Derby.

The Grade 2, $50,000 Eastex Handicap, the traditional first graded stakes event of the meeting, was won by Fast Prize Mike, holding on for a neck victory over Eufaula Me. Owned by Evelio Salazar of Sugarland, Texas and trained by Steven Salazar, Fast Prize Mike was ridden by G.R. Carter. The 4-year-old horse grabbed the lead midway through the 350-yard race and held on to cross the line in :17.276 over a fast track.

Away at 6-1 odds in the wagering, Fast Prize Mike paid $14.40 to win, $8.60 to place and $7.40 to show. Eufaula Me paid $8.40 to place and $5.40 to show. Kool Country Man was third and paid $7.20 to show. A Toss Up, the beaten 5/2 wagering favorite, was fourth.

Fast Prize Mike, a 4-year-old horse by PYC Paint Your Wagon from the Heza Fast Man mare Fast Mans Prize, won his fourth career race from 13 starts and his third Remington Park race. The winner’s share of $32,284 pushed the lifetime earnings for Fast Prize Mike to $134,615.

The Eastex Handicap is named in honor of the 1984 All American Futurity winners and multiple American Quarter Horse Association divisional champion. At the time of his retirement at the end of his 1987 season, Eastex was the all-time earnings leader in the sport.

Weetona Stanley, of Madill, Okla., bred Fast Prize Mike. She is also the breeder of another triumphant 4-year-old horse on Sunday, Fast Prize Jordan, who won the $55,000 Mighty Deck Three Handicap.

Fast Prize Jordan won the race preceding the Eastex, pulling clear to a three-quarter length win over Finche, the 2011 winner of the Mighty Deck Three Handicap. Cruzin The Wagon was a nose behind the runner-up in third.

Owned in partnership by Stanley and W.E. Smith, Fast Prize Jordan is trained by Brian Muse and was ridden by Carter. Fast Prize Jordan handled 250 yards in :12.919 seconds and paid $10.40 to win, $6.80 to place and $4.60 to show at odds of 4-1. Finche returned $5.40 to place and $4.20 to show. Cruzin The Wagon paid $3.20 to show.

Another 4-year-old horse by PYC Paint Your Wagon, Fast Prize Jordan is from the Mr Jess Perry mare Fast Prize Doll. The Mighty Deck Three, restricted to older Oklahoma-breds, was his fifth career win from 10 starts and his third at Remington Park. The winner’s check of $32,230 moves his overall earnings to $137,291.

The Mighty Deck Three Handicap is named in honor of 1980 AQHA Champion 2-year-old Mighty Deck Three who won many of the top 2-year-old races that year including the Rainbow Futurity at Ruidoso Downs.

Sunday afternoon also featured seven trial races to determine the field of 10 for the $136,000 Oklahoma Quarter Horse Derby. Llano Cartel put up the top 350-yard time in the fifth trial, crossing the finish in :17.224 seconds. Owned by Wade Helton of Pampa, Texas and trained by Alfredo Gomez, Llano Cartel was ridden by Ricky Ramirez. The 3-year-old gelding is by Teller Cartel from the Lil Bit Cuervo mare Eyesa Lil Cuervo and was bred in Oklahoma by Wootan Racing.

The trial win was the second from 10 career races for Llano Cartel and his first score at Remington Park. The trial win netted him $5,784 to boost his career earnings to $45,644.

Joining Llano Cartel in the March 23 final for the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Derby, with qualifying times, are: Hiclass Vodka, :17.250; Big Boi, :17.256; Twenty Ten Secret, :17.320; First Flyn Dash, :17.327; Last First Kiss, :17.441; BP Fast Success, :17.465; Teller Ima Rockstar, :17.476; Charvet, :17.479 and Colby Cartel, :17.480.

Thursday night racing joins the regular weekly schedule next week as racing takes place March 14-17. The featured stakes race next week is the $35,000 SLM Big Daddy Stakes on Saturday, March 16, at 550 yards.

Normal post time on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays is 6pm with Sunday afternoon racing offered at 1:30pm. The season continues thru June 2.

Open daily at 10:30am for casino gaming and simulcast racing, Remington Park features the Bricktown Brewery on the casino floor. Admission, general parking and valet parking are always free at Remington Park.

Tracked by over 31,000 fans on Facebook and 3,500 Twitter followers, Remington Park is Oklahoma City’s only Racetrack & Casino and is located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District. For more information, reservations and group bookings please call 405-424-1000, 866-456-9880 or visit remingtonpark.com.

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