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LOS ALAMITOS RACE COURSE, CYPRESS, CA… A deep and evenly matched field of 10 talented mares will square off in the $35,000 Virginia Hyland Stakes when racing resumes at Los Alamitos on Saturday night. The 350-yard feature is the eighth and final race of an action-packed program that gets underway at approximately 6:00 PM.
Adding to the excitement for horse players, the night features a Pick 6 Carryover of $14,701. With fresh money expected to flood the pool, the total Pick 6 pot is projected to climb toward $90,000. The Pick 6 sequence begins in the third race and concludes with the Virginia Hyland Stakes.
Elite Contenders Take the Spotlight
The Virginia Hyland Stakes has drawn a seasoned group of stakes veterans and rising stars. Leading the charge is the incredibly fast One Sweet Duck, who finished second in last year’s running of this race. A winner of nine career races with earnings exceeding $123,000, the Utah-bred daughter of One Sweet Jess brings a wealth of experience, including 27 career starts and 13 stakes appearances. Owned by Lex Fabrizio and trained by Juan Aleman, she recently enjoyed a four-race win streak, highlighted by an allowance victory on January 25. She won the La Pacifica in 2023 and was second in last year’s running of the Virginia Hyland.
She faces a stiff challenge from Budder Off Friends, the 2023 PCQHRA 3-Year-Old Filly of the Year. Trained by Adan Farias for owner David Hinkins, this standout performer had a career-best season in 2023, earning over $70,000 when she made 12 starts, winning three of those races. Her biggest win that year came in the Go Josie Go Stakes.
The Field is Further Bolstered By:
Here’s the field of 10 from the rail out: Fairlea Flyin, Competent, VGK Zigfield Follies, AJ Flawless, Terra Fina, One Sweet Duck, Budder Off Friends, CCR Political Wrap, Naive, and CM Cowgirls Are Cool.
Between the elite talent on the track and the $14,701Pick 6 carryover, Saturday night at Los Alamitos offers a premier atmosphere for racing fans and handicappers alike.
By LOS ALAMITOS PUBLICITY
Sunray Park
WINNER of the 2026 New Mexico Breeders S.-G3
HM BIGDAD RELENTLESS (#3)
c. (Big Daddy Cartel-Relentless Concierge, Hes Relentless)
Breeder: Norberto Morales Perez
Owner: Norberto Morales Perez
Trainer: Jorge Morales-Flores
Jockey: Jesse Levario
Remaining Order of Finish: Jess Fire Up Doc (#9), Woodcutt (#5), The Ghan (#6), Lucky Lodi (#4), Louis Cartel (#2), Jess a Moon Girl (#7), Hm Kingvalley (#1)
Scratched Horse(s):
Angels in the clouds (Stewards)
Remington Park’s Thursday card will feature a historic first: the inaugural Appaloosa Futurity trials, with 13 juveniles competing in two 250-yard heats for spots in the April 24 final. In the first trial, Three R Tyme Wil Tell is the 2-1 favorite. She already has racing experience, finishing a close fourth in her debut after placing second with a strong effort in her training race, and will be ridden by James Flores for trainer Dee Keener. The second trial features Union Willy, also a 2-1 favorite, who has not raced yet but impressed in workouts with times under 12 seconds. He is also trained by Keener and will be ridden by Mario Delgado. Beyond the individual races, the event is significant as the first new all-Appaloosa futurity in decades, signaling a revival of the breed’s presence at a major track. The Oklahoma Appaloosa Racing Network (OAR Network) is sponsoring the race, bringing together a committed group of horsemen focused on restoring Appaloosa racing. Funding from initiatives like their annual stallion service auction has played a key role in making this and similar events possible. The organization also expressed gratitude to stallion owners, managers, and mare owners whose continued involvement is helping expand the program. The Remington Park Appaloosa Futurity has drawn strong support from horsemen across multiple states and is already planning additional stakes races. Overall, the trials represent both a competitive debut for these young horses and a broader push to restore Appaloosa racing’s prominence.
By Rdona McLain, Speedhorse
MJ Farms announced that their beloved stallion “Woody” Woodbridge was laid to rest at 27 years old on Sunday, April 5th. Although unraced, Woodbridge played a vital role as a sire in the Quarter Horse racing industry. From 239 starters, he sired 140 winners, including 12 graded stakes winners and 9 graded stakes placers. His top performers include Woodys Gold, winner of the 2020 New Mexico State Fair Futurity-RG3, and the 2021 New Mexico Classic Derby-RG2, Woody Rocks, winner of the 2024 Zia Futurity-RG1, 2025 New Mexico Classic Derby-RG2 and the New Mexico HBA Stakes-RG2. His leading earner, Mister Riptide, won the 2019 Zia Quarter Horse Futurity-RG1, and came in second in the All American Futurity-G1. In 2020 Mister Riptide won the Zia Quarter Horse Derby-RG2, and his earnings exceed $748,000. Miss Hi Tide is his second leading earner, she has nearly $650,000 from her 2024 wins, which includes the New Mexico State Fair Derby-RG3 and the Mountain Top Derby. She came in second in the All American Oaks-G1 that same year. Woodbridge is by the leading sire Dash Ta Fame, a multiple graded stakes winner, and the Leading Paternal and Maternal Grandsire in the barrel racing industry. Woodbridge is out of Champagne Lane, a multiple graded stakes winner, whose achievements include the 1996 Diamond Classic Futurity-G1, 1997 La Primera Del Ano Derby-G2 and the Town Policy Handicap-G3. She has since become quite the broodmare, with her leading progeny including the likes of AQHA Champion Alice K White, Kendall Jackson, and Jesse Lane, adding nearly $1.8 million to her progeny earnings. MJ Farms said on their post, “He lived his entire life here at MJ Farms and gave so much to us and our breeding program. He started with some complications due to old age and is now resting here at the only place he knew as his home.”
By Rdona McLain, Speedhorse
LOS ALAMITOS RACE COURSE, CYPRESS, CA— Some victories are measured by inches, while others are measured in dollars and cents. Then there are those measured by the legacy they carry. The talented Favorite Cartel colt SG Jacob Jay has made a name for himself thanks to his prowess on the racetrack, including winning the $25,000 James Smith Memorial Handicap on Saturday at Los Alamitos.
Racing for owner Shane Giles, SG Jacob Jay turned in a professional and dominant performance in the 350-yard dash, marking the first stakes victory of his promising career. For the Giles family, his wins are always deeply personal. The colt is named after Jacob Jay Giles, a lifelong horseman who passed away in late October 2023. The elder Giles spent decades in construction and pipe fitting, but his true passion was found at the Giles Arena he built in Utah and with the racehorses he trained across the Intermountain West.
“My dad asked me to see this horse through,” Shane Giles said in the winner’s circle. “It’s amazing what this horse has done for us.”
Coming off a strong sixth-place finish in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby, SG Jacob Jay entered the James Smith as a seasoned stakes veteran of the derby ranks. Sent off as the 9-5 second choice, the full brother to AQHA Champion stallion Tarzanito showed he was the class of the field on this night, taking the lead shortly after the start and never looking back.
Under the guidance of jockey Henry Reynoso Lopez, who also piloted the colt during his Winter Derby trial win, SG Jacob Jay opened a neck advantage over his rivals. Midway through the dash, he extended that lead to a half-length and finished strongly to hold the advantage all the way to the wire over Jose Luis Valdez’s 35-1 longshot, Val Baby.
His final time for the 350-yard sprint was :17.683. Trained by Adan Farias, SG Jacob Jay earned $13,750 for the win, bringing his career bankroll to $40,735. With this victory, the colt has now won four of his eight career starts.
While the win in the Winter Derby trials was highly emotional for his connections, this stakes victory was a moment of pure celebration and reflection on the family’s deep roots in the sport.
“It was great. I’m not going to cry this time,” Shane Giles said with a smile. “It’s amazing to have one do that for you. I appreciate it so much. My girls had a big barrel race back home so they couldn’t come out, so my cousin, Levaughn Gines and his wife, from Tabiona (Utah) came with me. Levaughn had a horse in the sixth race that won, so it was a good day for both of us.”
The victory serves as a fitting tribute to Jacob Jay and a reminder of why the Giles family decided to “try one more” after a hiatus from the track. The win also sets the George Fallieras and Nathali Pacheco-bred runner up for a major sophomore campaign at Los Alamitos.
“I think he’s got three more derbies this year so we’re excited,” Giles added. “We’ll have a lot of visits. We like coming down so it’s good.”
As the 2026 season continues, SG Jacob Jay appears to be hitting his stride at the perfect time. With his first stakes trophy now on the mantle, the colt is proving to be a legitimate force in the sophomore division—always looking to win one more for the patriarch of the Giles family.
Ridden by Cesar Franco for trainer Ramiro Lopez Zuazo, Val Baby earned $5,625 for running second. Santos Montemayor and Omar Torres’ SM My Valentine, winner of the Grade 2 PCQHRA Breeders Futurity, earned $3,125 for finishing third. Cheap Bar, Hurry Up, and Mental Lapse completed the field.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Hard to Politic and Hooked N Gone battled for favoritism in the Mr Jet Moore Stakes and then the former won the war with ease, blowing away a strong field of black-type horses on Saturday night at Remington Park.
Leading rider Juan Pulido was aboard Hard to Politic, bursting from the gate like a bullet and winning by 1-1/2 lengths over the Hooked N Gone. Both horses went off at 3-2 odds, but Hard to Politic had slightly more dollars wagered on him by post-time.
“This was the one I was waiting for,” Pulido said. “I knew he needed an out (when he ran second in the Mighty Deck Three Stakes on March 8 this meet). This time he didn’t miss a shot. The way he broke (from the gate), I knew we were good.”
It was the second win in this stakes series for Pulido, who scored on Hooked On A Win in 2020. Owner-trainer Samuel Mendoza enjoyed his first win in the Mr Jet Moore. Mendoza explained why Hard to Politic had only raced once during 2025.
“He had an injury and we had to give him some time off,” Mendoza said. “He was nice at 2 years old, so that’s why we had our eye on him.”
Hard to Politic had run second, beaten only a head in the Grade 1, $912,000 Texas Classic Futurity, as a juvenile, on Nov. 16, 2024 at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas. He also had won the $100,000 Rainbow Juvenile Stakes at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico on July 14 of that same year.
Running time for the 350 yards was :17.246 over the fast track as the 4-year-old gelding earned a blazing speed index of 101. Hard to Politic was bred by Louis A. Malachek III. The winner improved his record to eight starts, four wins and three seconds and a bankroll of $329,208. He paid $5 to win, $2.80 to place and $2.40 to show.
Hooked N Gone did check in second, a neck ahead of third-place finisher Apolitical Time (11-1). The rest of the order of finish was Curls Magic Wagon (4-1) fourth, Mystic Paint (15-1) fifth, Imaginacion (18-1) sixth, Wyn Or Lews (24-1) seventh and Hes Cubas B (47-1) eighth. Venetian Cowgirl was a scratch from the race.
The Mr Jet Moore, a restricted Grade 2 for Oklahoma-breds, 3 and older, is named for the 1972 American Quarter Horse Association World Champion who was also the victor of the very first Champion of Champions. He was campaigned by Bob Moore of Norman, Okla.
Remington Park racing will be off for Easter Sunday, April 5. Action resumes April 9-12 with the first race nightly at 6pm and Sunday action at 4pm. All times are Central.
Remington Park has provided more than $408 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. The 2026 Remington Park Futurity, the richest race of the season for Oklahoma-breds, takes place on Saturday, April 18. Remington Park presents year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. Guests must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or to enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
By Richard Linihan
OKLAHOMA CITY – Leading trainer Dee Keener topped off a four-win night Saturday by qualifying the two fastest fillies for the Remington Park Oaks – Beltane and Emerald Bay.
The 10 fillies, 3-year-old Oklahoma-bred American Quarter Horses, with the best times from five trials Saturday will race in the finals of the $182,720 Remington Park Oaks on Saturday, April 18. The two Keener fillies were a sliver apart on fastest time of the night with Beltane’s post of :19.574 seconds, six-thousandths of a second quicker than her stablemate Emerald Bay’s :19.580 over 400 yards.
Beltane, a daughter of Cyber Monday, out of the Tac It Like a Man mare Symbol of Faith, was tearing up Remington Park right out of the gate as a 2-year-old last year, but was a hard luck filly back then. She won futurity trials for the Oklahoma Futurity and the Remington Park Futurity, but didn’t qualify for either final. She tried to qualify for this year’s Oklahoma Derby in her first start as a sophomore, but was crowded badly in that trial and ran last. Keener then tried to give this filly her confidence back in her next start, dropping her into a conditional allowance race with easier company. She still didn’t run her best race, finishing fourth, beaten less than a length. In her third race off a layoff on Saturday night, the old Beltane showed up and blew away her competition in her Oaks trial, winning by two lengths. She and Emerald Bay both recorded speed indexes of 95 and no one else that qualified for the finals was closer than five speed index points of those efforts.
Beltane’s regular rider Jesus Ayala was named to ride her Saturday, but didn’t make it back from an out-of-town engagement in time, so Roman Cruz took over the reins. He cruised home a winner for owner Kelly Yother Equine (Garvin Kelly) of Broken Arrow, Okla., to improve lifetime to eight starts, three wins, and one second for a bankroll of $32,173. She was bred by her owner.
Beltane went off at 3-1 odds and paid $8.40 to win, $4.40 to place and $3 to show. Her stablemate, Emerald Bay, won her heat, the fifth and final, by 2-3/4 lengths and she was the only one to qualify from that trial.
Emerald Bay, a daughter of Flying Cowboy 123, out of the Corona Cartel mare Aqua Girl, was sent to the front in her race by jockey James Flores and no one had a chance once the gates opened. She improved her record to 11 starts, three wins, three seconds and four thirds for earnings of $121,631. She is owned by Wishbone Partnership (Michael Vaughan) of Norman, Okla., and is a homebred for him.
Emerald Bay went off as the heavy odds-on 1-2 favorite and paid $3 to win, $2.40 to place and $2.10 to show. Neither she nor Beltane have won in stakes company yet, but this appears to be their big shot. Emerald Bay has come mighty close, running second, losing by only a neck in the $219,000 Mystery Futurity at Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla., on Sept. 22, 2025.
Here are the 10 fastest qualifiers for the Oaks (horse, jockey, trainer, time, speed index, trial number, race number):
Remington Park has provided more than $408 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. The 2026 Remington Park Futurity, the richest race of the season for Oklahoma-breds, takes place on Saturday, April 18. Remington Park presents year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. Guests must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or to enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
By Richard Linihan
OKLAHOMA CITY – JC Speeding and Cyber Command III each won their trials and there was only two-thousandths of a second difference between them as the top two fastest horses qualifying Saturday for the $217,910 Remington Park Derby.
The 10 horses, 3-year-old Oklahoma-bred American Quarter Horses, with the best times from six trials Saturday will race in the finals on Saturday, April 18.
It only makes sense that these two were the fastest of the 10 qualifiers since one set a track record at Remington Park last year and the other came within a length of winning the Grade 1, $1,161,000 Heritage Place Futurity.
JC Speeding, who is double-registered as a Quarter Horse and a Paint, was a Remington Park track record setter at two different distances (330 yards and 350 yards) last year, competing as a Paint in Mixed-breed genre. His time of :17.176 on closing night last year earned a speed index of 103 at 350 yards on May 31. His 330-yard record was subsequently broken. JC Speeding was named the Champion Paint of the Meet. Now he is showing he is just as good in the Quarter Horse set as the fastest qualifier for the Remington Park Derby. James Flores booted him home to the top of the pedestal Saturday for trainer Dee Keener.
JC Speeding is a 3-year-old Oklahoma-bred gelded son of Chilitos (QH), out of the High Rate of Return (QH) mare High Speed Kitty (QH), owned by Planefun LLC (Carl Duggins) of Broken Arrow, Okla. The gelding improved his lifetime record to nine starts, six wins, two seconds and one third for a bankroll of $271,697. His running time for the 400 yards was :19.436 while Cyber Command III stopped the timer in :19.438. It doesn’t get much tighter than that.
JC Speeding, bred by Richard Joneson, only won his trial by a head over Js Fdd, who was another neck ahead of WF Tuff as Diamonds in third. Consequently, all three finished among the top five qualifiers. JC Speeding was sent off at 1-5 odds and paid $2.40 to win and $2.10 to place and show.
Cyber Command III finished fifth in the Heritage Place Futurity last year, beaten only a half-length, ridden by Bryan Candanosa. This year, trainer Leo Alcala switched riders to the top jock here, Juan Pulido, and the horse is two-for-two with that change. The gelded son of Cyber Monday, from the Apollitical Jess mare DF Apollitical Sign, is owned by Rudy Rudolfo I. Munoz of Palmview, Texas. His record improved to nine starts, four wins, one second and two thirds for earnings of $114,868. He was bred by Jovetta Meredith.
Cyber Command III was the 1-5 favorite also and paid $2.60 to win, $2.20 to place and $2.10 to show.
The 10 fastest qualifiers were (horse, jockey, trainer, time, speed index, trial number):
Remington Park has provided more than $408 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. The 2026 Remington Park Futurity, the richest race of the season for Oklahoma-breds, takes place on Saturday, April 18. Remington Park presents year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. Guests must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or to enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
By Richard Linihan
OKLAHOMA CITY – The luck of the draw and an unpredictable Mother Nature were key factors Friday at Remington Park. All five horses that qualified for the finals of the $971,955 Remington Park Futurity did so after a heavy thunderstorm moved through, changing a headwind to a tailwind for the final five trials of 12.
Whatdyathinkofmenow, from the 12th and final trial, was the horse that took advantage of Oklahoma’s crazy weather, and became the fastest qualifier of the night. The 2-year-old colt covered the 330 yards in :16.653, earning a 92 speed index with an 11 mph-tailwind.
Heavy rains, wind and lightning hit Remington Park just prior to race eight, sending the horses from the track back to the paddock. That is when the winds of change took place. Friday night’s trials began with a headwind of 15 mph on a fast/sealed track for the first seven trials. The conditions changed to a tailwind as high as 12 mph for the final five trials, all contested over a sloppy/sealed track. All five qualifiers Friday came out of trials after the storm.
The five fastest 2-year-old Oklahoma-bred horses from Thursday and Friday night qualified for the finals of the $971,955 Remington Park Futurity which will be run on Saturday, April 18.
Whatdyathinkofmenow, a 2-year-old Oklahoma-bred colt by Cyber Monday, out of the Desirio mare PJ Chick in Black, cruised home under jockey Francisco Calderon. The winning colt, trained by John Stinebaugh, is a first-time starter, purchased for $65,000 from the 2025 Heritage Place September Yearling Sale. Whatdyathinkofmenow had won a training race at Retama Park near San Antonio on Feb. 18 in a time of :13.82, going 250 yards.
On Friday night, the winner was sent off at 4-1 odds and paid $10.20 to win, $3.60 to place, and $3.60 to show. He won the 12th race by a half-length over runner-up D Molish, who also qualified for the finals. D Molish was the post-time favorite at 2-1 odds. Whatdyathinkofmenow was bred by Southfork Equine/LS Racing.
The five fastest qualifiers from Friday night’s day two of trials were (with horse, jockey, trainer, time, speed index and trial number):
Here are the five fastest horses from Thursday night in the Remington Park Futurity trials (horse, jockey, trainer, time, speed index, trial number):
The 12 trials Thursday night were run into a headwind that fluctuated from 14 mph down to 9 mph over a fast track.
Remington Park racing continues Saturday, April 4 with 12 races on tap, including the Remington Park Derby and Oaks trials, and the Mr Jet Moore Stakes.
Remington Park has provided more than $408 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. The 2026 Remington Park Futurity, the richest race of the season for Oklahoma-breds, takes place on Saturday, April 18. Remington Park presents year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. Guests must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or to enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
By Richard Linihan
SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Friday, April 3, 2026) – Horseshoe Indianapolis Racing & Casino will kick off it’s 24th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing Tuesday, April 7 with nine races on the program. Two handicaps are included in the season opener featuring two Thoroughbred handicaps, the $55,000 Merrill C. Roberts Overnight Handicap and the $55,000 Brian Elmore Overnight Handicap.
Set as the seventh race on the program, the second running of the Roberts Handicap includes the return of several Indiana premier racing winners, including The Kid Pataky from the Randy Klopp barn. The Kid Pataky, now five, makes her 2026 debut in the race from post three. The daughter of Pataky Kid has seven career wins and is nearing $300,000 in total earnings for owners Spiess Stable, Charles Turner, Gran Turner and Klopp. She begins from post three at odds of 7-2 as the early morning line favorite for jockey Alberto Burgos.
Joining The Kid Pataky in the Roberts Handicap is stablemate Ekati Flatter, winning of the inaugural running of the Roberts Handicap last season. The six-year-old daughter of Tale of Ekati also makes her 2026 racing debut and her first start back since June 2025 for Klopp, the track’s all-time leading trainer by wins. Fernando De La Cruz, defending jockey champion, will ride from post six at odds of 5-1.
The Roberts Handicap will also be the debut of a new wagering option at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The Last Call Daily Double, which will be offered on the final two Thoroughbred races daily, features a lower takeout of 15 percent. The wager has a $5 minimum, which is enticing to handicappers. The Last Call Daily Double joins the Pick 4 and the Turf Pick 3 with a reduced takeout of 15 percent. The Straight Fire Five, the last Pick 5 on the Thoroughbred card daily, remains at an industry low takeout of 11.99 percent. The Early Pick 4 and Early Pick 5 carryovers are separate from the Late Pick 4 and the Straight Fire Five carryovers.
Headlining the second running of the Brian Elmore Overnight Handicap includes last year’s winner Win Me Over from the Bob Gorham Stable. The six-year-old Indiana bred gelding by Tamarkuz has more than a quarter million on his card for his 2026 debut. He begins from post two with Santo Sanjur aboard for owner Marion Gorham.
The season opener will close with a maiden Quarter Horse race running 250 yards. GV Black Panther from the Jessi Vazquez barn has been tagged as the early morning line favorite at odds of 5-2. The four-year-old Indiana sired son of Encore, a homebred for the Vazquez barn, makes his racing debut. Giovani Vazquez-Gomez, the track’s all-time leading jockey in wins, is aboard for the sprint.
The 24th season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing offers 123 days of action, extending through Friday, November 13. For more information on racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis/racing or find details on social media @HSIndyRacing.
By Tammy Knox
OKLAHOMA CITY – Three of the five fastest horses on Thursday night all came from the same Remington Park Futurity trial, including the quickest of the five qualifiers – Apoliticalgolddigger – ridden to victory by leading jockey Juan Pulido for trainer Josue Garcia.
Apoliticalgolddigger covered the 330-yard distance in :16.807 seconds, earning an 87 speed index and the two horses that finished second and third in the same heat also moved on to the finals.
The five fastest 2-year-old Oklahoma-bred horses from Thursday and Friday night qualify for the finals of the $971,955 Remington Park Futurity which will be run on Saturday, April 18. The 12 trials on Thursday night were run into a headwind that fluctuated from 14mph down to 9mph, then back up to 16mph over a fast track.
Apoliticalgolddigger, a sorrel colt by Apollitical Jess, out of the Heza Fast Man mare Ashleys Gold Digger, stayed undefeated after two career starts for owner Javier Cruz of Irving, Texas. This colt was an $86,000 purchase from the Heritage Place 2025 September Yearling Sale. Apoliticalgolddigger was bred by Charlotte and Brett Northam.
The fifth race was run into an 11 mph headwind and Apoliticalgolddigger won by a neck as the 3-5 odds-on favorite. He has been the favorite in both of his wins at Remington Park, but broke his maiden on March 12 here as a 5-2 lukewarm favorite. Kisses N Candy was breathing right down his neck in Thursday night’s trial as a 7-1 outsider. That runner-up was a nose better than third-place finisher Heritage of Power, the 7-2 second choice on the toteboard.
Apoliticalgolddigger paid $3.20 to win, $2.40 to place and $2.10 to show. His record goes to two wins from as many attempts with earnings of $24,390.
All five finishers among the first night of qualifying finished within one speed index point of each other from first to fifth.
Here are the five fastest horses from night one of the Remington Park Futurity trials (horse, jockey, trainer, time, speed index, trial number):
Remington Park racing continues Friday, April 3 with 12 more Remington Park Futurity trials. Saturday, April 4, the 12-race card will include Remington Park Derby and Oaks trials along with the Mr Jet Moore Stakes. That stakes race will feature such monsters as Hooked N Gone, Curls Magic Wagon and Hard to Politic. The first race nightly is at 6pm-Central.
Remington Park has provided more than $408 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. The 2026 Remington Park Futurity, the richest race of the season for Oklahoma-breds, takes place on Saturday, April 18. Remington Park presents year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. Guests must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or to enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
By Richard Linihan
Sunland Park
WINNER of the 2026 NMHBA Quarter Horse S.
CQ COYAME JESSY (#2)
g. (Big Daddy Cartel-Runaway Leonarda, Jesse James Jr)
Breeder: Carlos Paez & Israel Bordier
Owner: Israel Bordier
Trainer: Wesley Giles
Jockey: Noe Garcia, Jr.
Remaining Order of Finish: Dads On a Roll (#1), Holliday (#4), Triple 7 (#5), Prime Time Eagle (#6), Icy Cartel (#3), Spenzor (#7)
Sunland Park
WINNER of the 2026 New Mexico Spring Fling S.
BABY DADDY CARTEL (#6)
g. (Big Daddy Cartel-Startedwithawhisper, First Moonflash)
Breeder: Paul P Cervantes
Owner: Tungsten Racing Partnership
Trainer: Eric Valenzuela
Jockey: Luis Angel Flores Garcia
Remaining Order of Finish: Ima China Girl (#3), Kings Landing (#1), First Flash Beauty (#10), Dahlias Destiny (#8), Rc a Flashn Comet (#7), This Babes Flashn (#9), Keenan (#5), Mw Big Daddy Issues (#4), Start Big (#2)
Scratched Horse(s):
Pablote (Also-Eligible), Thats Amoree (Also- Eligible)
Sunland Park
WINNER of the 2026 West Texas Juvenile S.
HENDRY (#8)
g. (Fdd Dynasty-Fanncee, Big Daddy Cartel)
Breeder: Mj Farms
Owner: Tunsten Racing Partnership
Trainer: Tony Sedillo
Jockey: Oscar Andrade, Jr.
Remaining Order of Finish: Flying Cowboys Candy (#2), Promising (#10), Bandido 123 (4), Sixes Candy (#7), Metal Potion T (#6), D Inseperable D (#3), Sheza Hot Lil Hock (#9), Cowboys First Gin (#5), Prissteen (#1)
Scratched Horse(s):
Elsa B (Also-Eligible), One Famous Carmelita (Also-Eligible)
Sunland Park
WINNER of the 2026 New Mexican Spring Futurity–RG2
BRIDGER (#6)
g. (Eye Am King-Bridgette Bordeaux, Blushing Bug)
Breeder: Mj Farms
Owner: Tungsten Racing Partnership and Rancho El 48 LLC
Trainer: Eric Valenzuela
Jockey: Luis Angel Flores Garcia
Remaining Order of Finish: Bogarts Brown Sugar (#2), Big Ted (#7), Bigg Twist (#4), Big Avery (#8), Pepa Jet (#1), Royal Dynasty Mrb (#9), Super Patriot (#10), Bernin Daylight (#3), Moonin the Moon (#5)
Sunland Park
WINNER of the 2026 West Texas Futurity-G2
LIL KOOL PANTHER (#3)
c. (Lil Kool Wagon-Panthersprowlforcash, Panther Mountain)
Breeder: Shane Snow &/Or Brooke Snow
Owner: Amparan Racing Stables LLC
Trainer: Alberto Amparan
Jockey: Jesse Levario
Remaining Order of Finish: Tempting Lu (#4), Chief Keef 123 (#1), Cowgirl Eats Fire (#2), Tater Hill Senator (#8), Hock Ajet (#9), Jj Kiss (#7), Gbh Cowboy (#6), Nine Degrees (#5)
Scratched Horse(s):
Ab Ms Robyn (Trainer)
Remington Park
WINNER of the 2026 Mr Jet Moore Stakes
HARD TO POLITIC (#3)
g. (Apollitical Jess-Hardtoget, Foose)
Breeder: Louis A Malechek III
Owner: Samuel Mendoza
Trainer: Samuel Mendoza
Jockey: Juan Pulido
Remaining Order of Finish: Hooked N Gone (#2), Apolitical Time (#1), Curls Magic Wagon (#7), Mystic Paint (#8), Imaginacion (#4), Wyn Or Lews (#9), Hes Cubas B (#5)
Scratched horses:
Venetian Cowgirl (Stakes Scratch)
Los Alamitos
WINNER of the 2026 James S Smith Memorial Handicap
SG JACOB JAY (#5)
c. (Favorite Cartel-Ancient Empress, Stoli)
Breeder: G Fallieras/Nathali M Pacheco
Owner: Shane Giles
Trainer: Adan Farias
Jockey: Jesus Rios Ayala
Remaining Order of Finish: Val Baby (#3), Sm My Valentine (#2), Cheap Bar (#6), Hurry Up (#4), Mental Lapse (#1)
Toby Keeton, who set an all-time single-season earnings record for U.S. Quarter Horse trainers in 2024, has had the length of his suspension quadrupled after a review by the Texas Racing Commission’s interim executive director, David Holmes. The original ruling (March 26, 2026) suspended Keeton for 16 years and fined him $80,000; the amended ruling, dated April 2, suspends Keeton for a total of 64 years and increases his fine to $535,000.
The amended ruling again details that during the 2024 fall meet at Lone Star Park, Keeton’s trainees returned 22 positive drug tests for the Class 1A substance carmoterol, and a 23rd horse had a positive test for the Class 1A substance d-methamphetamine.
TRC rules give the executive director the right to modify rulings “where the penalties available to the stewards or judges are insufficient to adequately address the violation.”
Holmes justified his decision as follows: “Twenty-two Class 1A violations involving seventeen different horses across seven race dates is an extraordinary number of violations in a single ruling. This is not a case of a single inadvertent exposure. Prolific cheating does not deserve discounted penalties.
“Carmoterol is a beta-agonist that has never previously been detected in horse racing. Beta-agonists are flatly prohibited under 16 TAC §319.3(f). The use of a substance so novel that it had never been identified in racing samples suggests a deliberate effort to use a performance-enhancing substance believed to be beyond the reach of established testing protocols. This goes directly to the integrity of racing.”
Holmes also addressed the wagering public: “Pari-mutuel wagering depends on the integrity of competition. Members of the wagering public are entitled to place bets on races in which every entry competes on its own merits, free from the undisclosed influence of prohibited performance-enhancing substances. Each of the twenty-two races in which a horse in Mr. Keeton’s care tested positive for Carmoterol was a race in which the wagering public placed bets without knowledge that a Class 1A prohibited substance had been administered to a competing horse. The public had no means of accounting for the effect of an undisclosed beta-agonist on the performance of the affected horses. Every wager placed on those twenty-two races was therefore made on the basis of materially incomplete information. This constitutes a fraud on the wagering public and undermines the public confidence on which the entire pari-mutuel system depends as well as an unfair advantage over competitors.”
Keeton has the right to appeal the sentence, and must do so within five calendar days. Otherwise, the suspension is scheduled to run from Jan. 20, 2025, through Jan. 30, 2089.
Carmoterol is a bronchodilator introduced in clinical trials for humans with COPD in 2010, but never approved by the FDA. It is classified as a beta agonist, similar to albuterol, clenbuterol, and zilpaterol; the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences describes carmoterol as having a rapid onset and potent action compared to other similar bronchodilators, and also describes its beta-2 agonist action as “long-acting.”
Keeton is one of five Quarter Horse trainers facing potentially lengthy suspensions and hefty fines over positive tests for carmoterol, joining Juan Diaz Jr. (Texas and New Mexico), Monty Arrossa (California), Heath Taylor (New Mexico), and Jeremy Derozin (Louisiana).
Keeton has not started a horse since Dec. 20, 2024; he was summarily suspended by the Texas commission on Jan. 30, 2025, and New Mexico later reciprocated Texas’ summary suspension.
Keeton also had horses test positive for carmoterol in New Mexico, including in the sport’s premier event, the All American Futurity (G1) on Sept. 2 at New Mexico’s Downs at Albuquerque, won by Hezgothelook Z, owned by Triple One Ranch. The victory by Hezgothelook Z made the horse the first Quarter Horse Triple Crown winner since the 1980s. Keeton had 11 starters and four winners on the All American Futurity day card, which was moved to Albuquerque after fires and flooding forced Ruidoso Downs to curtail its summer race meet.
In addition to Hezgothelook Z’s victory in the day’s biggest race, Keeton sent out Aquila Rapida to win the $200,000 All American Juvenile; Dashing Tres, Visa, Shoeless, and Cuz Lightyear, the 1-2-3-5 finishers in the $1 million All American Derby; and Jess Good Wine, winner of the $250,000 All American Gold Cup.
Keeton brought a civil lawsuit in Bernalillo County Court against the New Mexico Racing Commission and NMRC records custodian Richard Bustamante, making allegations that the regulator withheld information subject to a public records act request, that it forced him to use an inappropriate split sample lab, and raising questions about the commission’s post-race drug testing. The lawsuit remains open at this time, and officials in New Mexico have not issued any rulings concerning the All American Futurity day races.
©2026 Blenheim Publishing LLC/Paulick Report. Republished with permission.
LOS ALAMITOS RACE COURSE, CYPRESS, CA… The sophomore season continues to heat up at Los Alamitos this Saturday night as a talented field of 3-year-olds lines up for the running of the $25,000 James Smith Handicap at 350 yards. Headlining the event are two formidable sprinters coming directly out of the first major dance of the year: SM My Valentine and SG Jacob Jay.
Both runners are fresh off appearances in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby, where they faced off against the division’s current leader, Doodah Cartel. SM My Valentine and SG Jacob Jay now return to action to face one another once again, looking to parlay their graded stakes experience into a visit to the winner’s circle.
SM My Valentine
Owned by Santos Montemayor and Omar Torres, this gelding has one of the most fitting names in Quarter Horse racing right now. Born on Valentine’s Day, he celebrated his birthday in style this year by competing against the fastest 3-year-olds in the country, ultimately finishing a game fifth in the Winter Derby.
SM My Valentine is a top-tier stakes performer who proved his class last year by winning the Grade 2 PCQHRA Breeders Futurity. If he can break cleanly and find the late-closing speed he displayed in February, he will be a very difficult horse to hold off in the closing yards. Adan Farias will saddle the son of Kiss My Hocks.
SG Jacob Jay
Also trained by Farias, SG Jacob Jay earned his way into the Winter Derby final with a trial victory of his own. While he finished toward the back of the pack in that Grade 1 event, his qualifying performance in the trials showed he has the gears to compete at the highest level of the division.
Owned and bred by Shane Giles, SG Jacob Jay has shown a professional demeanor and the overall speed and late kick that make him a major factor at 350 yards. A full brother to AQHA Champion Tarzanito, this Favorite Cartel colt will look to replicate the sharp gate speed that earned him a spot in the season’s first major derby while securing his first stakes victory for his connections.
Cheap Bar
The Winter Derby graduates will face the blossosming sophomore Cheap Bar, owned by SR Racing Stables and trained by Juan Aleman. Following his gritty upset in the $98,500 Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes, the California-bred gelding by Apollitical Jess shook some trouble in Maiden trial to to return in the final and outduel the heavy favorite, Hell On Wheels V, by a determined neck. That 350-yard victory, clocked in a sharp :17.464, showed that the Aleman trainee is ready to compete against the top sophomores on the ground.
Aleman said after the Maiden Stakes that Cheap Bar has the ability to thrive as a derby horse with more distance, and Saturday’s matchup against SM My Valentine and SG Jacob Jay offers the Steve Burns-bred runner a prime opportunity to prove that his Maiden Stakes triumph was no fluke, but rather the beginning of a strong sophomore season at Los Alamitos.
Strong contenders complete the field
The James Smith Handicap often serves as a key steppingstone for sophomores looking to bridge the gap between the winter derbies and the summer stakes. While Grade 1 finalists SM My Valentine and SG Jacob Jay are the established names in the field, the James Smith also features a solid cast that includes Edward Allred’s Hurry Up.
Hurry Up is a talented Favorite Cartel homebred trained by Scott Willoughby. A son of the powerhouse broodmare Up For It, he is a full brother to More Of It, who recently finished third in the El Primero final to none other than Doodah Cartel. Hurry Up is also a sibling to stakes winners She Goes Up and Up And Atem.
Hurry Up has been away from the track since breaking his maiden in late September and enters the James Smith following a 350-yard turn-and-work on March 20. Hurry Up remains an intriguing prospect for the upcoming summer stakes, such as the Governor’s Cup Derby, making the James Smith the perfect preparation for his summer campaign.
The field will be completed by Mental Lapse, who has won her last two starts, and Val Baby, another multiple winner including an allowance score last year.
By Orlando Gutierrez via Media
Alexandria, Louisiana – The final day of the 2026 Louisiana Downs Quarter Horse racing season proved to be memorable for both Louisiana-bred Quarter Horses and Louisiana students. Smiles were plentiful on Saturday, March 28 as the Bossier City racetrack hosted the $431,440 Mardi Gras Futurity (RG2) and $313,008 Louisiana Downs Futurity(G3) for 2-year-olds.
The afternoon also offered the first opportunity of the year for eligible Louisiana students to receive scholarships courtesy of the Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders Association (LQHBA) Scholarship Fund. For the second year in a row, Louisiana Downs generously contributed to boost the amount of the LQHBA Scholarships. Five drawings of $2,000 took place following the fourth race of the program.
Bruce Salard, LQHBA executive director, Misty Coats, LQHBA assistant director, LQHBA board members and Roxanne Tanner, Director of Racing at Louisiana Downs assisted with the drawings, enabling the following students to further their education. Winners of $2,000 scholarships were Camilla Rangel, Princeton, Louisiana, Onesty Culpepper, Shreveport, Louisiana, Ryan Clair, Princeton, Louisiana, Norris Duke, Calhoun, Louisiana and Preston Peters, Haughton, Louisiana.
“We are very grateful to Kevin Preston and his team at Louisiana Downs for their generosity in the fund again this year,” said Salard. “This program has meant a great deal to our association since its inception in 2001. We are pleased to announce that in 2026, we have surpassed the $1 million mark in scholarships for students wishing to further their education.
The next LQHBA Scholarship Drawing will take place at Delta Downs in Vinton, Louisiana. For more information on the program, visit LQHBA.com or follow LQHBA on Facebook
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From left to Right: Roxanne Tanner, Bruce Salard, LQHBA Board member Tim Rogers, Scholarship winners: Camilla Rangel, Onesty Culpepper, Ryan Clair, Preston Peters, Norris Duke and Misty Coats. Photo: Ann Switalski Photography
Turf Paradise
WINNER of the 2026 AQRA Presidents Open Spring Derby
RM DULCE VALIENTE (#2)
g. (Valiant Hero-Teller Shes Sweet, Teller Cartel)
Breeder: Kiowa Creek Perf Horses
Owner: Heber Deyta-Melendez
Trainer: Heber Deyta-Melendez
Jockey: Brian Cobos Barraza
Remaining Order of Finish: Rue (#3), Lethal Eagle V (#10), Jj the Boss (#9), The Dulce Tacha (#4), Bf Dulce Sin Rage (#5), Strictly a Cowboy (#6), Menacing Lil Jessy (#1), Winners House (#8)
Scratched horses:
Not Any Dynasty (Trainer)
March 30, 2026 – Altoona, IA. With the start of the 2026 live racing season at Prairie Meadows Casino, Racetrack, and Hotel fast approaching, Quarter Horse owners and trainers planning to compete at the Altoona, IA facility this season should take note of the April 1st payment deadline for several Futurity & Derby races.
Payment deadlines to make note of:
The 2026 live racing season begins on May 2, 2026, with 18 days of Thoroughbred-only racing through June 7 and two additional Thoroughbred-only days on July 10 and 11. Quarter Horse racing begins June 8 and continues through September 26 for a total of 76 Thoroughbred race days and 56 Quarter Horse race days during the full season.
Live racing will be offered Fridays – Mondays, with post times set for 6:00 pm CDT on Fridays and Saturdays, and 4:00 pm CDT on Sundays and Mondays. Post times may change for special race days, events, and holidays.
Condition Book #1, stakes schedules, and training schedule hours are currently available online in the Horsemen’s Information section of the Prairie Meadows website at https://www.prairiemeadows.com/racing. Book #1 features Thoroughbred race days from May 2 – May 25 along with a preview section beginning on page 64 for Quarter Horse race days from June 8 – June 22.
Quarter Horse futurity/derby nomination forms, which include payment schedules and general conditions for each race, can be downloaded and printed from the Prairie Meadows website at https://www.prairiemeadows.com/racing in the Horsemen’s Information section under Quarter Horse Racing, scrolling down to Quarter Horse Futurity/Derby Nomination Forms & Lists.
For payment questions on the Prairie Meadows Gold Futurity/Derby, Valley Junction Futurity, or Altoona Derby, contact Kathy Cunningham at 515-967-1205 or by email at Kathryn.Cunningham@prairiemeadows.com. For payment questions about the Hawkeye Futurity, Cyclone Derby, Iowa Stallion QH Futurity/Derby, Jim Bader Futurity, or Polk County Derby, contact Jim Harvey of the IQHRA at 515-499-0090, or by email at jharvey1347@gmail.com.
By Chad Keller
LOS ALAMITOS RACE COURSE, CYPRESS, CA— The sophomore division at Los Alamitos in 2026 officially has its male superstar. Thompson Racing, Paul Jones, and Alexis Andrade’s Doodah Cartel solidified his status as the undisputed top 3-year-old colt on the grounds on Sunday night, holding off a fierce challenge to win the Grade 2, $185,100 El Primero Del Año Derby.
In doing so, the son of Favorite Cartel achieved a rare derby feat, becoming only the fourth horse to sweep the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby and the Grade 2 El Primero Del Año Derby. Doodah Cartel now joins Headturner (2010), Powerful Favorite (2019), and Tell Cartel (2020) in this exclusive derby club. The victory also etched trainer Paul Jones into the record books yet again; Jones has now won seven runnings of the El Primero, setting a new stakes record for most wins by a trainer in this prestigious event. He previously shared the mark with the legendary Blane Schvaneveldt.
Entering the final as the heavy favorite, Doodah Cartel came in with three wins from as many start this season and the emotional resonance of his namesake, the late Bernie Erickson. While his previous victories were marked by dominant surges and “see-it-to-believe-it” recoveries, Sunday’s final was a test of grit.
Breaking sharply from post number seven, Doodah Cartel took an immediate lead, but he was never allowed to relax. The resilient Brother Ray, owned by the partnership of Steve Burns, Jose Antonio Flores, Gerardo Herrera, and Javier Alvarez, lived up to his reputation as a top-flight stakes performer. Brother Ray, a finalist in last year’s Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity, stayed glued to the favorite’s hip throughout the 400-yard dash, refusing to yield.
In a nail-biting finish, Doodah Cartel dug deep to hold off his rival by a hard-fought half-length. The winning time was a blistering :19.606, nearly a full tenth of a second faster than his top qualifying mark in the trials. His winning time is also the fastest in the El Primero since Tell Cartel won this race in :19.47. Henry Reynoso piloted Doodah Cartel, who has now won six of his 14 career outings. For his efforts, Doodah Cartel earned $78,154, pushing his career earnings to $340,553.
“It doesn’t get old,” Terry Thompson said about his colt’s current win streak. “This is fun and so far it’s been a great start to the 2026 season. He’s been an awesome horse and we’re enjoying every time he gets legged up. Henry has done a fantastic job, and Paul has done a great job of conditioning this horse and getting him ready to go. It’s been fun, it’s been a lot of fun. This doesn’t get old.”
The victory remains a deeply personal one for the Thompson family. Dedicated to the memory of Debbie Thompson’s father, Bernie Erickson—who famously used “Doodah” as his signature greeting—the colt’s undefeated 2026 campaign has rejuvenated the connections’ passion for the sport.
With a four-for-four record and two derby trophies already on the mantel this season, Doodah Cartel now heads toward a well-deserved break before his next major target: the Governor’s Cup trials on July 5. If his performance on Sunday night was any indication, the “story of the season” is only getting started.
“We talked about it last time in that his demeanor in the saddling paddock is one where he almost looks like he’s moping in there. He doesn’t use any extra energy. Then he gets on the track, and he bows up and Henry says he gets on the backside and warms up great. He’s starting to learn and mature. All that stuff is for a promising rest of this season. We’re excited.
“The Governor’s Cup is the next set of trials, but that’s so far away, so maybe he’ll go in the Dillingham, which is about 40 days away. Then he’ll get about 50 or so days off, but Doodah will tell us when he’s ready to go. So far, knock on wood, he’s been sound and he’s come back well after every trial and final. We just have to count our blessings and hope he keeps it going.”
And without a doubt, the Doodah Fan Club just keeps on growing.
“I tell you what, it is growing,” Thompson added. “It’s a lot of fun. Everyone wants to be part of a winner.”
Alexis Andrade, whose family operates Express Auto Finance in Phoenix, Arizona, is enjoying having the real horsepower of Doodah Cartel on his side.
“Back home I sell cars like candy bars,” Andrade said with a smile. “We work hard and hopefully we can buy more horses. This horse is making a childhood dream happen for me. I’ve been watching Terry and Paul since I was a kid; to have a partnership to be with them, it doesn’t get any better than this. Words can’t describe it. I feel honored and grateful.”
Brother Ray’s second-place finish signals that he will continue to be a major force to be reckoned with in the upcoming summer stakes. Ridden by Irving Lara for trainer Jose Flores, the Favorite Cartel gelding earned $31,878 for his runner-up effort.
Ed Allred’s More Of It, the second-fastest qualifier from the Scott Willoughby barn, continued his consistent form by finishing a solid third, further validating his elite pedigree as a son of Favorite Cartel out of the stakes-winning mare Up For It. With Gabriel Lara up, More Of It earned $22,624 for his third-place finish.
By Orlando Gutierrez via Media
