Hooked N Gone, shown winning the Grade 1 Remington Park Derby in April 2023, posted the fastest 220-yard workout over the Remington Park surface on Friday, February 23, 2024.

© Dustin Orona Photography

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—FEBRUARY 23, 2024—Three-time stakes winner Hooked N Gone, who won the restricted Grade 1 Remington Park Derby last year here, made the work tab on Friday with a 220-yard breeze.

Hooked N Gone, a 4-year-old gelding by Pyc Paint Your Wagon, out of the Pretty Boy Perry mare Pretty Girl Kate, won that Remington Park Derby under the guidance of trainer Victor Ibarra.

In his last race before this upcoming meet, he was saddled by 12-time top trainer at Remington Park, Eddie Willis, in the Grade 1 Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos in California. Willis also had Hooked N Gone in Ruidoso Downs, N.M., last summer when he raced third in the Grade 1 All American Derby.

Hooked N Gone breezed 220 yards in a time of :11.98 Friday morning. The bullet work for the day at that distance was Famous Mystery at :11.23 handily from the gate.

Famous Mystery is a 2-year-old filly, working toward her first start for trainer Cody Noel. She is by Kiss My Hocks, who won 9-of-his-12 starts, earning more than $1 million. Among Famous Mystery’s sire’s wins was the Grade 1 Rainbow Derby, the Grade 1 Ruidoso Futurity and a second in the Grade 1 Rainbow Futurity.

Hooked N Gone’s other two stakes wins came in the Remington Park Juvenile Stakes in 2022 and the Z Wayne Griffin Directors Trial Stakes at Los Alamitos in California. Jockey Justine Klaiber was aboard for Willis when he won the Z Wayne Griffin last fall. Klaiber finished 10th in the Remington Park jockeys’ standings last year with 18 wins and her horses earned $547,019, also 10th.

Hooked N Gone’s record coming into the Remington Park American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa meet that starts Thursday, March 7 is 18 starts, five wins, seven seconds and one third for $501,043 in earnings. He was ridden to victory in the Remington Park Derby by Cristian Esqueda for owner Regina Laymon of Neosha Falls, Kan.

The Remington Park Derby is a race restricted to 3-year-old Oklahoma-bred Quarter Horses. He won that race by a half-length at 4-1 odds. The 8-5 favorite Aristides could do no better than third behind runner-up longshot (21-1) Defours.

Esqueda finished 13th in the jockey standings last year with 14 wins from 144 starts. Esqueda finished ninth in money earned as his horses bankrolled $562,705.

Other bullet workers this past week with impressive times included Sheza Fearless Eagle on Thursday, covering 250 yards from the gate in :13.25 seconds handily.

In comparison to the fastest training race winner on the same day, it was the Paint named Painted To Be Quick, who stopped the timer in :13.549 at the same distance. Granted, one was morning and one was afternoon.

Sheza Fearless Eagle, a 2-year-old filly by One Fabulous Eagle has been listed with trainer Ivan Manriquez-Garay for owner Jill Cook.

Also hitting about the same time for the fastest work of the day on Wednesday was Patriotic View, going 250 yards in :13.21 handily from the gate. The fastest training race time that day, later in the afternoon, was Quarter Horse Kolly’s Capi in :13.693, and again, the track may have played differently from morning to afternoon.

Patriotic View is a 3-year-old gelded son of Jet Black Patriot, listed in Noel’s barn.

The 50-date Remington Park season will continue through June 1.

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Remington Park has provided more than $344 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.