OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—APRIL 21, 2018—A tremendous start allowed DF AJ Green Leaves to control the lead and roll to victory in the $317,400 Remington Park Derby on Saturday night as a longshot at 45-1 odds.

Owned by Darling Farms of Lamont, Okla. and trained by James Padgett, DF AJ Green Leaves was ridden by Omar Reyes who noted the victory was due to the 3-year-old filly’s start.

"She broke really, really good. As soon as the gates opened she was out there and I just stayed after her and she finished well," Reyes said. "She got the good start, finished well, and we got the win."

DF AJ Green Leaves opened up on her nine Oklahoma-bred rivals early in the 400-yard derby and pulled away to win by 1-1/4 lengths.

"This is a super-nice filly and the key to her is the start," Padgett said. "If she leaves like that, she’s tough to beat. When she left in front, I was saying ‘come on wire, please get there."

First Of 15, another longshot at 57-1 odds, chased the winner home in second, a head better than third-place finisher Hot Dam Bam A Lam.

DF AJ Green Leaves returned $92 to win, $52.20 to place and $10.20 to show. First Of 15 paid $80.20 to place and $24.80 to show. Hot Dam Bam A Lam paid $7 to show. Political Attraction was the even-money betting favorite, finishing seventh in the field of 10.

A daughter of leading sire Apollitical Jess from the Tres Seis mare Three Green Leaves, DF AJ Green Leaves was bred in Oklahoma by Kelly/Yearsley Equine. She won her second career race from 10 attempts and made $126,960 in the derby. Overall, DF AJ Green Leaves has now made $156,336.

Reyes won his second straight Remington Park Derby, having ridden the 2017 winner, Apollitical Scout. DF AJ Green Leaves gave the rest of his connections their first triumph in the Remington Park Derby.

Runner-up First Of 15 is a sister to Lynder 16 to won the $864,500 Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Futurity(RG2) (see related story in the prior race tonight.

Jason Olmstead conditions the Apollitical Jess filly for owner Richard Tobin. James and Marilyn Helzer bred the sorrel filly from the Corona Cartel mare Tinys Corona Queen. The $59,958 second-place payday more than doubled First Of 15's earnings to $86,715. Cristian Esqueda was up.

Third-place finisher Hot Dam Bam A Lam is homebred racing for owner Gene Cox. Donnie Lee Strickland trains and Andrew Samaniego rode the Captain Courage gelding out of Hot Nova by Hot Colours. The black gelding picked up $34,914 for his effort.

The complete order for the Remington Park Derby, for 3-year-old Oklahoma-breds: DF AJ Green Leaves, First Of 15, Hot Dam Bam A Lam, EOS A Political Win, She Eat Fire, Cloud Ridge, Political Attraction, Express Train No 9, Olivias Jett and VF Zeus.

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Sunday, April 22 is Extreme Racing Day 2018 at Remington Park as the exotic animals compete throughout the afternoon, in between the regular American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa races. The exhibition races will begin the day at 1pm with the Express Ranch Clydesdales’ Match Race. The regular horse racing program starts at 1:30pm.

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Tracked by over 136,000 fans on Facebook and more than 9,600 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided over $189 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Remington Park, Oklahoma City’s only Racetrack & Casino, is home to the $934,500 Remington Park Futurity on Saturday, April 21. Located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, Remington Park is 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.