Remington Park's Lip Chip Jockey of the Week is Edwin Escobedo (right) and Lip Chip Trainer of the Week is Jason Olmstead.

© Dustin Orona Photography

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—MAY 8, 2024–Edwin Escobedo and Jason Olmstead proved tough to beat on the racetrack this past week and by virtue of their dominant statistics earned Lip Chip Jockey and Trainer of the Week for May 2-5.

Neither horseman had a jockey or trainer within three victories of the number of wins they compiled for the week. Escobedo made seven trips to the winner’s circle, six of those for Olmstead, of Pryor, Okla. They combined last year at Remington Park to win the rider title while the trainer won the most Quarter Horse races and repeated as the top trainer in the country the past couple of years by wins.

Escobedo’s big week, which included one night where he wore a path to the winner’s circle with four of those seven wins, pushed him into a tie for first place in the jockeys’ standings. He is deadlocked with Ali Rivera and Roman Cruz, all with 28 victories this meet.

Prior to last week, Escobedo trailed Rivera 28-21 and was five behind Cruz. Cruz won two this past week and Rivera was shut out. Consequently, Escobedo’s jump in one week was from fourth-place into a tie for first as he tries to defend his title.

Escobedo’s winners this past week were Jess a Frenchy Girl, Valiant Candy Tree, Anna Belle and Ncc Cherry Bottom on Thursday night, May 2. Ncc Cherry Bottom was the only horse Escobedo won on all week that wasn’t trained by Olmstead. That one is trained by Samuel Mendoza.

Escobedo followed that four bagger with one more win Friday, May 3 aboard Dennis the Mennis. He finished the week with two more successful trips in the saddle of Jess Folzookieing and Relentless Corona on Sunday, May 5. The closest riders to Escobedo’s seven for the week were Bryan Candanosa and Juan Pulido with four apiece.

Olmstead won his six with all those that Escobedo won aboard except Ncc Cherry Bottom. He had twice as many wins as his nearest competitors, Dee Keener and Stacy Charette-Hill, who had three victories apiece. Olmstead and Charette-Hill had the highest win percentage at 30 percent last week among the top five trainers.

Olmstead’s brilliant week moved him from sixth place in the conditioners’ standings with 13 wins going into the week to a tie for third with 19. In the trainers’ standings, Matt Whitekiller and Keener are tied for first with 20 victories apiece and are followed closely by Olmstead, John Stinebaugh and Toby Keeton.

Live racing continues this week with a Thursday-Sunday schedule. First post time is 6 p.m. CDT nightly except for Sunday when the first race goes off a 4 p.m.

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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.