HEAD PATRON CONTINUES WINS GRADE 2 EASTEX STAKES AT REMINGTON PARK

When Head Patron won the Grade 2, $51,840 Eastex Stakes on Saturday night, it might have been the first win in the series for trainer Waylan Melton, but it was far from his first trip to the winner’s circle this meet.

If Melton were in the winner’s circle any more often this American Quarter Horse / Paint / Appaloosa Season, he would be charged rent. After the race, Melton improved his winning stats for the meet to an unbelievable 67 percent. He had started 12 horses and won with eight of them, ran second with two others and third once. His in-the-money percentage was an incredible 91 percent.

It was Head Patron’s fourth winning race in a row and his seventh in 14 career starts. The 4-year-old gelded American Quarter Horse son of Zoomin for Bux, out of the Special Leader mare Dash Leader last raced in 2022 at Horseshoe Indianapolis where his big score in this winning streak was the $126,000 Quarter Horse Racing Association of Indiana Derby on Oct. 29. He won that race under the conditioning of Horseshoe Indianapolis’ all-time winning trainer Randy Smith.

Remington Park leading rider Juan Pulido was in the irons for Melton and stepped on the gas from the start and it wasn’t long before Head Patron blew them away in the 350 yard race by 1-1/2 lengths. The winner is owned by Brant Barley of Mindemines, Mo. and was bred by Brant and Jon Barley in Missouri.

Head Patron earned $29,946 for the victory and improved his lifetime mark to 14 starts, seven wins, one second and two thirds and earnings of $227,851. Head Patron has been victorious in two of four starts at Remington Park.

The winner covered the distance in :17.418 over a fast track for a speed index of 96, finishing well ahead of runner-up Apollitical Payoff (5-1), who was a neck in front of third-place finisher Hesa Party Wagon, the post-time favorite at 7-5. Head Patron, the second-favorite at 2-1 odds, paid $6 to win, $3.80 to place and $2.10 to show.

It was the first win for all connections in this stakes series.

The Eastex is named after the winner of the 1984 All American Futurity who at one time was the sport’s all-time leading money earner. He held the record for most money earned by a 2-year-old until 2008. Eastex retired in his home state, living out his years in Norman, Okla. He often led the post parade of the race named in his honor before passing away at age 32, in 2013.

The 2023 Remington Park American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season continues Sunday with 11 races scheduled. Post time is 4 p.m.

Tracked by more than 172,000 fans on Facebook and 10,700 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $316 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 features the 2023 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa season through June 3. Remington Park presents simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.

-30-