TEEN JOCKEY ARAM MARTINEZ PULLS UPSET WITH 15-1 LONGSHOT THE DURANGO LIGHTS IN FEATURED REMINGTON PARK ALLOWANCE

Jockey Aram Martinez turned 18 years old on March 22 and has been setting records ever since. It was no different on Friday night at Remington Park as he won the featured allowance race aboard The Durango Lights at 15-1 odds.

On March 23, it is believed Martinez did something here that has never been done in nearly 37 years of track history – he won a race with 19-year-old trainer Marla Vargas. Historians have been consulted and they could never remember two teenagers winning a race at Remington Park as trainer and jockey of the same race. More records fell for the race meet on Friday because of Martinez’s win on The Durango Lights.

When The Durango Lights took advantage of last year’s Remington Park Derby runner-up, Jess a Salty Candy, not being ready at the break, that gave the longshots license to win. It was The Durango Lights, a 4-year-old Oklahoma-bred gelded son of The Marfa Lights, out of the Wave Carver mare Coronas Tea Sipper, that got his nose in front at the wire after 400 yards. He out-nosed the 8-5 post time favorite, Lucky Luke, who was unlucky in this photo finish. This was the second win in three starts this meet for The Durango Lights, trained by Cosme Velasquez for owner Gildardo Torres of El Reno, Okla.

Martinez was aboard The Durango Lights for the other the gelding’s other win on March 23, the day after the young jockey’s birthday. Martinez won three times the night he won for the first time in his career for his first race meet at Remington Park. The Durango Lights gave him five trips to the winner’s circle this meet. He is the son of the now-retired jockey, L. Salvador Martinez, who was a prominent rider here last year.

Friday, The Durango Lights paid $33.20 to win, $17.80 to place and $8.20 to show. For The Durango Lights, he won a five-horse photo on Friday, to get his third win lifetime in 10 races. He earned $18,375 for Friday’s victory and improved his career record to 10-3-1-1, $49,474 in his bankroll. He is a home-bred for his owner.

The new marks The Durango Lights caused came in the late Pick 3 and the late Pick 4 that paid $5,404.70 and $5,817.50 on 50-cent wagers, respectively. Those were the top payouts of the meet for those two wagers. The odds in the late Pick 4 for the winners were 3-1, 14-1, 7-2 and 15-1. The latter three were the last chance Pick 3 winners.

Behind runner-up Lucky Luke in the tight photo were third-place finisher Getaway Piloto (9-2), a head behind the runner-up and a head in front of Rare Roy (20-1) in fourth. His Royal Majesti (38-1) was another nose back in fifth. The Durango Lights covered the 400 yards in :19.774 seconds on a fast track, earning a speed-index of 91. The next four speed indexes behind him were 91, 90, 90, 90.

Remington Park racing continues Saturday, May 17 with a special post time of Noon due to the Preakness Stakes program that will be featured via simulcast from Pimlico in Baltimore. The Preakness Stakes is set for 6pm. All times are Central.

Remington Park has provided more than $377 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 year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. The 2025 American Quarter Horse Season, features the $1,161,010 Heritage Place Futurity on May 31, the final night of this meet. 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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