AJ Remember Me Puts In Memorable Performance As Fastest Qualifier For $259,655 Oklahoma Derby At Remington Park

© Dustin Orona Photography

By Richard Linihan

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK–MARCH 8, 2026– The best was saved for last as AJ Remember Me burst to the lead under jockey Juan Pulido in the final trial of the night for the $259,655 Oklahoma Derby, putting up a blazingly fast and best time of the night in :17.430 seconds at 350 yards over a fast track. The colt earned a 94 speed index for his efforts.

The Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby will run as a part of a multiple stakes card on Saturday, March 21. The night is headlined by the 85^th-running of the Grade 2, $435,395 Oklahoma Futurity, the longest running futurity in American Quarter Horse racing lore.

AJ Remember Me’s trainer, Josue Garcia, had to wait out an objection claimed by Trackmaster B, alleging interference immediately after the start. After video review, the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission stewards determined the foul claim would not be upheld. That was the best news for AJ Remember Me’s connections, including owner Corinna Sosa of Blanchard, Okla. It was the fourth win in eight starts for the impressive winner. The 3-year-old California-bred colt had already made a case for himself in the past for being a classy horse. The son of Apollitical Jess, out of the Tres Seis mare Remember Robyn, is bred top and bottom to be a runner that flies down the track. His past races are an indication of that.

AJ Remember Me broke his maiden easily by a full length at first asking at Remington Park on March 28, 2025 and was then shipped to the mountain at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico. He won a Ruidoso Futurity trial by the same length in his second career start and then ran third in the Grade 1, $1 million Ruidoso Futurity final. He was close to winning his next two starts, losing by a head and then by a half-length. He found the winner’s circle once again in a trial for the Grade 1, $2 Million Futurity at Los Alamitos on the West Coast in California, before finishing second, beaten just a head in the lucrative final at 28-1 odds.

The record for AJ Remember Me coming into Sunday’s Oklahoma Derby trials was seven starts, three wins, two seconds and two thirds for earnings of $449,745. He was purchased from the Heritage Place September Yearling Sale of 2024 for $120,000.

Luziana Man put up the top time in the first of the seven Oklahoma Derby trials but it could not hold up to the effort of AJ Remember Me in the final trial.

Second-fastest qualifier Luziana Man delivered a strong performance in the opening trial, breaking in second before quickly taking command and holding his advantage to the wire to win by three-quarters of a length. The gelding stopped the clock in :17.711 while posting an 86 speed index. Bred by Jerry West, Luziana Man is owned by Rosalio Espinosa and Jerry Deville Jr., trained by Jose Lopez and ridden by Bryan Candanosa. A $13,500 graduate of the LQHBA Yearling Sale, the gelding is by graded stakes placed runner Dominyun and out of new track record setter and graded stakes winner Jewels Fortune ($218,276). Luziana Man is also a half-brother to stakes winners Louisiana Jewels ($312,725), Cartels Fortune ($128,750), and Big Daddy Jewel ($69,620).

Emerald Bay secured the third-fastest qualifying time after winning the fourth trial, stopping the clock in :17.713 and posting an 86 speed index. The filly races for Wishbone Partnership and is trained by Dee Keener with James Flores aboard. Bred by Mike Vaughn, Emerald Bay is a $60,000 repurchase from the Heritage Place Yearling Sale. She is by leading sire Flying Cowboy 123 and is a half-sister to stakes-placed runners Acapulco Bay ($106,133) and Brisa De Mar ($53,074). Her second dam is stakes winner Aquafina ($188,336), a full sister to World Champion Wave Carver ($1,005,946) and Champion Ocean Runaway ($1,642,498). The filly’s female line also traces back to Champion Uncle D ($689,165) and AQHA Dam of Distinction and Broodmare of the Year Runaway Wave ($79,183).

The seven trials were conducted in southerly headwinds between 13-17mph.

The other nine qualifiers in Sunday’s Oklahoma Derby trials for 3-year-old Quarter Horses (with jockey, trainer, trial number-race number, times and speed index were):

• Luziana Man, Bryan Candanosa, Jose U. Lopez, trial one (race three), :17.711, 86
• Emerald Bay, James Flores, Dee Keener, trial four (race six), :17.713, 86
• DR Cocktail Hour, Jesus Ayala, Jed Vane, trial three (race five), :17.735, 86
• A Desperate Eagle, Juan Pulido, Josue Garcia, trial four (race six), :17.788, 84
• Toby Two, Bryan Candanosa, Jose U. Lopez, trial seven (race nine), :17.834, 83
• West Texas Royalty, Juan Pulido, Josue Garcia, trial one (race three), :17.835, 83
• Rowdi, Angel O. Ramirez, Tyler Stein, trial seven (race nine), :17.840, 83
• Chillithang, Ricky Ramirez, Joe M. Davis, trial one (race three), :17.856, 82
• Calling Chicks, Roman Cruz, Buddy Clay, trial four (race six), :17.875, 82

Remington Park racing continues March 12-15, Thursday through Sunday. The first post time is 6 p.m. nightly with the exception of Sundays when the first race goes off at 4 p.m. All times are Central.

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