SOME OF TOP OLDER QUARTER HORSES WILL CONVERGE IN DEE RAPER SOONER STATE STAKES AT REMINGTON PARK

The Restricted Grade 1, $100,000 Dee Raper Sooner State Stakes nominations this year include an All-American Futurity winner, a horse that won the $1,105,000 Golden State Million Futurity and another that won two-thirds of the 3-year-old Triple Crown.

That’s not even mentioning the other multiple-stakes winners that are nominated for this year’s edition to the race on Saturday, April 16. The Sooner State is for Oklahoma-bred 3-year-olds and older, going 400 yards.

The race is now named in honor of the late Dee Raper, an Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame owner and breeder who was prominent in the business for decades, enjoying success at Remington Park and throughout the state.
Here’s a look at some of the prominent horses nationally that have been nominated. They are listed alphabetically:
AJs Tres of Paint – owned by Guillermo Gomez Flores and trained by Troy Carter. This 3-year-old colt by Apollitical Jess, out of the Tres Seis mare A Tres of Paint, won a Heritage Place Futurity trial last year here and then ran third in the final of the biggest purse in history in Oklahoma racing – $1.3 million. Record: 9 starts-3 wins-2 seconds-2 thirds-$276,355.
Apocalyptical Jess – owned by Bill T. Robbins and trained by Trey Wood. This 6-year-old gelded son of Apollitical Jess, out of the Holland Ease mare Cassandra Crest, won the sport’s biggest race, the All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico, a $3 million event, in 2018. He would be the top earner in the field, if he goes. Record: 27-9-4-5-$2,249,568.
Apollitical Gold – owned by Grant R. Cox Revocable Trust and trained by Eddie Willis. This 4-year-old gelding by Apollitical Jess, out of the PYC Paint Your Wagon mare SRC Gold, won the $1,105,000 Golden State Million Futurity as a 2-year-old in 2020, making Remington Park jockey Justine Klaiber the first Quarter Horse female rider to win a $1 million race in California. Record: 14-5-3-5-$999,075.
Candy Blood – Owned by Rick Sumner and Dunn Ranch (Matt Dunn) and trained by Monty Arrossa. This 4-year-old gelded son of Apollitical Blood, out of the Wave Carver mare Ranch Candy, ran third in last year’s $929,000 All American Derby at Ruidoso. He also ran second in the Remington Park Derby. Record: 17-8-3-1-$419,875.
JC Wild King – Owned by Jose G. Cervantes and trained by Santos Carrizales, Jr. This 4-year-old gelding by Apollitical Jess, out of the Stoli mare Oh Cherokee Rose, is a multiple stakes winner the past couple of years, taking the Mighty Deck Three Stakes at Remington this year, the Challenge Derby Championship at the Downs at Albuquerque, the Derby Challenge at Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla., and the Speedhorse Derby at Fair Meadows in Tulsa, Okla., those latter three in 2021. Record: 15-7-4-0-$237,713.
Jess My Hocks – Owned by Tom and Kathy McNally and trained by Michelle Hurdle. This 5-year-old gelded son of Kiss My Hocks, out of the Take Off Jess mare Jess Charlena, is one of only two horses to beat the American Quarter Horse Association World Champion, Danjer, in 2021. Danjer won five of seven starts last year. Jess My Hocks beat him in the Leo Stakes at Remington Park. Since then, this gelding also won the Bank of America Remington Park Challenge this meet. Record: 18-9-0-4-$338,876.
Remington Park racing continues next week with only three nights of racing – Thursday through Saturday at 6 p.m. There will be no racing on Easter Sunday.

Tracked by more than 169,000 fans on Facebook and 10,600 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $288 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 $973,665 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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