Lawless Wallace (white blinkers, red shadow roll) defeats Tres Crystals (green blinkers and shadow roll) and Proximity (6) in setting the top time in trials for the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby.

© Dustin Orona Photography

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—MARCH 24, 2023—Lawless Wallace did something in the Grade 3, $234,860 Oklahoma Derby trials two weeks ago that no one had ever done at Remington Park – beat Tres Crystals here.

Tres Crystals, the Horse of the Meeting last year off wins in the Oklahoma Futurity and the $1.1 million Heritage Place Futurity was 4-for-4 in Oklahoma City until the trials of Sunday, March 12 at Remington Park. Off that victory as the fastest 3-year-old American Quarter Horse qualifier, Lawless Wallace has been made the 5-2 favorite for the finals set for Saturday.

That 3-year-old colt by leading  sire Tres Seis, out of the Apollitical Jess mare Elicity, finished a neck in front of Tres Crystals. Lawless Wallace got a better break from the gate in the trials and it was the difference at the finish.

It won’t be hard for the two speedsters to find each other in the Derby finals. They will be eyeball to eyeball as they break from the two outside post positions, Lawless Wallace in the 9-hole and Tres Crystals in the No. 10 gate.

Jockey Jimmy Brooks stays aboard the favorite for trainer Eddie Willis and Bryan Candanosa retains the mount with Tres Crystals for conditioner Dee Keener. Tres Crystals is the second favorite in the morning line at 7-2 odds.

Keener still has high hopes for Tres Crystals to rebound for 96-year-old owner Elizabeth Logan of Haskell, Okla.

"I got hooked up with Elizabeth through my vet, Jay Ross, in Coweta, Oklahoma," said Keener. "Mrs. Logan is a really nice lady. She says her secret to longevity is cheeseburgers and Dr. Pepper. I think Tres Crystals really loves Remington Park."

Logan had the secret to Quarter Horse racing at Remington Park last year, winning with Tres Crystals and last year’s Grade 2, $270,535 Remington Park Derby winner Dreamsville.

Lawless Wallace, owned by Ronald, Melany, and Brad Shalz of Colby, Kan., now is the horse that is undefeated at Remington Park with a win in his only effort here with the trials victory, stopping the timer for 350 yards in :17.557 for a 92 speed index. Tres Crystals raced in 17.600 for a 91.

Lawless Wallace had performed well at Los Alamitos in California and Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico prior to coming to Remington Park. He had won the $50,000 Los Al 2 Million Juvenile and won an All American Futurity trial without qualifying for the finals. His career record is seven starts, five wins and $52,150 in earnings. Tres Crystals has won four of eight tries and had two seconds for a gaudy bankroll of $662,077.

Lawless Wallace was bred in Colorado by Papas Place and was a $100,000 purchase in the 2021 Heritage Place September Yearling Sale in Oklahoma City. Tres Crystals was bred in Texas by Simmons Racing. He was bought for a measly $30,000 out of the 2021 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale

The field for the Derby that goes as the 10th race (approximately 10:03 p.m.) Saturday on a 12-race card with post, horse, jockey, trainer and odds from the rail out is:

1. AP Scout: Ricky Ramirez, Trey Wood, 6-1
2. A Political Eye: Raul Valenzuela, Jose Huerta, 10-1
3. Teller Ima Eagle: Juan Pulido, Troy Carter, 5-1
4. Divas Perry: Daniel Torres, Xavier Alonzo III, 20-1
5. Water Or Corona: Edwin Escobedo, Jason Olmstead, 15-1
6. Proximity: Francisco Calderon, Monty Arrossa, 12-1
7. Apollitical Face: James Flores, Heath Taylor, 8-1
8. Pink Kiss: Mario Delgado, Jason Driver, 12-1
9. Lawless Wallace: Jimmy Brooks, Eddie Willis, 5-2
10. Tres Crystals: Bryan Candanosa, Dee Keener, 7-2

The 2023 Remington Park American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season continues Friday-Sunday, March 24-26. First post time is 6 p.m. nightly with the exception of Sunday when first post is 4 p.m.

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Tracked by more than 172,000 fans on Facebook and 10,700 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $314 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 live racing returns March 9 with the start of the 2023 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa season. Remington Park presents simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.