CUZ HE GONE REMAINS UNDEFEATED AFTER TWO STARTS FOR ONE-HORSE OWNER FROM TEXAS

Cuz He Gone has gone to the gates twice to start his official career and he has been a winner in both tries for owner Miguel Mendoza of Coppell, Texas.

The 2-year-old gelding by Capo de Capi, out of the Mr Eye Opener mare Eye Mongoose, is the only horse Mendoza has started this year and he stayed undefeated Thursday night in a featured allowance race for juveniles that had not won two races lifetime.

Coppell is a suburb of Dallas, Texas, of approximately 45,000 people. The town was named for George Coppell, who was involved in building the railroad in the 1890s there. Now Mendoza, a resident of the bedroom community, is the only one with a freight train from there and it’s a American Quarter Horse named Cuz He Gone. Trainer Jesus Ruiz has sent this gelding to post twice at Remington Park and he was an easy winner both times. Jockey Paul Nieto has been in the saddle for both trips to the winner’s circle.

On March 17, Cuz He Gone was started in a maiden claiming race for his career debut. The claiming tag was $20,000. Any horsemen with a license could have picked him up that day for that amount. No one did and Cuz He Gone cruised to an impressive 2-1/4 lengths victory, his owner pocketing $10,032 for the maiden win. He was bred in Oklahoma by 2L Racing.

It was expected to be a much more difficult race Thursday night as Cuz He Gone tried horses that already had won their maiden races as well. He was jumping into allowance company moving up in class from the claiming ranks. The winner didn’t care. He was just as impressive his second time out.

Cuz He Gone bested his competition by a half-length at 4-1 odds, the second favorite in the race, going 330 yards. The even-money favorite out of leading trainer Santos Carrizales’ barn checked in dead last after missing the break. The winner outbattled Bolt of Action V (7-1), the runner-up, and it was another neck back to Dee Dee TLC (29-1) in third.

Running time for the winner was :17.244 over a fast track. He paid $10.80 to win, $5.20 to place and $4.20 to show. Cuz He Gone produced an 84 speed index into a 15 mph headwind in his maiden race and followed that up with a 77 speed index into a 9 mph headwind Thursday.

According to Equibase statistics, Mendoza raced from 2007-2011, winning about $20,000 in those four years. There was a 10-year gap from 2011-2021 where he showed no horses started. He returned in 2021, winning a little more than $18,000, but has more than doubled his lifetime official North American earnings in two races in 2022.

Prior to Cuz He Gone’s two wins, Mendoza’s career bankroll with horses was $22,619. Cuz He Gone improved his record to two-for-two with earnings of $26,712. He earned $16,680 for Thursday night’s win and $10,032 in the maiden race. Mendoza’s horses now have made $49,331 in his career overall.
Live racing continues this week with a Friday–Sunday schedule remaining. First post time Friday and Saturday is 6 p.m. Sunday racing starts at 4 p.m. The Grade 1 Leo Stakes and the Grade 1 American Paint Classic are featured on Saturday evening.

Tracked by more than 168,000 fans on Facebook and 10,600 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $288 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 will feature the $1,000,000 Heritage Place Futurity and the $250,000 Debbie Schauf Remington Park Championship on May 28. Simulcast horse is racing featured daily at Remington Park where the casino is always open! Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.

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