By Dale Day
OKLAHOMA CITY – With fractiousness surrounding him in the gate, Scott Road didn’t let it bother him as he cruised to the fastest win of the day in nine training races Thursday at Remington Park. The 2-year-old colt closed ground for the 250-yard victory.
The 2-year-old California-bred colt by Seperate Interest, out of theCorona Cartel mare Remember The Cartel, was in post-position three awaiting the break from the starting gate when the 2-horse, Volcoms Marine YG, reared up, putting his legs over the gate, encroaching on the 1-horse, Big Hero Monday’s territory. The Volcoms Marine YG wasn’t happy with jumping into the next starting gate, so he started kicking as well. The 4-horse, Leaf On the Wind, ran loose in the paddock and carried on pre-race as well.
Somehow, with bad actors all around him, Scott Road still broke straight as an arrow and chased down the No. 5 horse, Valiant Hocks, for the victory in a time of :13.903 for a speed index of 64 into a headwind of about 15 mph. Big Hero Monday also deserved some kudos for running third despite sharing his stall with the Volcoms Marine YG prior to the start. Jockey Edwin Escobedo guided Scott Road to the training race win.
Scott Road was a $25,000 purchase by owner FG Ranch of Dover, Fla., in the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale of 2025. He ran to his breeding to win his race. His sire, Seperate Interest, was a graded stakes winner, taking the Grade 3 Kaweah Bar Handicap at Los Alamitos in California. He won 7-of-29 races lifetime for earnings of $486,761. Scott Road’s mother was unraced, but her sire, Corona Cartel, was a multiple graded stakes winner, making six trips to the winner’s circle in 14 starts for $557,142 earned. He won the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Million Futurity and the Grade 2 Kindergarten Futurity at Los Alamitos in California.
Scott Road was bred by Steve Burns, DVM.
The second-fastest time of the day came from Ruse Man Crystal in the eighth race (:13.934), a Leo Alcala trainee who has some interesting breeding. The 2-year-old Louisiana-bred filly is by KJ Mucho Man, out of the Walk Thru Fire mare Crystal Sola. That makes her a half-sister to $1 million Heritage Place Futurity winner Tres Crystals. Ruse Man Crystal has the same mother as that 2022 Heritage Place Futurity winner, but different sires.
The fastest Paint of the day, DW Showin Off, held onto the fastest time of the day (:13.956) until Scott Road took over. DW Showin Off also ran his race under one of the strongest headwinds of the day at 16 mph. That Paint ran in the opening race of the day for trainer Dee Keener and did everything on his own with no rider encouragement. He is a 2-year-old colt sired by Champion Quarter Horse Uncle D, from the SF Royal Quick Flash mare Shez Showin Off. He is owned and bred by Danny Watkins of Wagoner, Okla.
The other training race winners (Quarter Horses unless otherwise noted), their times (in order from fastest to slowest winners), speed index, trainers and race number were:
- Ruse Man Crystal, :13.934, 63, Leo Alcala, race eight
- Iam George III (dual registered Paint-Quarter Horse), :14.123, 55, Dee Keener, race three
- In D Mand, :14.132, 55, Gerardo Quinonez-Sarmiento, race five
- A Fortunate Cowboy, :14.146, 54, Leo Alcala, race seven
- Kiss My Tail, :14.152, 54, Samuel Mendoza, race four
- Claire Boiance, :14.174, 53, Clint Crawford, race nine
- Buckle Bunny 123 (Paint), :14.259, 50, Dee Keener, race two
Remington Park pre-season training races will continue Feb. 18. The 50-date Remington Park American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season starts on March 5.
Remington Park has provided more than $407 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 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season begins March 5. 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.
