Apollitical Joy (4) wins the featured allowance race Thursday, March 12, 2026 at Remington Park under Juan Pulido.

© Dustin Orona Photography

By Richard Linihan

OKLAHOMA CITY, MARCH 13, 2026—Apollitical Joy had almost broken through for his third career win in his last start on the West Coast, losing by a neck. He had no trouble staying in front Thursday night at Remington Park, beating a strong allowance field in the feature race.

The 4-year-old gelded California-bred son of Apollitical Jess, out of the Walk Thru Fire mare Chalalita, had the lead in a 300-yard race at Los Alamitos in his last start before losing to Cyber Force by a neck at the wire on Dec. 6, 2025.

He raced against the same class Thursday night at Remington Park, but flipped the tables at 350 yards. This time Apollitical Joy outlasted the front-running Paint This Rose in a speed battle for the victory.

Apollitical Joy was the second of three wins of the night for jockey-trainer combo Juan Pulido and Josue Garcia with five starters. Garcia has started the meet with a barn that is en fuego.

Garcia’s stable won his first race of the season last week. He then won three-of-five on Thursday night, finishing the night with a record of six starts, four wins and one second for the meet that just started last week. Garcia started Thursday with Pulido riding the 2-1 favorite, Mr. Scar, in the fourth to an off-the-board finish.

The pair followed that with a narrow win in a maiden race with Apoliticalgolddigger (5-2 favorite, won by head) in the sixth race. They almost won the seventh race, finishing second in a tight photo finish as PYC Design (Even-money favorite) lost by a head. Apollitical Joy then won the featured ninth race and the duo concluded the night with Moneys Right (2-1 favorite) in the winner’s circle in the 10^th race.,

The three wins tonight, and five overall for the meet, puts Garcia in third place in the trainers’ standings behind only Leo Alcala and Dee Keener who share the lead with seven. Neither of the top two trainers had a victory Thursday.

Pulido took over the lead in the jockeys’ standings with his nine trips to the winner’s circle, three more than second-place Roman Cruz at six.

Apollitical Joy won the stakes-caliber allowance feature at a surprising 4-1 odds, paying $10.40 to win, $6.80 to place and $3.40 to show. The winner was three-quarters of a length ahead of runner-up Paint This Rose, who sprinted out of the gate in a battle for the lead the entire way with Apollitical Joy, who was the second-favorite at 3-1. Clareets Boy, the 7-5 favorite, was another nose back in third.=

Apollitical Joy stopped the timer in :17.626 over a fast track, earning an 89 speed index into a strong headwind. He earned $15,465 from the $29,900 purse and improved his lifetime record to 13 starts, three wins, four seconds and two thirds for $40,379 in earnings. This gelding was purchased by owner Jose Cervantes, Jr., of Oklahoma City for $67,000 from the Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale of 2023. He was bred by Rancho El Cabresto Inc.

Remington Park racing continues Friday through Sunday, March 13-15. The first post time is 6 p.m. nightly with the exception of Sunday when the first race goes off at 4 p.m. All times Central.

ABOUT REMINGTON PARK
Remington Park has provided more than $408 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. The 2026 Remington Park American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season is underway. The 85^th Oklahoma Futurity will be contested on Saturday, March 21. Remington Park presents year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. Guests must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or to enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.

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