OKLAHOMA CITY – It took Church Spire a total of 12 races to win for the first time and now he has won two of his last three starts, including the featured allowance race on Sunday at Remington Park with jockey Jesus Ayala up.
The 4-year-old Oklahoma-bred gelded son of KVN Corona, out of the Tac It Like a Man mare Symbol of Faith, did everything right in this allowance race for 3-year-olds-and-older who had never won two races in their life. It seemed appropriate that a horse named Church Spire from a dam (mother) named Symbol of Faith would take down the Sunday feature. He only broke his maiden on Nov. 30 last year at Zia Park in New Mexico after a dozen tries. The gelding, trained by Marco Chavez-Gutierrez, appears to have figured out this racing business.
Church Spire broke on top against the 2-1 wagering favorite, DR Stone Cold, and never let that horse get closer than a full length in the 400-yard race, winning by that margin. Church Spire was sent off at 5-1 odds and paid $12.80 to win, $5.60 to place and $3.60 to show. DR Stone Cold was another 1-1/2 lengths in front of third-place finisher Whata Lota Boy (3-1).
Church Spire beating the favored DR Stone Cold concluded a two-day extravaganza in the late Pick 4 which saw that wager pay out more than $5,000 both days. On Saturday, it paid a season-high $10,032.85 and on Sunday, it was about half that at $5,159.40.
Church Spire earned $17,775 from the $30,480 allowance purse and improved his lifetime record to 14 starts, two wins, two seconds and two thirds for a bankroll of $81,838. He is owned by Rancho Garambuyo (Santos Lopez) of Denver, Colo., and was bred by Kelly Yother Equine. He was a $26,000 purchase from the Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale of 2026.
Church Spire had shown some talent as a 2-year-old in 2024, enough so that he was put into an All American Futurity trial at the Downs at Albuquerque, but after he ran eighth, he was finally put in a couple of maiden races, one to end 2024 and the other to start 2025 when he turned 3-years-old. He ran second in his final start as a 2-year-old, losing by only a neck or he would have broken his maiden in that race, his fourth start. After that, Church Spire was placed in several derby trials and finished fifth in the Grade 2 Heritage Place Derby on May 31, 2025 before failing in an All American Derby trial in August of last year. He finished a disappointing eighth in that effort before running in three more maiden races and finally winning at Zia.
Church Spire had also tried 400 yards six times before winning at that distance on Sunday. It was his first win at Remington Park in four races. The winning time for Church Spire’s second victory was :19.607 as he earned a 95 speed index over the fast track, compared to DR Stone Cold’s :19.749.
Remington Park racing continues Thursday-Sunday, April 23-26. Action begins nightly at 6pm with Sunday racing underway at 4pm. All times are Central.
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 $1,000,000 Heritage Place Futurity takes place on the final night of the spring season on Saturday, May 30. 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
