OKLAHOMA CITY – Three-time defending Remington Park champion trainer Dee Keener qualified the fastest three Appaloosas on Thursday, in the first ever Remington Park Appaloosa Futurity trials, including the swiftest, Knockouts Eyes.
Jockey Mario Delgado booted home Knockouts Eyes as the winner of the first of two trials in a time of :13.754 for 250 yards over a fast track. The 2-year-old Oklahoma-bred Appaloosa filly by Cyber Monday (QH), out of the Mr Eye Opener (QH) mare Eyesa Knockout, battled her stablemate, R Tyme Wil Tell, to the wire and was a nose better in the end. Those two had the fastest times of the night. Another Keener trainee, Jess Say Bye, won the second trial, but had the third fastest time of the evening. Jockey James Flores qualified both R Tyme Wil Tell and Jess Say Bye for the finals.
Knockouts Eyes is owned by Wishbone Partnership (Michael Vaughan) of Norman, Okla., and was bred by Gary Vaughan. It was this filly’s first career win from two starts. She had finished fifth in an extremely tough Oklahoma Paint & Appaloosa futurity trial on March 5 in her first out.
Keener also had the eighth-fastest qualifier in Union Willy, from trial two, and that horse may have run the best race of all the finalists. Union Willy (3-1) was shuffled back badly at the start, totally destroying all chances of his winning his trial. Still he managed to run fourth after giving the field about a two-length head start. Union Willy finished 1-3/4 lengths behind victorious Jess Say Bye.
The 10 fastest Appaloosas qualified for the finals of the $31,730 Remington Park Appaloosa Futurity on Friday, April 24. Here they are (horse, jockey, trainer, time, speed index, trial number, race number):
- Knockouts Eyes, Mario Delgado, Dee Keener, :13.754, 70, trial one, race three
- R Tyme Wil Tell, James Flores, Dee Keener, :13.762, 70, trial one, race three
- Jess Say Bye, James Flores, Dee Keener, :13.942, 63, trial two, race four
- First Speeding Bullet, Roman Cruz, Jesus Ruiz, :13.944, 63, trial two, race four
- Hearts of Jettastic, Cordarelton Benn, Gary K. Walker, :13.949, 62, trial one, race three
- Kembers Moon Pop, Brayan Juarez, Gary K. Walker, :14.024, 59, trial one, race three
- Bigwig Bart, Cordarelton Benn, Gary K. Walker, :14.127, 55, trial two, race four
- Union Willy, Mario Delgado, Dee Keener, :14.191, 53, trial two, race four
- Panda Express, Roman Cruz, Jesus Ruiz, :14.223, 51, trial one, race three
- Dashin Deacon, Aram Martinez, Jesus Ruiz, :14.294, 49, trial one, race three
Only two other trainers had qualifiers for the finals, Jesus Ruiz and Gary K. Walker. They each qualified three finalists.
Remington Park racing continues Friday through Sunday, April 10-12. The first race nightly is 6pm with Sunday action 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 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
