Eye Work for You up by a nose in Oklahoma-Bred Futurity

After Eye Work for You won Saturday’s $891,900 Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Futurity by a nose over Dangerous Cartel, jockey James Flores paid the unbeaten gelding a high compliment.

Flores, the leading rider at the Remington Park Quarter Horse meeting, compared Eye Work for You to Mr Jess Jenkins, winner of the 2019 All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs.

“When I rode this horse on the farm last winter, I knew we really had something on our hands,” Flores told Remington Park publicity.

“He was really fast and really professional. Having him under me is a similar feeling to Mr Jess Jenkins. He’s getting there.”\

Eye Work for You ($6.60) ran 330 yards in 16.90 seconds. He trailed 32-1 Dangerous Cartel by about a half-length midway through the race, but was sharper in the final 100 yards to reach the front in the final stride.

:: To stay up to date, follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

By Coronas Leaving You, Eye Work for You is undefeated in three starts, having won a maiden special weight race on March 13 and a division of the Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Futurity trials on April 3 for trainer Marcos Carrizales and owner Jose Guzman.

Carrizales trains Mr Jess Jenkins, who is co-owned by Guzman and Rito Sosa.

Earlier on Saturday evening, Mr Jess Jenkins could only manage a second to the undefeated filly Fernweh in the $268,700 Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Derby. Fernweh, winner of the Ruidoso Futurity last June, ran 400 yards in 19.74, paying $5.20 as the favorite.

Owned by Rusty Allred and trained by Blane Wood, Fernweh finished a half-length in front of 9-5 Mr Jess Jenkins, who was ridden by Flores. Both Fernweh and Mr Jess Jenkins won divisions of the Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Derby trials on April 5.

Fernweh, who has had four starts, was ridden by Ricky Ramirez. By Favorite Cartel, Fernweh is scheduled to race at Ruidoso Downs this summer, but could remain at Remington Park for the final derby of that track’s season – the Heritage Place Derby, which has trials on May 10 and a final on May 30.

There were eight stakes for Oklahoma-breds at Remington Park on Saturday.

Eagles Fly Higher, winner of the Eastex Stakes at 350 yards on March 21, won the $84,000 Sooner State Stakes at 400 yards, the leading race for older horses.

Ridden by Mario Delgado, Eagles Fly Harder had a perfect start, leading by more than a length in the first 100 yards. Eagles Fly Harder ($10.40) won by two lengths over 11-1 Hes Limitless for owner Dan Darling and trainer Casey Black.

Eagles Fly Harder, who was timed in 19.46, is perfect in two starts this year, having won the Eastex Stakes at 350 yards at Remington Park on March 21.

The disappointment in the race was Apocalyptical Jess, the champion 3-year-old of 2019. He finished eighth as the 7-5 favorite, beaten 4 1/4 lengths. In 2018, Apocalyptical Jess won the All American Futurity.