LEADING RIDER CODY SMITH BRINGS LONGSHOT APOLLICARTEL HOME IN FEATURED ALLOWANCE RACE AT REMINGTON PARK

Apollicartel broke his maiden against tough competition in his career debut last year at Remington Park in the $477,000 Oklahoma Futurity trials, then finished eighth in that final. He didn’t win again in 2021, nor in a trial for the Oklahoma Derby earlier this season, gaining little respect in the allowance finale on Sunday.

One can never count out a horse with leading rider Cody Smith in the saddle, however. Smith powered home the 19-1 longshot, Apollicartel, in the day’s ninth and final race, an allowance for non-winners of two lifetime. The Loyd Moreland trainee showed major improvement dropping in class from the trial he last raced in on March 6. The 3-year-old gelded son of Big Daddy Cartel, out of the Apollitical Jess mare Apollititaka, finished 10th in his trial, but he was pinballed at the start of that race and never had a chance.

Apollicartel paid $41.60 to win on a $2 wager, $20.40 to place and $8.80 to show. He won the 330-yard race by a half-length over runner-up Jess Good Graces (6-1), who was another half-length up on third-place finisher Noteworthee (4-1). Running time for the race was :16.935 for a speed index of 87 on a fast track. The gelding was bred in California by El Cabresto Inc.

Apocalyptical Sis was the wagering favorite at 3-1 odds, finishing fourth.

Apollicartel is owned by Bowen Arrow Farms (James Bowen) of Tontitown, Ark. Their gelding earned $11,616 from the $22,140 purse. He improved his record to six starts, two wins and one third for total earnings of $33,560.

The win by Smith was one of only two mounts he had on Sunday at Remington Park. The victory gave him 13 wins for the season, pushing his lead to five more than the three jockeys in second who have eight wins each. They are Jesus Salazar, Francisco Calderon and Jorge Torres. Four jockeys have six wins apiece.

Remington Park racing continues Thursday through Sunday, March 24-27. Racing begins at 6pm nightly, except for Sunday when action is underway at 4pm. All times are Central.

Tracked by more than 168,000 fans on Facebook and 10,600 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $286 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 richest futurity for state-breds, the $925,000 (estimated) Remington Park Futurity on April 16. Simulcast horse racing is featured daily and the Remington Park casino is always open! Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
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