Tough to Bee helps launch meet in Eastex Stakes

Tough to Bee, dead-heat winner of last year’s Grade 1, $1 million Ruidoso Derby for Quarter Horses, will launch his 4-year-old season Friday night at Remington Park in the Grade 2, $50,000 Eastex. The Eastex is one of two stakes on the first card of the meet, which also includes the $65,000 Mighty Deck Three. The 50-date season runs through June 2.

The Eastex is the first start since October for Tough to Bee. He also won the $100,000 First Down Dash last year at Ruidoso over champion Imperial Eagle.

The Mighty Deck Three drew Ajs High, third-place finisher in the Grade 1 Challenge Championship at Prairie Meadows.

Remington will put on 37 stakes worth a total of $5.3 million. The Grade 1, $1 million Heritage Place Futurity is the richest race of the meet and one of eight stakes to be run June 2. Trials will be held May 11-12.

The Grade 3, $450,000 Oklahoma Futurity will be run March 24. The trials will be Saturday on a card that has a special first post of 4 p.m. Central. The $900,000 Remington Park Futurity is April 21, with trials set for April 6 and 7.

The Grade 1, $250,000 Remington Park Championship, an invitational for 3-year-olds and up, is June 2.