OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—MARCH 7, 2010—The $51,000 Eastex Handicap(G2), the first stakes race of the Remington Park American Quarter Horse & Mixed-Breed Season, went to Dylans Dandy as the Opening Weekend wrapped up Sunday night.

Owned by Karen and Preston Cloud of Sallisaw, Okla. and trained by Guillermo Valdivia, Dylans Dandy defeated 9-5 wagering favorite Frankie Shoots by a head in the 350-yard Eastex. Under Larry Payne, a recent inductee into the Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame at Remington Park, Dylans Dandy finished in 17.626 seconds over the fast track.

“He likes the distance,” Valdivia said of the winner. “He always breaks kind of behind a little bit but makes a big run at the end. I believe he is better at 400 or 440 yards. He is a super horse, he is a warrior. He always comes over and gives you everything that he has. I am glad to have him in my barn."

Gaining late on the outside of the racetrack from post-position number nine, Dylans Dandy went off at 5-1 odds and paid $12.40 to win, $5.20 to place and $3.20 to show. Frankie Shoots returned $4.20 to place and $3.80 to show. Hijo De Villa, also trained by Valdivia, was third and paid $11.40 to show.

Dylans Dandy, an Oklahoma-bred 6-year-old gelding by Streak And Dash from the Seventy One North mare Freda Krystel, won his 14th career race from 33 starts. The Eastex score was his sixth win in 13 attempts at Remington Park. The first-place check of $30,000 pushes the overall earnings for Dylans Dandy to $225,857.

The Eastex win was the first for the Clouds and Valdivia in the race. It was the third time jockey Larry Payne had ridden the winner in the Eastex and his first triumph in the race since winning aboard Smashem Sport in 1992.

Frankie Shoots, a 6-year-old horse by Dashin Bye, races for Jose Santos and was saddled by 8-time AQHA Racing champion trainer Paul Jones. Cody Jensen was up for the second place effort worth $10,000.

Maria Maira Velasco Gutierrez' Hijo de Villa was ¾ back in for third. The Oak Tree Special 5-year-old is also trained by Valdivia. Debbie Freeman was aboard to pickup $6,500.

Completing the field were Deep In The South, The Wizeman, Cuz Eye Said, Jessanotheraffair, Adios My Amigos and Takeela Sunrise.

The Eastex Handicap, a Grade 2 event, is traditionally the first stakes race in the Remington Park season. Named after the winner of the 1984 All American Futurity, Eastex was the all-time leading earner in Quarter Horse racing before losing that title to Refrigerator in the mid-1990s. At age 28, Eastex resides at Belle Mere Farms in Norman, Okla.

Payne posted a riding triple on Sunday night adding wins with Bugged Money ($10.40 to win) in the second race and Paint champion Chicks Lacerta ($5) in the fifth in addition to his win on Dylans Dandy. Payne now has seven wins on the season to move into second in the rider standings behind Jimmy Brooks who has eight victories.

Open daily at 10am for simulcast racing and casino gaming, Remington Park racing will resume Friday night with a 10-race program at 6:25pm.