Preview Racing


Oklahoma Futurity Winner Ima China Rush Returns In Monday’s Fl Lady Bug Stakes
Grade 3 winner Ima China Rush is set to start in Monday's 61,800 FL Lady Bug Stakes at Remington Park.

© Dusitn Orona Photography
Oklahoma Futurity Winner Ima China Rush Returns In Monday’s Fl Lady Bug Stakes

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—MAY 27, 2017—Remington Park features a special Memorial Day racing program with multiple stakes events for Oklahoma-bred American Quarter Horses. The $61,800 FL Lady Bug Stakes features 2-year-olds, including Ima China Rush, this season’s Oklahoma Futurity winner.

Owned and bred by Sherry Gilmore of Sallisaw, Okla. and trained by Guillermo Valdivia, Ima China Rush romped in her qualifying trial for the Oklahoma Futurity before winning the $525,000 final on March 25. She returns on Memorial Day after tasting defeat for the first time in the Laico Bird Stakes on April 22.

Jockey Larry Payne will have his normal mount on Ima China Rush as she attempts 330-yards for the second time after her near-miss runner-up performance by a head at the same distance in the Laico Bird Stakes. Ima China Rush is a 9-2 odds in the morning-line for the FL Lady Bug.

The morning-line favorite for the FL Lady Bug is the runner-up from the $100,000 Remington Park Juvenile, Streaks Of Ivory. Owned by Jon and Brant Barley of Asbury, Mo. and trained by John Weghorst, Streak Of Ivory will be ridden by James Flores, her regular jockey.

The FL Lady Bug is named in honor of a foundation broodmare from the 1940s who was integral for the success of Hall of Fame owners and breeders Marvin and Lela Barnes of Ada, Okla. The field for the 2017 FL Lady Bug by post-position and program order, with trainer, jockey and morning-line odds:

  1. Dee Favorite Girl: Luis Villafranco, Mario Delgado, 6-1
  2. Chasin My Desire: Luz Chavira, jockey to be named, 15-1
  3. PV Queen Bee Candy: Clint Crawford, Daniel Torres, 8-1
  4. The Only Knockout: Jose Ibarra, Agustin Silva, 9-2
  5. Black Gold Okie: Gregg Sanders, G.R. Carter, 10-1
  6. First Of 15: Jason Olmstead, Brayan Velazquez, 8-1
  7. Ima China Rush: Guillermo Valdivia, Larry Payne, 9-2
  8. Nota Lota Ear: Dee Keener, Rolando Raudales, 15-1
  9. First Dutch: Brian Muse, Josh Romero, 10-1
  10. Streaks Of Ivory: John Weghorst, James Flores, 7-2 (morning-line favorite)

Joining the FL Lady Bug Stakes on the Memorial Day schedule at Remington Park will be the $61,800 Boyd Morris Memorial Stakes for 3-year-olds and older at 400 yards; the $61,800 Easy Date Stakes for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and older, at 350 yards; and the $50,000 Jack Brooks Stakes for 3-year-olds at 350 yards. The first race on Memorial Day is at 3pm-Central. The holiday racing week continues Saturday, May 27 thru Memorial Day Monday, May 29. The first race Saturday, May 27 is at 6pm. Sunday racing on May 28 is at 1:30pm. Then the special holiday card on Memorial Day, May 29 starts at 3pm.The first race Friday, May 19 is at 6pm with the $30,000 Mister Lewie Memorial Stakes for Paints & Appaloosas at 400 yards. The action on Saturday, May 20 starts earlier than normal at 4pm with the special simulcast of the Preakness Stakes from Pimlico in Baltimore featured at 5:45pm. Sunday, May 21 is Fiesta at Remington Park with the first race at 1:30pm.

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Tracked by over 124,000 fans on Facebook and 8,800 Twitter followers, Remington Park is the home of the Grade 1, $1,000,000 Heritage Place Futurity on June 3. Remington Park has provided over $167 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Open daily at 10:30am with free parking and admission, Oklahoma City’s only Racetrack & Casino is located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District. For more information, reservations and group bookings please call 405-424-1000, 866-456-9880 or visit remingtonpark.com.