OKLAHOMA CITY – The difference in qualifying times for the $971,955 Remington Park Futurity on Saturday, April 18 is so miniscule from top to bottom, it would be no surprise if the longest shot on the board was your winner.
For instance, Apolliticalgolddigger was the fastest on the first night of trials at the 330-yard distance at :16.807, on a fast track. The slowest qualifier that night, was a blink of an eye slower – BV So Long at :16.858 seconds. All five that qualified on the first night did so with an 87 or 86 speed index. On the first night of trials, the qualifiers made it through with a 14 mph headwind.
Apolliticalgolddigger has been made the lukewarm 3-1 morning line favorite by oddsmaker Jerry Shottenkirk. That’s how tough this race is.
On the second night of qualifying, Whatdyathinkofmenow had the fastest time in :16.653 for a 92 speed index. That effort came after a heavy thunderstorm soaked the track and brought a 12 mph tailwind with it. Cyber Hostage was the second fastest and the only other horse to reach the 90s in speed indexes on night two as he stopped the timer in :16.713 for a 90. The third-fastest qualifier on that night has strong credentials also, as D Molish was bumped at the start of his race by Whatdyathinkofmenow, and still only lost his trial by a half-length to the top qualifier on night two.
Whatdyathinkofmenow is nicknamed Bob in the barn. It obviously takes too much time for anyone in the barn of trainer John Stinebaugh to have to say that long, wordy official name, so they call him Bob.
The finals feature 10 Oklahoma-bred 2-year-old qualifiers running 330 yards for the nearly $1 million in purse money.
Apolliticalgolddigger, a colt by Apollitical Jess, from the Heza Fast Man mare Ashleys Gold Digger, is trained by Josue Garcia and will be breaking from the post-position nine under jockey Juan Pulido, the leading rider at Remington Park by many wins. He has made 39 trips to the winner’s circle this meet, compared to Roman Cruz in second place with 17. Garcia is third in the trainers’ standings with 15 victories from 40 starts. Leader Dee Keener has 24 wins from 119 starters.
Apolliticalgolddigger, owned by Javier Cruz from Irving, Texas, is two-for-two in his career, breaking his maiden at Remington Park on March 12 at 250 yards, winning by a head over D Molish, and then winning his trial on April 2 by a neck. Pulido rode him both times. This colt was bred by Charlotte and Brett Northam, and was purchased for $86,000 from the Heritage Place September Yearling Sale last year. He has currently earned $24,390 after two starts, but has a chance to earn a ton more in Remington Park Futurity.
Whatdyathinkofmenow, or Bob if you prefer, is the second favorite at 4-1 odds and will be breaking right alongside the favorite from the number 10 post position. Jockey Francisco Calderon will get a leg up from Stinebaugh as he did before winning his trial over a sloppy track on April 3. The colt by Cyber Monday, out of the Desirio mare PJ Chick in Black, is owned by Horton Racing (Todd Horton) of Fort Worth, Texas. He was bought for $65,000 in the same Heritage Place Sale as Apolliticalgolddigger. He earned $8,125 in his trial, the only start of his career. He was bred by Southfork Equine and LS Racing Inc.
Here is the Remington Park Futurity field by program and post-position order, horse, jockey, trainer and odds:
- 1) BV So Long, Rolando Raudales, Guillermo Valdivia, 5-1
- 2) Kisses N Candy, Edwin Escobedo, Fernando Manriquez, 8-1
- 3) PYC Dollars Cowboy, Sergio Becerra, Jr., Ramon Mendoza, 6-1
- 4) Dos Grandiose, Mario Delgado, Dee Keener, 12-1
- 5) Cyber Hostage, Bryan Candanosa, Joe M. Davis, 10-1
- 6) Tellem Im in the 918, Roman Cruz, Dee Keener, 20-1
- 7) D Molish, James Flores, Sammy Valdivia, 12-1
- 8) Heritage of Power, Bonifacio Quiroz, Leo Alcala, 8-1
- 9) Apolliticalgolddigger, Juan Pulido, Josue Garcia, 3-1
- 10) Whatdyathinkofmenow, Francisco Calderon, John Stinebaugh, 4-1
The Remington Park Futurity is set for the 12th and final race on Saturday with a scheduled time of 11:03pm. The first race of the night is at 6pm. All times are central on a program that also features the $217,910 Remington Park Derby, the $182,720 Remington Park Oaks, the $100,000 Dee Raper Sooner State Stakes and more.
The Remington Park has provided more than $410 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
