Huge 11-Race Closing Day Card at Ajax Downs with Picov Futurity

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 12^th 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

Season Opens with Inaugural $541,000 Texas Breeders’ Futurity Trials – Highlighting Opening Weekend

HOUSTON, TX – Live Quarter Horse racing returns to Sam Houston Race Park as the 2026 meet gets underway April 16 and runs through June 13. Live racing will be conducted every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evening with a 6:30 p.m. first post.

Opening night on Thursday, April 16, features a full card of nine Quarter Horse races.

The highlight of the weekend quickly turns to Friday, April 17, with trials for the inaugural $541,000 Texas Breeders’ Futurity, the only futurity in the state restricted exclusively to Texas-bred juveniles. A total of 149 Accredited Texas-bred 2-year-olds will compete across 15 trial heats at 330 yards, with 55 trainers represented.

“It’s exciting to start the meet off with a half-million-dollar futurity,” said Sam Houston Racing Secretary Mike Acton. “We have the AQHA John Deere Juvenile trials, Adequan Derby trials, and Q-Racing Distance Challenge trials next week, and our Grade 2 Classic just 2 weeks later on May 9th, along with the finals for the Texas Breeders Futurity, two Grade 3 challenge finals, the John Buchanan and Leon Bard Stakes. This meet is action packed and full of great opportunities for everyone and lots of fast horses.”

Trainer Marc Jungers will send out the most starters, with thirteen on the night’s card. Among them, Coronas First Cowboy enters as a proven winner. The colt, by Flying Cowboy 123, broke his maiden on March 7 in an Oklahoma Futurity trial, prevailing in a tight four-horse photo that highlighted both his determination and finishing strength.

Owned by Antonio Mercado, who purchased him for $62,000 at the TQHA Yearling Sale, Coronas First Cowboy will be ridden by Christian Ramos. Bred by Paragon Farms, LLC, he is out of Coronas First Diva by Corona Cartel.

Another contender to watch appears in the ninth trial with Apollitical Cowboy, a colt who has already proven his ability to compete at a high level. He qualified to the Louisiana Downs Futurity and most recently finished fifth after a troubled start.

Apollitical Cowboy is also by Flying Cowboy 123. Bred by JP Quarter Horses, he is out of Too Kool To Return by High Rate of Return. Purchased for $50,000 at the TQHA Yearling Sale by Luis Armando Castellanos and Alfonso Rangel, he is trained by Santiago Villaseca and will break from post three under Victor M. Urieta Jr.

The spotlight, however, shifts firmly to the twelfth trial heat, with one of the most accomplished juveniles in the field, Whoopie Cowgirl. She turned heads with a dominant schooling race at Retama Park before shipping to Louisiana Downs, where she posted the fastest qualifying time and returned to win the Louisiana Downs Futurity from gate-to-wire by a half-length.

Owned by Denis Moran, who acquired her for $35,000 at the TQHA Yearling Sale, Whoopie Cowgirl has already earned $143,854 from two starts. Bred by Marc E. Rigby, DVM, she is also by Flying Cowboy 123 and out of Tacarosie by Tac It Like a Man. Trainer Ramiro Barajas Villareal will saddle her from post four with Jorge Garcia aboard.

The ten fastest qualifiers from Friday night will return for the May 9 final, which will share the card with six additional stakes, including the Sam Houston Classic and the John Deere Juvenile.

“In addition to the lucrative purse, we are offering a $20,000 Nominators Award, which will be distributed among the top four finishers, including $10,000 to the winner, $5,000 to second, $3,000 to third, and $2,000 to fourth,” said the TQHA Executive Director and Director of Racing, Scott Sherwood.

PROMOTIONAL EVENTS

To round out the season, Sam Houston Race Park will offer a full slate of promotional events. Fan favorites include Corgi Racing on April 25, a Wine Tasting event on May 9, and Shoppa’s Lawn Mower Races paired with Whiskey Tasting on June 13.

The meet also aligns with the Triple Crown series, with Sam Houston Race Park simulcasting the Kentucky Derby on May 2, followed by Preakness Day on May 16 and Belmont Day on June 6.

The facility will be open Wednesday through Sunday for simulcast wagering throughout the meet. Special post times are set for Triple Crown events, with Derby Day beginning at 10:30 a.m., while both Preakness and Belmont Days will feature a 1:00 p.m. first post.

2026 TRIALS & STAKES RACING SCHEDULE

Friday, April 17, 2026

$10,000 Texas Breeders Futurity Trials

Friday, April 24, 2026

$10,000 John Deere Juvenile Trials

$10,000 Q-Racing Video Distance Challenge Trials

$10,000 Adequan Derby Trials

Saturday, May 9, 2026

$75,000g Sam Houston Classic (G2)

$40,000a John Deere Juvenile (G3)

$30,000a Q-Racing Video Distance Challenge (G3)

$40,000a Adequan Derby

$75,000a Texas Breeders Futurity

$50,000a Leon Bard Memorial Stakes

$50,000a John Buchanan Memorial Stakes

Thursday, May 21, 2026

$10,000 Sam Houston Derby Trials

$10,000 Sam Houston Oaks Trials

Saturday, May 23, 2026

$10,000 Sam Houston Futurity Trials

Saturday, June 6, 2026

$40,000a Colors of Houston Futurity (G2)

$20,000a Colors of Texas Paint Maturity (G2)

$15,000 Guaranteed Colors of Houston Juvenile

Saturday, June 13, 2026

$150,000a Sam Houston Futurity (G2)

$50,000a Willie Hickman Memorial Stakes (G2)

$50,000a Jesse Yoakum Memorial 870 Stakes (G3)

$50,000g Governors Cup Marathon (G3)

$100,000a Sam Houston Derby (G3)

$50,000a Sam Houston 550 Stakes (G3)

$50,000a Sam Houston Oaks

$50,000a Miss Sam Houston Stakes

$50,000a Sam Houston 250 Stakes

For more information, please visit SHRP.COM or call 281-807-8700

About Sam Houston Race Park

Sam Houston Race Park is Houston’s premier racing and entertainment facility, located just 15 miles northwest of downtown Houston. Owned by Penn Entertainment Inc. (NASDAQ – PENN), the racetrack, which opened in 1994, offers a variety of attractions for businesses, group outings, and families during racing and the off-season. The track is best known for its award-winning dining. It features multiple areas for fans looking for casual to upscale dining options including its Winner’s Circle Restaurant, Jockey Club, Luxury Suites and Pavilion Centre. For more information or tickets to upcoming live racing, concerts, and events, please visit www.shrp.com or follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, or YouTube.

By Leann Noguera

Captain Fancy, a 4-year-old Paint filly, blazed to her seventh win in her last eight starts, and in doing so set a new track record for the mixed breeds of Paints and Appaloosas for 110 yards at Remington Park. The North Dakota-bred daughter of Im the Captain Now, out of the Major Rime (QH) mare, ND Bunny Jet (QH), stopped the timer in :06.817 which shattered the old mark of :06.874 set in 2014 by Queen for Cash, an Appaloosa.

Captain Fancy, with leading rider Juan Pulido in the irons, flashed out of the gate like a bolt of lightning, and won by a neck over runner-up River Flower (38-1). The blanket finish included third-place runner, Turnpike Jammer (12-1), who was a head behind River Flower.

Captain Fancy improved her record to 15 starts, eight wins, two seconds and one third for lifetime earnings of $71,830. She was bred by Randal E. Schwartz. Her only loss in her last eight tries was a second-place finish in a stakes race at Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla., on Nov. 9 last year and she lost that race only by a neck at 350 yards. 

Today’s race was under allowance conditions. Captain Fancy now boasts a perfect record at 110 yards, two-for-two lifetime. She has won four-of-five starts at Remington Park. Leo Alcala trains her for owner Heber Deyta-Melendez of Albuquerque, N.M.

Remington Park racing continues Thursday-Sunday, April 16-19. The $971,955 Remington Park Futurity headlines a stakes-laden program on Saturday, April 18.

The first race nightly at Remington Park is set for 6pm with Sunday racing 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 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