NESTOR DURAN, JUAN DIAZ, JR., NAMED LIP CHIP JOCKEY, TRAINER OF WEEK AFTER NEAR PERFECT PERFORMANCES
On the back of qualifying three to the finals of the Grade 1, $1,081,820 Heritage Place Futurity and the Grade 2, $239,050 Heritage Place Derby, Nestor Duran and Juan Diaz, Jr., have been named Lip Chip Jockey and Trainer of the Week.
That combination was successful in qualifying two to the Futurity finals set for closing night, Saturday, June 1 and one to the Derby scheduled the same evening. Duran was in the saddle for all three for Diaz. On top of that, that jockey/trainer combo scored an amazing five wins from seven starters last week and one other ran second. The winning percentage of 71 percent is almost impossible in this game and 86 percent of the time they were first or second.
The combo’s Futurity qualifiers included Joose Box, winner of the Grade 2 Oklahoma Futurity at Remington Park on March 23. He qualified as the fourth-fastest on the first night of Heritage Place Futurity trials on May 9 with a time of :17.658 with a tailwind of 11 mph for a 90 speed-index for 350 yards. He stumbled in his trial or might have been even faster. The other qualifier was Kiss My Maruska, fifth-fastest on the same night as Joose Boxx. Kiss My Maruska was the runner-up in this year’s Grade 2 Louisiana Downs Futurity.
In the Derby trials on May 11, Duran and Diaz had the second-fastest qualifier in the top 10 with Dollar Bill, who covered 400 yards in a time of :19.783 for a 91 speed-index. That is compared to the fastest qualifier Cardiac Cowboy’s :19.667, which was good for 94. Dollar Bill is a 3-year-old gelded son of Kiss My Hocks, out of the PYC Paint Your Wagon mare Jakes Painted Wagon, who has earned $539,089 in his career and is a graded stakes winner. He won the Grade 1 Texas Quarter Horse Association Futurity at Retama Park on Aug. 5, 2023.
Remington Park racing continues this week with first post time of 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, a special first post of Noon on Saturday, Preakness Stakes simulcast day, and the usual 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Remington Park has provided more than $349 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 simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. The Remington Park 2024 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season continues through June 1 with the biggest racing program of the season. The Champions Night boasts total purses in excess of $2,000,000, led by the $1,000,000 Heritage Place Futurity. Parking and admission are always free. 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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