Leo Alcalaowns, trains and bred the two daughters of As and Js that will run Saturday night at Remington Park.

© Dustin Orona Photography

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—APRIL 25, 2024– If you've eaten in the Remington Park track kitchen this race meet, chances are you've enjoyed the cooking of Leo Alcala.

What some people don't know, however, is that Alcala is the same guy who qualified three of the 10 finalists for Saturday night's $854,775 Remington Park Futurity as a trainer.

When he isn't making what he calls "the world's greatest taco," he is teaching American Quarter Horses how to race as a trainer.

On Saturday, he will send 3-1 morning line favorite Cowgirls Can Fly to post for the big race for 2-year-old Oklahoma-breds at 330 yards. Also from his barn are Coronita KO (10-1) and Js Freightrain (15-1), both are daughters out of graded stakes winning mare As And Js.

That is how it all started. Alcala was living in Fort Myers, Fla., and a friend of his wanted him to come to a horse sale in Oklahoma in 2015.

"I saw that little filly at the sale and she was skinny," he said. "She was tiny and we were just lucky no one was looking at her because of it and I got her for $11,000. I just looked at her in the ring and liked the way she was."

That was As And Js, who wound up winning $531,134 for Alcala and won two stakes races at Remington Park. Since she has become his broodmare, she has produced four Grade 1 winners. At this point, Alcala pulls out his phone and shows a picture of an expansive mansion he owns in Florida.

"She did that," he said.

He owns, trains and bred the two daughters of As And Js that will run Saturday night.

His daughter-in-law, Marisol Alvarado of Jones, Okla., purchased the other qualifier, Cowgirls Can Fly, at the Heritage Place September Yearling Sale for $33,000. That daughter of Flying Cowboy 123 was the fastest qualifier on the first night of trials on April 11 with a clocking of :16.614 for the 330 yards and a speed index of 95. Alcala said he has never qualified more than one horse at a time for a big final.

"I love it; I love it," he said. "I love Oklahoma since I came here the first time. I love horses. I love cooking."

In his training career which started in 2017, Alcala has started horses 188 times, winning 29, running second 13 times and another 21 in thirds for lifetime earnings of $686,347. He makes a little less as a cook, but still loves it just the same. He claims to be the reason that some of the jockeys often check in slightly over their assigned weight for horses.

"Yes, that's right," he said.

The only thing that makes him hungrier than his own cooking is that burning desire to win the Remington Park Futurity? If that happened?

"Oh, I'd be a cryer," he said. "I'll be crying. It's something you do when you love horses."

The field for Saturday night's Remington Park Futurity from the rail out with jockeys, trainers and odds are:

1. Heavens Uncle, Bryan Candanosa, Guillermo Valdivia, 8-1
2. Flirtacious Showboat, Jorge Torres, Clint Crawford, 9-2
3. Flying Wrangler, Eugenio Navarette, Stacey Capps, 6-1
4. Apocalyptical Moon, Francisco Calderon, James "JJ" Gonzalez III, 7-2
5. RR Eagles Path, Roman Cruz, Erik Rodriguez-Garcia, 20-1
6. Iteas Jessy, James Flores, Valdivia, 15-1
7. Coronita KO, Edwin Escobedo, Leo Alcala, 10-1
8. Cowgirls Can Fly, Noe Garcia, Alcala, 3-1
9. Js Freightrain, Ali Rivera, Alcala, 15-1
10. My Fancy Corona, Javier Hernandez-Gallardo, Michelle Hurdle, 8-1

There are a total of nine stakes races Saturday that will be run as a part of the 12-race card, worth $1,714,925 in purses overall. The Remington Park Futurity is scheduled as the 12th race of the night at approximately 11:18 p.m.-Central.

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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.