TWO OF TOP FIVE FINALISTS FROM DAY ONE OF OKLAHOMA FUTURITY TRIALS TRAINED BY AL WATSON, BOTH RIDDEN BY NESTOR DURAN

In the first of two nights of qualifying for the final of the Grade 2, $419,735 Oklahoma Futurity, the spotlight shone brightly on the barn of trainer Al Watson as his first-time starters from Texas ruled the roost.

Watson qualified two of the fastest five horses on Friday at Remington Park, including the swiftest of the bunch – Ocho Rojo. Watson’s American Quarter Horses had training races at Retama Park near San Antonio in February, before shipping them to Remington Park for these trials.

There will be two nights of Oklahoma Futurity trials to qualify the 10 finalists for the race at 300 yards. The trials conclude Saturday night in races three-through-eight. The five fastest runners on each night will be the finalists for the Oklahoma Futurity scheduled for Saturday, March 22.

Jockey Nestor Duran qualified Ocho Rojo and the third-fastest of the night, Britts Special Candy, for Watson. Florentino Leon of Temple, Texas, is the owner of Ocho Rojo, a gelded California-bred son of Favorite Cartel, from the Walk Thru Fire mare Sizzling N Fast. He was purchased from the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale in 2024 for $135,000. Ocho Rojo was bred by Juan Humberto Moya.

Duran was all out to get Ocho Rojo to the finish line first for his win in the sixth trial of the night, taking the race by a head over runner-up First Cash Boy. Ocho Rojo hit the wire in a time of :15.437 on the fast track, earning a speed index of 92. Ocho Rojo was sent off at 7-2 odds and returned $9.20 to win, $4.40 to place and $3.80 to show to his backers.

Watson’s other qualifier was Britts Special Candy, who won the second trial of the night in a time of :15.566 for an 88 speed index. That 2-year-old Oklahoma-bred filly by Jess Good Candy, out of the Strawfly Special mare Britts Special Eyes, was a much easier winner than her stablemate, drawing away by 1-1/4 lengths for the victory. She is owned by Jose Canto of Pharr, Texas. H&E Ranch bred her.

The fastest of the qualifiers from night one of Oklahoma Futurity trials (with jockey, trainer, trial number (race number), times and speed index were:

Ocho Rojo, Nestor Duran, Al Watson, trial six (race eight), :15.437, 92
First Cash Boy, Jorge Mares, Jr., Juan Triana, trial six (race eight), :15.469, 91
Britts Special Candy, Nestor Duran, Al Watson, trial two (race four), :15.566, 88
Ruse Ticle Knockout, Edwin Escobedo, Luis Villafranco, trial eight (race 10), :15.572, 87
Coronados 123, Mario Delgado, Juvenal Licona-Vazquez, trial one (race three), :15.618, 86

A northern tailwind was prevalent for most of the night throughout the night with the five qualifiers aided by winds between 15 and 16mph.

Remington Park racing continues Saturday with another evening of trials for the Oklahoma Futurity. The first race is at 6pm-Central.

Remington Park has provided more than $376 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 historic 84th edition of the Oklahoma Futurity on Saturday, March 22. 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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