Article Courtesy Stallion E Search
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—MAY 22, 2016— Longshot Im Beau Brown (2012 Winter Mixed Sale) used a sharp start and then refused to back away from the front in the $107,820 Bank of America Oklahoma Challenge Championship (G2) on Sunday at Remington Park. The 6-year-old gelding prevailed by a nose at 29-1 odds, with six more rivals gaining within a length of him at the finish.
Owned by Desiderio Nava of LaSalle, Colo. and trained by Julio Corral, Im Beau Brown was ridden by Juan Pulido. He held off Rockin Disco at the finish line, denying him a repeat victory in the race he won a year ago. I Bleed Red, a maiden, was a just another head back in third place. Im Beau Brown handled the distance in :22.046 seconds over a fast track.
Im Beau Brown paid $60.80 to win, $22.60 to place and $13.80 to show. Rockin Disco returned $6 to place and $5.40 to show. I Bleed Red paid $17.20 to show. Exquisite Stride was the beaten betting favorite at 6-5 odds.
Bred in Missouri by Larry Kist, Im Beau Brown is by Pyc Paint Your Wagon from the This Snow Is Royal mare Special Smoothie. The win in the Grade 2, $107,820 Bank of America Oklahoma Challenge is his sixth from 30 career starts. He earned $49,597 to move his total bankroll to $142,289.
Multiple graded winner Rockin Disco (2011 Quarter Horse Yearling) earned $21,564 for his second place effort. Tammy Johnson saddled the Rock Solid Jess 6-year-old for Rockin J Running Horses and Jack Manning. Vwp Jr. Inc. bred the gelding in Oklahoma from the Check Him Out mare Check This Disco. Jose Vega was aboard the $247,143 earner.
Twisted S Ranch’s I Bleed Red (2012 Quarter Horse Yearling Sale) picked up $10,728 for third. Luis Villafranco trains the son of Red Storm Cat out of Secret In Stone, by Special Leader. Mario Delgado had the riding assignment aboard the Marty and Shalia Powers Oklahoma-bred.
Exquisite Stride, A Royal Country Man, Admiral Zoomwalt, Valiant Approach, Jess Rockn and Savanna Slim completed the field. Jp In Hot Pursuit was scratched.
Remington Park also hosted the Grade 3 Zoetis Oklahoma Challenge and the Grade 3 Merial Oklahoma Distaff Challenge on Sunday’s race card. For additional Challenge coverage on StallioneSearch.com CLICK HERE.
The longest racing week of the Remington Park season takes place next week, Thursday, May 26 thru Memorial Day Monday, May 30. Sunday racing features $360,000 in purse money over five stakes events, including the rescheduled $100,000 Sooner State Stakes.
The first race nightly is at 6pm with afternoon racing on Sunday and Memorial Day underway at 1:30pm.
Open daily for casino gaming and simulcast racing, Remington Park features the Bricktown Brewery on the casino floor. Admission, general parking and valet parking are always free at Remington Park, home of the historic $414,000 Oklahoma Futurity. The 75th running of the oldest futurity in Quarter Horse racing takes place on Saturday, March 26, 2016.