In D Mand (6) easily wins the 11th race on Sunday, May 24, 2026 at Remington Park, giving jockey Roman Cruz his fourth win on the program.

© Dustin Orona Photography

By Richard Linihan

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK–MAY 24, 2026– t’s fire to the feet time at Remington Park in the leading jockey race with only three racing days remaining in the 2026 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season.

Just a few weeks back, jockey Juan Pulido was running away with the race for top jockey of the meet, more than 20 wins ahead of everyone. In the last month, however, he has seen that lead melt away like an ice sculpture in the summer Oklahoma sun. Pulido’s lead was cut to five on Sunday over second-place jockey Roman Cruz despite the fact that Pulido won a race. Cruz was better on this day with four wins. It was the fourth day in a row that Cruz has won at least two races on the night.

Pulido takes a 52-47 lead into the final three days of racing next week. It could have been even tighter, however, as Cruz lost another race by a head. Cruz was not the only rider with a huge night Sunday. Mario Delgado solidified his spot in fourth in the standings with a four wins of his own. He has won 32 times this meet – seven ahead of fifth-place Bryan Candanosa and Cody Smith at 25 apiece. Delgado is one win behind Francisco Calderon in third with 33 trips to the winner’s circle.

Cruz’s winners started in the third race with Vexing Queen ($3 to win) for top trainer Dee Keener and owner 918 Bloodstock as the 1-2 odds-on favorite against claiming $15,000 non-winners of three, Paints and Appaloosas, going 300 yards. Vexing Queen won by three-quarters of a length. Vexing Queen was bred by Jay Ross.

Cruz’s next victory came in the very next race, the fourth, with CLA Red Earth ($7.60), who won by a full length as the 5-2 second favorite for trainer Albert Wright and owner Angel Alexander Hernandez. CLA Red Earth beat Oklahoma-bred maiden claiming $10,000 quarter horses going 400 yards. These were 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds. CLA Red Earth was bred in Oklahoma by Juan Cipriano.

Pulido broke up the Cruz win-fest by taking the sixth race, picking up a mount from Delgado on Black Wallstreet ($6.40) in an 870-yard race around the hook. Pulido pulled away to a 2-1/4 length victory on Black Wallstreet (2-1) for trainer Sam Mendoza and owner Team Hatley Racing Stables. That crew may have been the liveliest bunch to win a race on the day with shouting and celebrating that was heard all the way to the top of the six-story grandstand. Black Wallstreet was bred in Oklahoma by Jermaine Jackson.

Cruz then resumed his winning ways in the 10th and 11th races aboard Ivory Lips (7-1) and In D Mand (3-1 favorite) for trainers Jesus Ruiz and Gerardo Quinones-Sarmiento, respectively. Dixie Hensley of Coalgate, Okla., owns Ivory Lips ($16.60), who nosed out Maxximum George for the win against claiming $20,000 quarter horses that had not won three races lifetime. Ivory Lips was bred in Oklahoma by Louis Malechek III.

Then in the 11th race, Cruz booted home In D Mand ($8.60) to an easy one-length win over 2-year-old Quarter Horses that had not won two races lifetime. This race was in allowance company. The owner of In D Mand is Palomino Trucking (Miguel Palomino) of Oklahoma City. In D Mand was bred in Oklahoma by Cavenaugh Quarter Horses.

Delgado’s wins – Corona Cobra (2-1 favorite in fifth race, $6), Happy Jack (2-1 favorite in seventh, $6.20), A Painted Fling (6-5 favorite in the ninth, $4.60) and El Astno El Buchan (7-2, $9.40) in the 12th. His winners came for trainers Hernesto Ramirez (owner Rafael Haros, Mansfield, Texas); Justin Joiner (owners Scott and Jaime Bryant, Midland, Texas); Joiner (owners Calder and Candy Ezzell, Roswell, N.M.), and Ramirez (owner Tony Garcia, Ponca City, Okla.), respectively with those winners.

Corona Cobra was bred in Oklahoma by Bollenbach Farms. Happy Jack, A Painted Fling and El Astno El Buchan all were bred by their owners.

Remington Park racing continues Thursday through Saturday, May 28-30. The first race nightly is 6pm except for the final evening. Champions Night on May 30 will wrap the meet with a 5pm start and 12 races, all stakes events, led by the richest race in Oklahoma, the $1,158,940 Heritage Place Futurity.

About Remington Park
Remington Park has provided more than $411 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 $1,000,000 Heritage Place Futurity takes place on the final night of the spring season on Saturday, May 30. 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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