The Thursday evening card at Remington Park will showcase an eleven-race program highlighted by a historic milestone—the first-ever Remington Park Appaloosa Futurity trials.

© Dustin Orona Photography

By Stallionesearch / Louanne Wainscott

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK–April 4, 2026 —The Thursday evening card at Remington Park will showcase an eleven-race program highlighted by a historic milestone—the first-ever Remington Park Appaloosa Futurity trials. Thirteen Appaloosa juveniles are set to compete across two trial heats at 250 yards, featured in races three and four, all vying to secure one of the ten fastest qualifying times for a return to the $20,000-added Remington Park Appaloosa Futurity final on April 24.

The opening heat brings forward Three R Tyme Wil Tell as the 2-1 morning line favorite. The filly enters with experience under her belt, having debuted during opening weekend, where she finished fourth, beaten just one and three-quarters lengths after being outdueled late for a placing. Prior to that effort, she posted a strong training race, finishing second while clocking a 13.90.

Bred and owned by Jeff Adams, the Oklahoma-bred filly is sired by Cyber Monday (QH) and out of R Sassy Corona (APHC), a daughter of Pyc Paint Your Wagon. Trainer Dee Keener will saddle the filly from post four with veteran rider James A. Flores aboard.

In the second heat, carded as race four, Union Willy draws attention as the 2-1 morning line favorite. The Oklahoma-bred gelding has yet to make a start but has turned heads in the mornings with a pair of sharp gate works at 220 yards, both stopping the clock in under 12 seconds, an impressive display of early speed heading into his debut.

Bred and owned by Pete Crane, Union Willy is sired by El Camino Cl (QH) and out of Desert Empress by Divo. He will also represent the Dee Keener barn and breaks from post three under jockey Mario Delgado.

While the spotlight falls on the individual contenders, the broader significance of the evening reaches far beyond the starting gate. The trials mark a defining moment in the resurgence of Appaloosa racing at a major venue, signaling renewed opportunity and enthusiasm within the industry.

“This is more than just a race; it’s a statement for the future of Appaloosa racing,” said Sonja Berry, president of Oklahoma Appaloosa Racing. “The inaugural running of the Remington Park Appaloosa Futurity is the first new all-Appaloosa futurity in decades. We’ve seen strong support from horsemen across Oklahoma, Colorado, and Texas, all coming together to be part of something special at Oklahoma’s premier track.”

The race is sponsored by the Oklahoma Appaloosa Racing Network (OAR Network), a passionate coalition of Appaloosa horsemen dedicated to revitalizing the breed’s presence on the racetrack. Their efforts, fueled in part by an annual stallion service auction, have made this race and others possible. The organization extended appreciation to the stallion owners, managers, and mare owners whose participation continues to support and grow the program.

Looking ahead, the momentum shows no signs of slowing. The OAR Network has already begun planning two additional stakes races, further strengthening the foundation for Appaloosa racing’s return to prominence.

As the gates open Thursday night, the thirteen juveniles won’t just be chasing qualifying times; they’ll be part of a movement aimed at restoring a proud tradition. The road to April 24 begins here, but for Appaloosa racing, this moment represents something even bigger: a long-awaited comeback.

The races at Remington Park can be watched on Q-Racing Video.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Would you like more industry news delivered directly to your inbox? Click here to sign up.