LS JACKS BACK OVERCOMES INSIDE POST TO WIN $68,000 MIGHTY DECK THREE STAKES WITH RED-HOT JOCKEY ALI RIVERA UP

During Saturday’s race card, no horse had run better than fourth from the 1-hole until Ls Jacks Back showed up for the $68,000 Mighty Deck Three Stakes.

That 5-year-old gelding’s talent overcame the inside path and he won the Mighty Deck Three impressively by a half-length in tough company. Leading rider Ali Rivera, who has been on fire this week, picked up his seventh win of the meet, two on the night, as Ls Jacks Back smoked his field for the win.

“He’s a good one,” said trainer John Stinebaugh. “He’s like a fine wine, just getting better with age. I believe we will send him into the Mr Jet Moore Stakes (on Saturday, April 6 at Remington Park, a 350-yard race for Oklahoma-bred Quarter Horses).”

It was one of two wins on the night for Rivera, who moved out of a tie for first place into sole possession of the leading rider standings here. He is one ahead of Roman Cruz (six wins), who scored twice on Saturday to pass Francisco Calderon in third with five trips to the winner’s circle.

Rivera also won aboard Some Ones Diva (9-2) in the seventh race of the night among maidens. He won that event for trainer Zackary Stinebaugh.

In the stakes win, Ls Jacks Back, a 5-year-old gelded son of Corona Cartel, from the Desirio mare Pj Chick in Black, shot to the lead from the inside immediately out of the gate and had a one-length lead before you could blink an eye.

“He fires out and just keeps rolling,” said Rivera. “He has been working really good in the mornings. He loves this track, the weather and loves the 1-hole.”

Ls Jacks Back covered the 250 yards in a swift 13.146 seconds for a speed index of 98. Deutsch (24-1 longshot) got up for second, a head in front of third-place finisher Apollitical Payoff (7-2). They were followed by Rgs Gold Wagon (5-2) in fourth, Wasting Light (17-1) fifth, Wieburg (26-1) sixth, Jc Black Mamba (8-5 favorite) seventh and Jt Im That Boy (19-1) eighth after losing his rider at the start.

The winner earned $39,000 from the purse for owner LS Racing (Lynne Smith) of Comber, Ontario, Canada. He improved his record to 25 starts, five wins, seven seconds and four thirds for earnings of $237,667. He was bred in Oklahoma by D. Bowen, S. Taylor and J. Smith Farms. It was the first win for all the connections in this stakes series.

Live racing resumes Sunday with a 4 p.m. first post time with 10 races on tap.

Remington Park has provided more than $345 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 simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. The 83rd edition of the historic Oklahoma Futurity, first contested in 1947, will be run Saturday, March 23. The American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season continues through June 1. Parking and admission are always free. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.

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