OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—JUNE 1, 2019—Two times this race meet Madewell had been beaten by Ms Esther in stakes races at Remington Park, but not on closing Saturday.

"We couldn't let it happen to us a third time," said Madewell's trainer Tammy Johnson after celebrating in the winner's circle of the Grade 2, $55,920 Remington Park Distance Championship."

The last time Madewell and Ms Esther met in the AQHA Distance Challenge Championship on May 12 at Remington Park, jockey Andrew Samaniego came up the rail and got past Madewell for a neck victory. That's another thing that Johnson wanted to make sure didn't happen this time.

"Everybody is kind of joking about us letting her through on the rail," Johnson said." Today, James (Flores, jockey) stayed on the rail and didn't let her have that chance. We have no complaints at all."

It was the first time Remington Park's leading rider Flores had been in the saddle of Madewell and he was impressed with the mount.

"We had a clean trip," said Flores, who clinched his second consecutive riding title at this Oklahoma City track. "He broke awesome and was in front for the majority of the race. When we got to the 660-pole, we were still in front and at the quarter pole the horses started coming to him but he finished strong. Congrats to the team for getting him ready for this. We got the win."

When it was suggested to Johnson that it was nice having Flores drop into her lap for this race, she said it wasn't that easy.

"He didn't drop right into our laps," she said. "We went after him. Those things do take a little hunting."

So they hunted and they bagged their man. Flores did not disappoint.

This 5-year-old gelded son of Jess Jones, out of the A Streak of Cash mare Streakin Peacock, held on in the stretch and won by a half-length over runner-up Rock a Billy, another Johnson-trained horse, who was a full-length ahead of Ms Esther in third.

Madewell is owned by Ray and Davy Madewell of Ringling, Okla., and was bred in Oklahoma by his owners. They picked up a first-place check of $34,638 and Madewell improved his record to 19 starts, four wins, five seconds and five thirds for a lifetime bankroll of $103,749.

Running time for the winner at the 870 yards was 44.984 seconds over a fast track, good for a speed index of 102. It was Madewell's second win in 10 starts at Remington Park.

It was the third time Johnson has won the Remington Park Distance Championship, also posing for the trophy in 2017 with Jess a Hilbily Bone and in 2015 with CJs Rock Solid. Flores and the owners won for the first time in this race.

Stakes winner Rock A Billy earned $9,946 for his second-place effort. A Texas homebred racing for owner-breeder Rockin J Running Horses, Rock A Billy is trained by Tammy Kay Johnson and ridden by jockey Randy Wilson. A son of Rock Solid Jess out of the Game Patriot mare Imaginiff, Rock A Billy has banked $201,013.

Two-time Remington Park stakes winner Ms Esther races for owner-trainer Jordan Baumann. Andrew Samaniego rode the Afrashad (TB) 5-year-old mare from the Tres Seis mare Tres Down The Cash. Bred by Duwyne and Janice Pfeifle, the sorrel earned $6,350 to increase are earnings to $106,776.

Jess A Hilbily Bone, Bout Tree Fiddy, Blazen Panther, Flight Force and Rare Ed completed the field.

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Remington Park is always open for casino gaming. Simulcast horse racing is offered daily. Admission, parking and valet parking are always free at Remington Park. Guests must be 18 or older in order to wager on horse racing or to enter the casino.

Tracked by more than 153,000 fans on Facebook and more than 9,900 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $216 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Home to the historic Grade 2 Oklahoma Futurity, to be run for the 78th time on March 23, 2019, Remington Park is located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District. For more information, reservations and group bookings please call 405-424-1000, 866-456-9880 or visit remingtonpark.com.