Jockey Osvaldo Quinonez-Lopez wins his first career race aboard Kool Ka Ching (2) on Sunday, May 4, 2025 at Remington Park.

© Dustin Orona Photography/Remington Park

By Richard Linihan

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK–MAY 7, 2025–The excitement was overflowing as fellow jockeys hit rider Osvaldo Quinonez-Lopez with a wave of ice water when he returned from his first career Quarter Horse win aboard Kool Ka Ching on Sunday at Remington Park.

For his impressive victory and experiencing the winner’s circle for the first time, Quinonez-Lopez has been awarded with the Lip Chip Jockey of the Week honor along with Cristian Alcala as Lip Chip Trainer of the Week. Alcala won with an amazing 70 percent of the horses he sent out.

It was a tight race in both categories as two-time Jockey of the Week and leading rider here, Juan Pulido, recorded 10 victories in 19 starts, including a win in the Grade 1, $100,880 Leo Stakes aboard multiple black-type winner this meet, Mr Michel.

It easily could have been his third Lip Chip award in a row, but in this case the first win ever gets the recognition.

On the trainer side, Tyler Stein and James J. Gonzales II, were equally as strong candidates. Stein won with all three of his starters this past week and Gonzales II brought home winners from three of his four for a 75 percent rate.

Osvaldo Quinonez-Lopez weighs out as a winner for the first time on Sunday at Remington Park.
© Dustin Orona Photography

Quinonez-Lopez’s first career win was his only trip to the winner’s circle in six tries this week, but it was a happy one. The thrill of victory for Quinonez-Lopez was more than evident as he was all smiles when he was greeted by the jockey colony after the win.

The young jockey set down Kool Ka Ching right out of the gate in the 300-yard race and never was headed, outlasting the field of $10,000 claimers by three-quarters of a length at 10-1 odds. He won for trainer Juliana Mancillas and owners Rigoberto Camacho and Susana Cordova on Sunday in the eighth race.

Kool Ka Ching hit the wire in :15.421 seconds over the fast track. The Oklahoma-bred sorrel mare by Duponte, out of the First Smart Money mare, First Kool Money, earned a speed-index of 93.

Alcala scored four victories in one night, all with Pulido in the saddle, including that Leo Stakes win with Mr Michel on Saturday. All 10 of the horses he sent to the track this past week finished in the money (first, second or third).

Mr Michel, a 6-year-old Indiana-bred gelded son of Kiss My Hocks, out of the Likenothinyoueversaw mare, Lovemelikethat, was a two-time stakes winner this meet when he hit the line first in the Leo. He also won the Grade 2 SLM Big Daddy Stakes on March 9 during the opening weekend of the season. Mr Michel is owned by Alberto Valadez.

Live racing continues this week with two special post times. On Thursday and Friday, the post time has been moved up to 5 p.m. in order to accommodate getting 13 races in each night – all Heritage Place Futurity trials. These are 350-yard races for 2-year-old American Quarter Horses, trying to qualify for the Grade 1, $1,161,010 Heritage Place Futurity on the season’s final night, Saturday, May 31. The fastest five horses from each night will make the final. The post time Saturday returns to 6 p.m. and as always, post time on Sunday is 4 p.m. All times are Central.

ABOUT REMINGTON PARK
Remington Park has provided more than $377 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 year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. The 2025 American Quarter Horse Season, features the $1,161,010 Heritage Place Futurity on May 31, the final night of this meet. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.

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