PAULS VALLEY STAKES ON THURSDAY COULD BE PREVIEW OF REMINGTON PARK DISTANCE CHAMPIONSHIP ON CLOSING DAY
The Grade 2, $50,000 Pauls Valley Stakes scheduled for Thursday night could be a preview for Champion Distance Horse at Remington Park this meet.
Last year’s American Quarter Horse Association Distance Champion, Wascallywittlewabbit, has been made the even-money morning-line favorite for the Pauls Valley Stakes, but not that much of a choice over multiple stakes-winning Shockinglyfamous at 6-5 odds.
Shockinglyfamous tried 870 yards for the first time in his 27-race career last time out in optional $20,000 claiming company on March 18 at Remington Park. He proved a force with which to be reckoned. The 6-year-old son of One Famous Eagle, out of the Langfuhr (TB) mare Shocktime (TB), drew away by 7-1/4 lengths to win that event for trainer Kasey Willis, under jockey Stormy Smith. His time of :45.172 was stakes-caliber. Wascallywittlewabbit won the Remington Park Distance Championship here last year in a time of :44.873.
Shockinglyfamous is owned by Stone Chase Stables and Willis of Maysville, Okla. He was bred in Texas by Clarence Scharbauer III.
Wascallywittlewabbit, a 7-year-old gelded son of Heza Motor Scooter, out of the Rabbits Rainbow mare Rabbits N Diamonds, was bred in New Mexico by Mike Weatherly. He is owned by Rogers Farm (Jarrett Rogers) of Clint, Texas.
In 2021, Wascallywittlewabbit won five of seven starts with wins around the hook in the following Grade 1 races – the AQHA Distance Challenge Championship at the Downs at Albuquerque on Oct. 23 and the Remington Park Distance Championship Stakes on May 29 as part of his championship season.
Wascallywittlewabbit is also the defending champion in the Pauls Valley for trainer Michael Joiner. His regular rider since 2020, Benito Baca, is no longer a jockey, working now as an assistant trainer, despite having two of his best riding years in his career in 2020-21. The mount for the Pauls Valley goes to veteran rider Josh Romero.
This champion’s career record is 22 starts, 11 wins and two seconds for $282,100 in earnings. That compares to Shockinglyfamous’ 27 starts, seven wins, three seconds and three thirds for $200,294.
Wascallywittlewabbit is 10-for-16 at the distance of 870 yards. Shockinglyfamous is one-for-one.
Here’s a look at the field for the Pauls Valley Stakes, including post position, horse, odds, jockey and trainer:
Wascallywittlewabbit, 1-1, Josh Romero, Michael Joiner
Holy Storm, 12-1, Roman Cruz, Patrick Swan
Petes Favorite, 30-1, Fernando Fonseca-Soto, Kirby Kile
Shockinglyfamous, 6-5, Stormy Smith, Kasey Willis
Bubba Bad, 8-1, Daniel Torres, Ray Enlow
You Buy I Fly V, 15-1, Bonifacio Quiroz, Tony Sedillo
Remington Park racing wraps up March and moves into April with racing Thursday through Sunday, March 31-April 3. The first race is 6pm nightly, with Sunday action 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 is racing featured daily at Remington Park where the casino is always open! Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
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