Deep Blue (#5), under jockey Ali Rivers, winning the allowance feature on Sunday at Remington Park.

© Dustin Orona Photography

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—MARCH 24, 2024— When one comes within less than a length of winning the $1 million Heritage Place Futurity, chances are you’re going to have a pretty good chance at winning a featured allowance race as a 3-year-old. Deep Blue proved that Sunday night at Remington Park.

Last year, Deep Blue was a 13-1 longshot in the Grade 1 $1 million Heritage Place Futurity, the cornerstone race of the meet every year at Remington Park, and was beaten only three-quarters of a length by the victorious San Lencho.

Deep Blue, a 3-year-old filly, under co-leading rider Ali Rivera, broke like a wild animal uncaged in the 330-yard second-level allowance event Sunday night and drew away to win by a full length as the 3-5 odds-on favorite.

Trainer John Stinebaugh had this daughter of A Revenant, out of the Corona Cartel mare Blues Girl Too, wound up like a taut rubber band and she would not be denied.

Her win put $13,917 into the pockets of owner RDS Legacy Racing of Manchester, Iowa, from the $28,100 purse and the filly improved to six starts, three wins, two seconds for earnings of $239,860. She was bred in Oklahoma by Lucky Seven Ranch.

The winning filly flew down the fast track in :16.731 for a speed index of 92 after breaking like a shot from a cannon. It wasn’t like she was beating a bunch of ragamuffins, either. JC Wild Queen, who had won an allowance race last time out at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, was no slouch out of trainer Toby Keeton’s barn.

This daughter of Apollitical Jess had gotten into this race the same way the winner had, off a first-level allowance race at Lone Star Park. Still, she could only get second Sunday night, competitive but well-beaten as the 7-2 second favorite. She was another half-length ahead of third-place finisher Paint Me Downhill (9-1). The third favorite on the board, Imperial Rein (4-1), finished last in the field of seven.

An indication that Deep Blue might fire a big race Sunday, coming off a layoff from Oct. 27, 2023, was her final workout before this try. She covered 220 yards at Remington Park on the morning of March 10 in a swift time of :11.51 handily from the gate. That was the second-fastest of the day of 53 that tried 220 yards.

Last year, Deep Blue won her Heritage Place Futurity trial by 1-3/4 lengths under reigning American Quarter Horse Association Champion Jockey Francisco Calderon. Stinebaugh switched her riding duties to Ali Rivera last fall when the filly moved to Lone Star Park.

Rivera has had an extremely fast start to this meet, winning 11 through the first three weeks and is tied with Roman Cruz atop the jockeys’ standings.

As the heavy favorite, Deep Blue paid $3.40 to win, $2.60 to place and $2.10 to show across the board.

Remington Park racing continues Thursday through Saturday, March 28-30, with the first race nightly at 6pm-Central. There is no Remington Park racing on Easter Sunday.

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Remington Park has provided more than $345 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.