THE ARTILLERO TURNS IN FASTEST TIME FOR TRAINER GUILLERMO VALDIVIA IN THURSDAY’S REMINGTON PARK TRAINING RACES

The Artillero’s dam (mother), Breck N Records, didn’t show much in her racing career, but his sire (dad), Apollitical Blood, was a monster. It was the sire’s side of the 2-year-old colt’s pedigree that rose to the top in training races Thursday at Remington Park.

The Artillero, trained by Guillermo Valdivia and ridden by Juan Pulido, recorded the fastest time in the 250-yard schooling races, stopping the timer in :13.602 seconds (79 speed index with a 15 mph tailwind) in the eighth of 10 races. It was a brisk 35 degrees at post time for this winner. All races were conducted under sunny skies over a fast track.

Breck N Records only raced six times in her career and just showed a maiden win at Los Alamitos in California for her top outing and less than $8,000 in career earnings. Apollitical Blood, in juxtaposition to those stats, was the American Quarter Horse Association Champion 3-year-old Colt when he won the Grade 1, $2.3 million All American Derby at Ruidoso Downs in 2015 by daylight, 1-3/4 lengths.

In his career, Apollitical Blood won six of 14 races for $1,519,800 in earnings. He was one of only two horses to win $1 million in 2015 and one of only 26 horses in history to pass the $1.5 million mark. Among the top horses by Apollitical Blood are Apollitical Patty (won Grade 1 Los Alamitos 2 Million Futurity), Blood Money (won Grade 1, $1,123,142 LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity) and Trump My Record (won Grade 1 Texas Classic Futurity, Grade 2 Sam Houston Futurity, Grade 3 Harrah’s Futurity and the Grade 3 Firecracker Derby).

The Apollitical Blood and Breck N Records union has worked well previous to The Artillero, who happens to be a full-brother to Trump My Record.

The Artillero, a juvenile colt, was a $180,000 purchase by owner Marvin Fuentes of West Friendship, Md., at the Heritage Place September Yearling Sale last fall in Oklahoma City. He won his training race by three-quarters of a length.

Only one trainer had two winners on the day and that was Monty Arrossa, last year’s sixth-leading conditioner at Remington Park. He won both races for his top owner, Dunn Ranch of Wynnewood, Okla., the first and third races of the day. The Dunns are the two-time defending champion owners coming into this year’s race meet. They won their training races with Purple Rainn, :13.781, 72, in race one, a American Quarter Horse, and with Whiskey and Rain, a Paint, :13.782, 72, in race three.

The other training race winners (Quarter Horses unless otherwise noted), their times (in order from fastest to slowest winners), speed index, trainers and race number were:

Alliekat Dynasty, :13.622, 79, Jesus Ruiz, race six
Jess B, :13.632, 78, Eddie Willis, race nine
Prize Catch, :13.652, 77, Victor Ibarra, race four
JS Apollitical Chick (Paint), :13.719, 75, Dee Keener, race 10
Fire Tres, :13.801, 71, Matt Whitekiller, race two
JH Fancy Like (Paint), :13.967, 65, Stacy Charette-Hill, race seven
Clementine, :14.044, 62, Hernesto Ramirez, race five

The 2023 Remington Park American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season will begin on March 9.

Tracked by more than 172,000 fans on Facebook and 10,700 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $315 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 live racing returns March 9 with the start of the 2023 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa season. Remington Park presents simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.

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