OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—MARCH 21, 2020—Eagles Fly Higher kept the longshot theme of the night intact with his win in the Grade 2, $55,680 Eastex Stakes at Remington Park on Saturday night.

Prior to Eagles Fly Higher winning the next-to-last race on a 10-race card, horses had won races at odds of 29-1, 10-1, 27-1, 35-1 and 18-1. So, winning at 32-1 odds was just falling in line with the rest of those high-paying winners.

Jockey Mario Delgado guided this horse from the outside 10-post to an easy win by 1-1/2 lengths over Corona by Corona, who was 6-1in the betting. VF Jedi Returns, at 7-2, got up for third, just a half-length behind the runner-up. The wagering favorite, Mpshinning at 9-5 odds, could only get fourth in this bunch.

Eagles Fly Higher handled the 350 yards on a fast track in :17.276, good for a speed index of 97.

Delgado was riding for owner Darling Farms of Lamont, Okla., and trainer Casey Black. It was this 4-year-old American Quarter Horse’s fifth win in 16 attempts and he earned $34,530 for the victory.

Sired by One Famous Eagle, out of the First Down Dash mare Lone Bet, this horse had not won a race since 2018 when he was victorious in a futurity trial at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, on Oct. 20, about a year and a half ago.

With his earnings Saturday night, Eagles Fly Higher boosted his career wallet to $340,476. He was bred in Oklahoma by V.H. Harman Jr. and Robert Moudy III. It was the first win in the Eastex for all connections. Eagles Fly Higher paid $66.80 to win, $28.20 to place and $14.40 to show.

Stakes winner Corona By Corona earned $9,910 for his second-place effort. Roberto Treto trains the Corona Cartel 4-year-old for owners Christina Flores and Cesar Nunez. Bento Baca had the riding call aboard the Utah-bred earner of $138,324. McCloee Land & Livestock LLC bred the bay gelding from the Jess Louisiana Blue mare Louisana Corona.

Vf Jedi Returns put in a good effort form the inside rail under jockey Juan Pulido, to earn $6,331. Rex Brooks conditions the High Rate Of Return 4-year-old for owner Julio Contreras. Victory Farms bred the sorrel gelding in Oklahoma from the Corona Cartel mare Corona Couture.

Mpshinning, Uncle Eds Idea, Hes Limitless, Hooked On A Win, American Hussle, Accountably and Doing What I Like completed the field.

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The Eastex is named after the winner of the 1984 All American Futurity who at one time was the sport’s all-time leading money earner. He held the record for most money earned by a 2-year-old until 2008. Eastex retired in his home state, living out his years in Norman, Okla. He often led the post parade of the race named in his honor before passing away at age 32, in 2013.

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Tracked by more than 162,000 fans on Facebook and more than 10,100 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $242 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 will host the 2020 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season from March 6 through May 30. For more information, reservations and group bookings please call 405-424-1000, 866-456-9880 or visit remingtonpark.com.