Tough to Bee finds good spot to end skid

Tough to Bee is nearly three years removed from his richest win in the $1 million Ruidoso Derby in May 2017.

Winless in nine starts in the last 18 months, Tough to Bee has started in some of the toughest races for older Quarter Horses in New Mexico and Oklahoma in that span.

Saturday, Tough to Bee will gain much-needed class relief in an allowance race with a $50,000 claiming option at 350 yards at Remington Park.

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Trained by Blane Wood for Paragon Farms, Tough to Bee will have his third start of the Remington Park winter-spring meeting. A 6-year-old gelding, Tough to Bee was fifth in the SLM Big Daddy Stakes at 550 yards on March 14 and third in the Mr Jet Moore Stakes at 350 yards on April 2.

Tough to Bee drew the outside post in Saturday’s field of 10. Ricky Ramirez has the mount. He was aboard when Tough to Bee finished third in the Remington Park Championship last June, the track’s leading race for older horses, and in the SLM Big Daddy Stakes.

Tough to Bee’s toughest rival is This Is a Deal Too, who is drawn in the adjacent stall. Trained by Charlton Hunt, This Is a Deal Too was sixth in the Oklahoma Challenge Championship at 440 yards on March 29 in his first start of the year.

This Is a Deal Too won the $50,000 Lovington Stakes at 400 yards at Zia Park last December.

The Remington Park program begins at 7 p.m. Eastern, or 6 p.m. Central. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Earlier on the card, Southern Electric will be heavily favored to win his 11th race in 14 starts in the $31,201 American Paint Derby at 400 yards. Southern Electric has won his last three starts and five of his last seven.

The $103,200 American Paint Classic Futurity is more competitive. WF Turnpike Candy, the fastest qualifier from time trials on April 10, drew the rail in the 350-yard race. WB Stevie Nix, who won her debut in the trials at 31-1, starts from post 9.

WF Turnpike Candy had a qualifying time of 17.87 seconds, compared to 17.98 for WB Stevie Nix, and 18.04 for Mammy Jammer, the only other trial race winner.

Saturday’s ninth race is a first-condition allowance race at 350 yards. Relentless Cowboy, who won the $179,900 Iowa Double Gold Futurity at Prairie Meadows last August, will have his long-awaited 3-year-old debut.

Relentless Cowboy was entered in an allowance race on April 11, but that race and two others were canceled because of thunderstorms.