OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—MARCH 28, 2020—MM Fourinthemorning, the 2018 winner of the $1 million Rainbow Futurity at Ruidoso Downs, N.M., and a qualifier to the $3 million All American Futurity there, made his racing debut at Remington Park a winning one Saturday night.

The 4-year-old gelded son of Mr Jess Perry, out of the Corona Cartel mare Easeful Dinastia, was sent off as the 7-5 betting favorite in the Grade 1 All American Futurity in 2018, the richest race on the American Quarter Horse calendar annually, after winning his trial by 2-¼ lengths. He was ridden to victory Saturday night in the ninth race by jockey Ricky Ramirez.

MM Fourinthemorning, races out of trainer Blane Wood’s barn for owners Mark and Annette McCloy of Jal, N.M. He was, by far, the top money earner in the field of 12 that went to post Saturday night with a lifetime bankroll of $597,183.

Amazingly, he was sent off at generous odds of 3-1, despite preparing for his 2020 debut as a 4-year-old and his first race at Remington Park with a bullet workout on Feb. 21. He went 220 yards in :11.48 that morning, the fastest time of 58 horses that worked that distance.

MM Fourinthemorning earned $9,522 in the allowance-optional $35,000 claiming race to push his earnings past the $600,000 mark at $606,705. MM Fourinthemorning managed a neck victory over Tres Jazz at 15-1 and was another nose in front of third-place finisher Black Cazador at 10-1 odds. The winner covered the 350 yards in :17.461 for a 92 speed index. He now has won 4-of-10 starts in his career with one second and a third.

MM Fourinthemorning paid $8 to win, $4.80 to place and $3.60 to show. He was bred in New Mexico by his owners.

Big Night for New Remington Park Jockeys

Also Saturday, it was a big night for another jockey named Ramirez. Armando Ramirez II had only three mounts on the card, but won on all three horses, taking the second, third and seventh races. He was in the irons of BG Unleash the Beast (Appaloosa), Eye Dynasty and Empressum. The latter was a first-time starter who stopped the timer in a swift :12.98 for 250 yards, the fastest time of the meet at that distance. It was only 15-hundredths of a second off the track record of :12.839 set by Win Rabbits Fly on March 13, 2016.

Empressum, a 2-year-old colt by Apollitical Jess, out of the First Down Dash mare Crazy Down Corona, won the seventh race by 1-3/4 lengths, earning a 102 speed index. Ramirez II rode Empressum for trainer Guillermo Valdivia and owner Jeff Jones and Steve Holt of Guthrie, Okla. He was bred in Oklahoma by the owners.

Jockey Brett Birzer also made jaws drop Saturday when he brought home the winner of race eight at 47-1 odds, EC Greys Anatomy. He got up by a head over another huge-priced horse in Weepaintedasign at 49-1. That $2 exacta paid $3,699.20. The 50-cent trifecta with Peanuts NV at 10-1 getting up for third was worth an $8,841.25 payout. The 10-cent superfecta with the 1-10-4 and all in the fourth spot paid $2,812.49. The eighth race payout in the 50-cent Pick 3 rewarded bettors with $1,038.35.

Remington Park racing is scheduled to continue, with no public spectators, with Sunday’s 10-race card starting at 1:30pm-Central. The carryover in the 20-cent Sooner 6ix wager will be $23,752.

Editor's note: A photo of this race will be posted when it becomes available form the track photographer.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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.