Racing


PHQ Goodbye Earl Crushes Field In American Paint Classic
PHQ Goodbye Earl, under jockey Jesus Salazar, winning the Grade 1 American Paint Classic Futurity at Remington Park Saturday night.

© Dustin Orona Photography
PHQ Goodbye Earl Crushes Field In American Paint Classic

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—APRIL 30, 2016—Trainer Dee Keener saddled six of the 10 participants in Saturday’s Grade 1, $104,200 American Paint Classic Futurity at Remington Park. Half of his charges came through to comprise the top three finishers, led by PHQ Goodbye Earl, a rousing 1-1/4 length winner.

Owned by the Paint Horse Queens of Coweta, Okla., trained and bred in Oklahoma by Keener, and ridden by Jesus Salazar, PHQ Goodbye Earl actually broke his maiden status in winning the American Paint Classic, presented by the Paint Stallion Breeders Association. The 2-year-old gelding pulled clear midway through the 350-yard race despite beginning to drift in from his outside (No. 9) post position.

The winning connections of PHQ Goodbye Earl accept the American Paint Futurity stakes trophy at Remington Park Saturday. © Dustin Orona Photography
“I liked it (the outside post), you don’t have to worry about much trouble,” Salazar said of being the outside runner in the field of nine. “But the last time he was in the outside post, he got left. Today he left there running and after the good break, I knew we had a really good shot.”

PHQ Goodbye Earl crossed the finish in :17.615 seconds over the fast track. DTL Fast Flyin Texas was second with DTL Batter Up another length behind for third to complete the Dee Keener-trained trifecta finish.

Away at 7-1 odds in the wagering, PHQ Goodbye Earl paid $16.40 to win, $5.40 to place and $3.60 to show. DTL Fast Flyin Tex returned $10.40 to place and $5.40 to show. DTL Batter Up returned $4.80 to show.

The 6-5 wagering favorite was DTL Josie Wales who was the top qualifier in time trials on April 15. He was away poorly with a stumbling beginning and finished a disappointing sixth.

The winner’s check of $39,596 for PHQ Goodbye Earl boosted his four-race career earnings to $46,804. He is a son of Awesome Chrome from the Judys Lineage mare Sayonara.

Sturgis Scores American Paint Classic Derby

Sturgis rolled down the center of the track with a powerful stretch run as an upset winner of the $38,600 PSBA Paint Derby for 3-year old Paints at 400 yards Saturday night at Remington Park.

Jose Vega rides Sturgis to victory in the Grade 1 PSBA American Paint Derby. © Dustin Orona Photography
Trained by Dee Keener and ridden by Jose Vega, Sturgis is a gelded son of Dos Poruno, out of the Country Quick Dash mare, Biker Chick. The winner is owned by Paint Horse Queens of Coweta, Okla., a partnership of Traci Wright, wife of breeder Steven Wright and Wendy Ingersol Keener, wife of trainer Dee Keener.

Sturgis covered the 400 yards over a fast track in :19.897 seconds and the derby first-place check of $14,668 pushed his lifetime earnings to $47,691 with two wins in 11 starts. Both wins have taken place consecutively this season at Remington Park.

The winning connections of Sturgis accept the PSBA American Paint Derby stakes trophy at Remington Park Saturday. © Dustin Orona Photography
Sent off at 10-1 odds, Sturgis won by a half-length and paid $22.60 to win, $10.80 to place and $5.80 to show. Royal Snowman was second at 16-1 and paid $12.20 to place and $6.20 to show. Imahotchicken, the 9-5 favorite, dueled early but tired and paid $2.40 to show.

“The 4 (Imahotchicken) had us beat away from there,” Vega noted. “We had to come catch her. Once we got to her about 150 yards from the wire, we just went on with it.”

The Remington Park racing weekend wraps up with a Sunday program on May 1, beginning at 1:30pm.

Open daily for casino gaming and simulcast racing, Remington Park features the Bricktown Brewery on the casino floor. Admission, general parking and valet parking are always free at Remington Park, home of the historic $414,000 Oklahoma Futurity. The 75th running of the oldest futurity in Quarter Horse racing takes place on Saturday, March 26, 2016.

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Tracked by over 94,000 fans on Facebook and 7,000 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided over $146 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Oklahoma City’s only Racetrack & Casino and 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.