Uncle Eds Idea, ridden by Erik Esqueda, gets his 13th career win in a 400-yard allowance on Friday night at Remington Park.

© Dustin Orona Photography

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK–MARCH 28, 2025–Uncle Eds Idea has shown a proclivity for finding the winner’s circle, although he has seemed to have a true aversion to the one at Remington Park.

That was not the case on Friday night, however, as the 8-year-old gelding won for the 13th time in his career, but only the second time in 13 tries in Oklahoma City. Most horse racing afficionados are familiar with the term horse for the course.

Uncle Eds Idea has been the horse not for the course at Remington Park. Granted he has run second or third here six times in 13 races, but he has, for the most part, found a way to get beat.

The Texas-bred gelded son of Dominyun, out of the Mr Eye Opener mare Mystical Eye, seemed dead set on winning this night as jockey Erik Esqueda fired out of the gate with the oldest horse in the field of allowance runners who had not won a race since December 28, 2024. Maybe it was because Uncle Eds Idea was returning to a distance he loves. He won for the fourth time at 400 yards in 10 tries. He has run second in three other races at this distance.

Esqueda was spinning his wheels as the meet began, winning with only one of his first 32 starters. Then the combination of trainer Tammy Johnson and Esqueda turned into a little bit of magic.

Their streak together began this past Sunday when Esqueda booted home Twntyfour Karat Fun for Johnson in the third race. They followed that up with another trip to the winner’s circle with longshot Kaydees Eagle ($89 to win) on Thursday. For the third live racing night in a row, the pair were victorious. In a matter of three racing nights, Esqueda went from 1-for-32 to 4-for-40 (3% winners all the way up to 10%).

On Friday night, Uncle Eds Idea, owned and bred by Robert and Stacey Martin of Cresson, Texas, prevailed in the 400-yard race by a neck at 7-2 odds. He paid $9 to win, $5.20 to place and $2.80 to show.

The 2-1 favorite in the race, Runaway Wildfire (2-1), was unprepared as the gate opened and the bell went off. That 5-year-old gelding, after breaking a full length behind the winner, could never make up the lost ground, finishing fourth, beaten 1-1/4 lengths.

Getaway Piloto (6-1) checked in second, but was breathing down the neck of Uncle Eds Idea the whole way. Relentless Rocket (5-1) was another neck back in third.

Uncle Eds Idea improved his record overall record to 41 starts, 13 wins, nine seconds and five thirds for lifetime earnings of $361,946.  He bankrolled $15,690 on Friday night from the $29,690 allowance purse. It was the gelding’s first race of 2025, coming off a three-month layoff. He had a bullet workout at Remington Park on March 7, covering 220 yards in :11.61 seconds, handily. That was the fastest time of the day of 47 horses who tried that distance in the morning.

Remington Park racing continues Saturday and Sunday, March 29-30. The first race Saturday is 6pm with Sunday racing at 4pm. All times are Central. The Saturday program is headlined by a pair of challenge stakes races, part of the American Quarter Horse Association Challenge Championship Series.

ABOUT REMINGTON PARK
Remington Park has provided more than $376 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 $800,000 (estimated) Remington Park Futurity on Saturday, April 19. 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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