JOCKEY CODY SMITH GETS RIDING TRIPLE, MOVES INTO THIRD PLACE IN REMINGTON PARK STANDINGS

Jockey Cody Smith rode a hot streak to three wins in a row Sunday, taking the fourth, fifth and sixth races for a riding triple at Remington Park.

The three trips to the winner’s circle moved him into third place in the jockeys’ standings with 22 wins during the American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa meet in Oklahoma City. He moved one ahead of Juan Pulido, who drops to fourth, and one behind Ricky Ramirez, in second-place with 23. James Flores is running away with his third riding title in a row with 51 wins, taking two on Sunday night.

Tied for fifth place is Rolando Raudales, Jimmy Brooks and Benito Baca with 17 wins each this season.

Smith won two of his races for the same connections – owner Jose Bernal of Wichita, Kan., and trainer Joaquin Lopez – winning the fifth with Shez Painted Chelly ($3.60 to win) and the sixth aboard Bryans Dynasty ($17.60). His first win of the night that started the triple, was in race four for owner-trainer Matt Whitekiller as he guided Miss Fly On Tac ($16.60) to victory. All three of Smith’s wins came in the claiming category, one of them for maidens.

In the trainer’s standings this meet, Eddie Willis is once again riding high on top. He captured his 10th title at Remington Park last year. This year, there are four trainers in the 20s in victories. Willis does lead with 27, followed by Guillermo Valdivia, Dee Keener and Blane Wood. Valdivia and Keener are locked in second with 22 apiece and Wood is two back of them in fourth with 20. Tied for fifth place are Josue Ponce and Whitekiller with 14 wins each. Willis, Keener, Wood and Whitekiller all had one win Sunday night.

Willis won last year’s title with 36 wins, finishing one ahead of Clint Crawford and Rick Robinson.

In the owners’ race, it’s been a runaway this season with Jose E. Guzman’s horses taking their pictures in the winner’s circle 11 times of 22 starts. The race for second is tremendous with Darling Farms, Sam W. Green and MRB Racing LLC all with six apiece. Tied for fifth are James Sills, Reliance Ranches LLC and Regina Laymon with five apiece. Laymon moved into that tie with a win for Shaky Hero ($28.60) in the ninth race Sunday.

Racing is scheduled to continue, with no public spectators, Thursday through Sunday, May 7-10 with the first race nightly at 6pm-Central. Qualifying trials for the $1,000,000 Heritage Place Futurity will be held on Friday and Saturday nights, May 8 & 9. Sunday, May 10 will feature trials for the Heritage Place Derby.

Tracked by more than 163,000 fans on Facebook and more than 10,400 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $242 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 the 2020 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season through May 30. Visit remingtonpark.com for free racing selections for every program.

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