JOSE ALVAREZ, DANNY PISH REMINGTON PARK LIP CHIP JOCKEY/TRAINER OF WEEK

Jockey Jose Alvarez won three of his 10 starts during the Remington Park racing week of Nov. 13-15, and was in the money in half of those races. Trainer Danny Pish sent out four starters and was a winner twice and runner-up the other two times. With those accolades, the pair earned Lip Chip Jockey and Trainer of the Week honors.

Two of Alvarez’s three wins were standout efforts, one in stakes-caliber allowance company with Victory for Vets and the other aboard what appeared to be an extremely promising maiden, Chad Allan.

Victory for Vets’ win happened Friday night, only three days after Veterans Day, Tuesday, Nov. 11. Alvarez won, rolling down the middle of the track, while two horses in front of him were in a tough fight on the rail. In the end, Victory for Vets outlasted King Russell, who was disqualified from second and placed last behind Classic Cut. He was deemed to have interfered with Classic Cut in the stretch. While those two were duking it out on the rail, Victory for Vets moved down the middle and won going away.

The 4-year-old Texas-bred gelded son of Tapiture, from the Smart Strike mare Diamondinthestream, won the conditional allowance race by 1-1/4 lengths for Alvarez and trainer Bret Calhoun and improved to 21 starts, eight wins, three seconds and three thirds for a bankroll of $334,459.

Alvarez’s other trip to the winner circle came in the saddle of Chad Allan. That 2-year-old colt by Union Rags, out of the Candy Ride (ARG) mare Bardot, seemed to be facing a stellar bunch of juveniles in this maiden race. Chad Allan was sent off as the even-money favorite and it was evident the colt was well meant in this race. He and Alvarez left everyone in their dust in the stretch, winning by 7-1/4 lengths for trainer Robert Young in only the colt’s second career start.

Alvarez is a multiple graded stakes-winning jockey, having won the Grade 3 Remington Park Oaks here with Hits Pricey Legacy in 2022. He also won the Grade 3 Azalea Stakes at Calder in Florida with Wildcat Lily in 2013. Alvarez’s career marks on Thoroughbreds is 6,466 starts, 862 wins, 905 seconds and 852 thirds for horses’ earnings of $22,334,891.

Pish was just as impressive with his week at Remington Park. The trips to the winner’s circle for the Texas-based trainer were with High Cinco (maiden winner) on Friday and Walk Away Kaye (maiden winner) on Saturday. His two runner-up finishes came with Harvey’s Finnish (maidens) and Aunt Penny (allowance).

Pish is a multiple graded stakes-placed trainer who has had some excellent winners in his career, including Jolly Samurai at Remington Park. That gelded son of First Samurai, out of the Paddy O’Prado mare Jolly Good, won three in a row at Remington Park to start his career, including two black-type victories – the Kip Deville Stakes and the Clever Trevor Stakes here in 2024. He went on to Fair Grounds in New Orleans to race on the Kentucky Derby Triple Crown trail, racing in the grade 3 Lecomte Stakes and the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes.

Pish’s lifetime record as a Thoroughbred trainer is 16,614 starts; 2,718 wins; 2,499 seconds and 2,402 thirds for horses’ earnings of $45,493,109.

Remington Park racing continues tonight through Saturday, Nov. 20-22 with the first post time of 6 p.m.-Central.

Remington Park has provided more than $399 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 Springboard Mile, a 2026 Kentucky Derby qualifying points race, takes place Saturday, Dec. 20, the final night of the Thoroughbred Season. Guests must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or to enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.

-30-