© Dustin Orona Photography
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—MARCH 12, 2017—Bodacious Eagle easily won the Grade 2 Eastex Stakes on Sunday at Remington Park. Traditionally the first stakes race of the American Quarter Horse Season, the $50,252 event was never really in doubt.
Owned by Johnny Trotter of Hereford, Texas and trained by Trey Wood, Bodacious Eagle flew from the starting gate under jockey Ricky Ramirez. Leaving from the outside post position, Bodacious Eagle enjoyed the open spaces while rolling over the 350 yards in :17.579 seconds over a fast track.
“From the get-go he just broke in front and ran very strong,” Ramirez noted. “About halfway, I put him away and he just cruised in and finished strong.”
A 5-year-old gelding, there was some thought that Bodacious Eagle might have had his best racing days behind him, but Trotter points out he appears to be ready for more.
Bodacious Eagle handled his status as the wagering favorite at 6-5 odds, pulling away from The Fiscal Cliff to win by 1-1/2 lengths with I V Gone another head back in third. Bodacious Eagle paid $4.40 to win, $2.60 to place and $2.20 to show. The Fiscal Cliff returned $4.40 to place and $2.80 to show. I V Gone paid $3.40 to show.
Now a winner of nine career races from 21 attempts, Bodacious Eagle earned $29,838 to run his overall earnings to $709,819. An Oklahoma-bred gelding by leading sire One Famous Eagle from the Corona Cartel mare Bodacious Dream, Bodacious Eagle was bred by La Feliz Montana Ranch.
Kasey Willis saddled multiple stakes winner The Fiscal Cliff for owner/breeder Thomas Lepic. Cesar Gomez rode the son of leading sire Pyc Paint Your Wagon from the Shazoom mare Signs Zoomer. The $9,946 second place check boosted The Fiscal Cliff’s earnings total to $316,334.
I V Gone earned $5,688 for his third-place effort. Owned by Celesse Fregoso, the 7-year-old Ivory James gelding is conditioned by Juliana Mancillas and was ridden by Cody Wainscott. L.P. Frank bred the stakes winning gelding in Oklahoma from the Takin On The Cash mare Bye Bye Bygones. He has earned nearly $170,000.
Tee Chic, Bv Midnite, Politicaly Correct, Jess Iam First Royal and Notavailableinstores completed the field. Fly Thru The Fire and Parti Favor were scratched.
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.
Remington Park now moves into a normal weekly schedule of Thursday thru Sunday for the remainder of the 2017 American Quarter Horse Season. Racing starts at 6pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday with Sunday afternoon racing at 1:30pm. The season continues thru June 3.
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Tracked by over 119,000 fans on Facebook and 8,400 Twitter followers, Remington Park is the home of the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Futurity on Saturday, March 25. Remington Park has provided over $165 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.