The Swamp (#6) pulls the upset at 13-1 odds to win the Grade 1 Leo Stakes on Saturday at Remington Park. Jockey Gonzalo Gutierrez was up for victory.

© Dustin Orona Photography

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—MAY 4, 2024–The Swamp turned it on when the spotlight shone brightest, winning the first stakes race of his career, taking the Grade 1, $61,120 Leo Stakes. He upset the 4-5 heavy favorite, A Tres of Eagle, in order to get the victory.

"He really left good," jockey Gonzalo Gutierrez said of his mount, The Swamp. "He did all the job. I just knew I didn't have to (mess) it up."

The 5-year-old horse by Favorite Cartel, out of the Hawkinson mare Tahma Hawk, jumped on top, out of the gate first, and cruised home a winner by three-quarters of a length over runner-up Konnan Cartel (9-5 second favorite), who was another half-length ahead of A Tres of Eagle.

The Swamp paid $28.40 to win, $11.60 to place and $3.80 to show. The 6-3 exacta returned a generous $160.40 without the heavy favorite involved.

The Swamp was bred in California by Steve D. Burns, DVM. He earned $35,946 from the purse Saturday and improved to 18 starts, seven wins, one second and three thirds for a bankroll of $150,757. He was purchased for $30,000 at the 2020 Los Alamitos Equine Sale on the West Coast.

It was the first win in this stakes series for all the connections. Trainer Diego Arroyo was not concerned in the least bit that his horse had never won a stakes race.

"I knew he would run way better today," Arroyo said. "I knew he would be ready for it and I knew he was good enough to beat those horses."

The Swamp's only other race at Remington Park this meet was a sixth-place finish in the Grade 2 Eastex Stakes on March 16. On that night, he had lost to Konnan Cartel by 2-1/2 lengths, who ran second to him Saturday. The loss came at 350 yards while he gained his vengeance at 400 yards today.

Running time for the winner was :19.519 for a 98 speed-index over the fast track.

The Swamp's last win was in an open allowance race at the Downs at Albuquerque on Oct. 29, 2023, also at 400 yards.

Runner-up Konnan Cartel earned $11,982 for his second-place effort. Juan Diaz, Jr. sent out the Five Bar Cartel gelding for owner Dania Castellanos. Manuel Gutierrez had the riding call on the multiple graded stakes winning Louisiana Bred homebred out of Jet Black Chiraq by Jet Black Patriot.  Bred by Luis Armando Castellanos, Konnan Cartel has earned $381,320.

Starting off a win in the Remington Park Championship Challenge(G2) on April 7, A Tres Of Eagle gained late under jockey Jhaciel Soto to earn $7,370 for third. Eddie Lee Willis saddled the multiple graded stakes winner for owner Bella Vista Farms, LLC.  The Mixer Ranch bred the 5-year-old One Fabulous Eagle gelding from the Tres Seis mare A Tres Of Paint. A Tres Of Eagle has banked $464,390 in 20 career starts.

The rest of the order of finish past the top three was Nothin Like You (7-1) fourth, Sir James (16-1) fifth and Burning Follies (10-1) sixth.

The Leo Stakes is named in honor of one of Quarter Horse racing's foundation sires. Leo, an AQHA Hall of Fame member, stood the bulk of his long stallion career in Perry, Okla., where a life-size statue commemorates him to this day. Leo was owned for the final decades of his life by Bud Warren.

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Remington Park has provided more than $ 347 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, Remington Park presents simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. The 2024 racing schedule begins Thursday, March 7, as the American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season starts its 50-date season. Parking and admission are always free. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.