Speed on Display! They’re Off for Ajax Downs’ 57th Quarter Horse Season

Four racetracks were buzzing with excitement today for Stakes Races! Take a glance at the winners now, and stay tuned for our full Stakes Results!

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OKLAHOMA CITY – Handin Out Candy does nothing but hand out wins to his owner Emilio Perez, of Arlington, Texas, when he races around the turn. He continued his magic Saturday at Remington Park, winning his seventh race in a row at 870 yards, winning the $51,360 Pauls Valley Stakes as the even-money favorite.

It was the first time jockey James Flores had been on the winner, taking over for regular rider Omar Iturralde, and Flores said he was just along for the ride.

“It was an easy trip,” the winning jock said. “He is such a professional and just does his thing every time. I can’t say I had much to do with it. He showed he can run.”

Handin Out Candy is not only fast, but he is a huge horse, weighing in at 1,332 pounds Saturday. In comparison, the fourth-place finisher and past distance champion at Remington Park, O Donovan Rossa, checked in at 1,051 pounds for the Pauls Valley Stakes.

This was the second stakes in a row that Handin Out Candy has swept at Remington Park, having won the Grade 2 Remington Park Distance Challenge on March 28 by 2-3/4 lengths. Iturralde rode him that night. His margin of victory Saturday was three-quarters of a length over a stellar field. Wynnchester (9-2) was the runner-up, another half-length ahead of third-place Cash Back Hero (8-1). 

Handin Out Candy, a 7-year-old Alabama-bred gelded son of Jess Good Candy, from the Dash Ta Fame mare Ole Auntie Em, began his winning streak July 31, 2025, at Retama Park near San Antonio, Texas, winning an allowance race, followed by wins in the Distance Challenge Stakes at the Downs at Albuquerque on Sept. 20 and the Grade 1 Distance Challenge Championship, also at Albuquerque. The streak continued on Dec. 14 in the King Rick Rack Stakes at Zia Park in New Mexico before hanging it up for the year. He has now won all three of his 2026 starts at Remington Park.

The winner earned $29,400 for his trip to the winner’s circle and improved his record to 39 starts, 12 wins, nine seconds and three thirds for a bankroll of $350,190. He was bred by Paris Wixon and was a $20,000 bargain purchase out of the Heritage Place September Yearling Sale in 2020. 

Handin Out Candy paid $4.20 to win, $2.60 to place and $2.20 to show and stopped the timer in :45.189 on a fast track, earning a speed index of 95. The rest of the order of finish past the top three was O Donovan Rossa (3-1) fourth, Rock Ya Later (22-1) fifth, Mister Lights Out (9-1) sixth and Chickn Hock (10-1) seventh. Into the Lite scratched.

“I just want to thank God and everyone that supports me, this horse and the team,” said Perez, of Arlington, Texas. “We will keep him here for the Distance Championship on closing night and then take him to Albuquerque, then to Retama and Hobbs (N.M., Zia Park).”

The Pauls Valley Stakes, named after the city located about one hour south of Remington Park and Oklahoma City, is for American Quarter Horses, 3-years-old and older around the turn.

This is the first victory in the Pauls Valley Stakes for all the connections of Handin Out Candy.

Remington Park racing continues Sunday at 4pm-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

The Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission’s Board of Stewards has outlined a detailed process for trainers seeking to return protected horses to racing following the April 22 emergency orders.

The new guidelines require a case-by-case review focused on horse welfare and racing integrity. “The central question is whether… allowing the horse to compete would not… compromise equine welfare,” the document states.

Horses are divided into two groups, with those that experienced severe post-race distress facing heightened scrutiny.

Trainers must submit a separate application for each horse, including a full 90-day history, complete veterinary and treatment records, and a sworn certification. Independent veterinary evaluations, and in some cases specialist reviews, are mandatory.

Each horse must also complete extensive diagnostic testing and a supervised workout, where officials monitor performance and recovery.

“No horse will be removed… based upon assurances alone,” the instructions emphasize.

Stewards may approve, deny, or delay decisions, but no horse will return to racing unless officials are satisfied there are no remaining safety concerns.

Officials stressed that the process is protective, not punitive, with the goal of ensuring horses can safely and humanely compete.

View the documents below:
Trainer Instruction for removal of protected Horses
Trainer Checklist

By Speedhorse