Alternative Slew, a half-sister to Run Slewpy Run, had won this race the past two years and in this year's edition, the two were running against each other. They showed that bloodlines ring true as Run Slewpy Run won and a fast-closing Alternative Slew ran second, three lengths back.

This was an all-family deal, too. Alternative Slew was trained in 2019-2020 by Randy Oberlander, father of this year's Distaff Turf winning trainer Jesse Oberlander. Jesse has trained now for two years and has started to make a name for himself after his dad retired this year.

When asked what his dad thought of his early success, taking down stakes wins, Jesse said, “He's a man of few words. He's busy playing with grandkids.”

Both horses are owned and bred by Mike Jones of Bristow, Okla.

Alternative Slew had a layoff from December of last year to Sept. 10 when she ran third in her only start of this year. She had been laid off so long because of an accident in her stall that almost cost her an eye. She and Run Slewpy Run are both from the same dam (mother), Imadancingslew. Run Slewpy Run was sired by Den's Legacy and Alternative Slew by Alternation. Even though Alternative Slew was proven at this distance of 1 1/16th miles on the lawn, while Run Slewpy Run's two wins greensward were at 7 1/2 furlongs, leaving some wonder if she could handle the extra measure.

“I didn't know whether she would get the 1 1/16th miles,” said Jesse Oberlander, “and with her running against her sister, I didn't know who would run first or second.”

Now he knows, even though Alternative Slew showed some improvement in her second start off the long layoff. Still, she finished second at 2-1 odds to her 6-5 favored sibling, beaten three lengths. Alternative Slew finished 2-3/4 lengths in front of Twilight Curfew (10-1) in third.

The remaining order of finish in the Distaff Turf was Country Daisy (4th), Leather and Lace (5th), Tiztheboss (6th), Hawaiian Typhoon (7th), Tic Toc Toccet (8th), and Courtly (9th).

Jockey Luis Quinonez won with Run Slewpy Run and was aboard Alternative Slew last year in her win. It was Quinonez's 21st win in an Oklahoma Classics race, tying him for second all-time with Don Pettinger. Quinonez is now five wins behind Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame jockey and all-time winningest jockey at Remington Park, Cliff Berry. Quinonez has won the Classics Distaff Turf five times now. His other three victories came with Bringinginthelute in 2014, Soonerette in 2012, and In the Band in 2011.

This was the third Distaff win for Jones, all in a row with Alternative Slew (twice) and now Run Slewpy Run.

Run Slewpy Run sat second most of the race, chasing front-runner Hawaiian Typhoon's fractions of :23.83 for the quarter-mile, :47.63 for the half-mile, 1:12.41 for three-quarters of a mile, and 1:37.01 for one mile. The finish time for the winner was 1:43.28 over firm turf.

Run Slewpy Run paid $4.60, $2.60, and $2.40 to win, place, and show. She earned $78,000 from the purse and improved to nine starts, four wins, and two seconds for $188,631 in her wallet. She is now three-for-three on the Remington Park grass with $143,868 in earnings from those races.

The Oklahoma Classics is a $1,000,000 series of stakes races devoted to Oklahoma-bred Thoroughbreds.

Remington Park racing continues Saturday, Oct. 16 with the first race at 7:07 pm Central.

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The key is jockey Luis Quinonez.

“Yeah, I've only ridden her three times and I've won all three,” said Quinonez, with a laugh after the 3-year-old filly powered home gate to wire in this 7-1/2 furlongs race on the turf at 5-2 odds.

Run Slewpy Run gave Jones his second win in the past three years in this race, also taking home the trophy in 2019 with Alternative Slew. Randy Oberlander, Jesse's dad, trained that one to the win and Iram Diego rode her.

Run Slewpy Run is a half-sister to Alternative Slew. They both loved the grass and the reason Oberlander and Jones trusted this one to run big in this spot. Both of those turf stakes-winning fillies had Imadancingslew for a dam (mother). She passed away on June 2, 2019. The most amazing stat concerning these two stakes winners is that they show up as Imadancingslew's first two foals. She only had one other, Dancing Devil, who is now a 2-year-old gelding. He has had one start, finishing sixth in a maiden race at Remington.

This 3-year-old filly by Den's Legacy, out of the dam whose sire was Evansville Slew, earned $42,000 for the victory and now has raced eight times with three wins and two seconds for $110,631 in her bankroll. Run Slewpy Run is two-for-two on the turf, winning an allowance race with Quinonez up on Sept. 2 here going the same distance as Friday night. Quinonez's third win in the irons came on Dec. 3, 2020, with Oklahoma-bred 2-year-old fillies, sprinting 6 furlongs on the dirt.

“She broke alert and felt comfortable,” said Quinonez. “She really kicked it on in the stretch when I asked her for what she had left.”

Jesse Oberlander said she likes the turf and she will continue on that surface in the future.

Run Slewpy Run and Machos Vision vied for the early lead and the former took over on the far turn and the latter faded to last. Quinonez let out a notch at the top of the stretch and the lead grew to 1-1/2 lengths before she drew away to win by three lengths. Country Daisy, the 2-1 wagering favorite, came rolling from mid-pack to get up for second, a neck ahead of She's All Wolfe (3-1). Run Slewpy Run paid $7.40 to win, $3.80 to place, and $2.60 to show. She finished in a time of 1:29.21 over the firm going. The early fractions were :24.05 for the first quarter-mile, :48.11 for the half-mile, and then 1:11.89 for three-quarters of a mile. She is a homebred horse by her owner.

The Bob Barry Memorial is named in honor of legendary sports broadcasters Bob Barry, Sr. and Bob Barry Jr. Between the father and son, they covered over 60 years of sports in Oklahoma, winning numerous sportscaster of the year awards.

Run Slewpy Run won the final race of the evening at Remington Park. She completed the Sooner 6ix mandatory payout wager, races 4-9. Those with tickets holding six consecutive winners were paid $5,206.78 each from a betting pool of $151,448 that was coupled with a carryover pool of $46,974.58. The odds for the winning horses in the combination were 7-2, 4-1, 5-2, 3-1, 2-1, and 5-2.

Racing continues this week with a Saturday-Sunday schedule. It's the only Sunday race day of the meet, serving as Oklahoma Derby Day. Post time is 3 p.m. on Sept. 26, while Saturday night begins at 7:07 p.m. All times are Central.

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It gave Quinonez 1,420 wins here, one more than Don Pettinger. The win puts the veteran journeyman 705 behind all-time leader Cliff Berry, who had 2,125. Fittingly, Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame trainer Donnie Von Hemel gave Quinonez a leg up on Ace Gilford, a 4-year-old gelded son of Tale of the Cat, out of the Indian Charlie mare Indianella. He races for owner Dream Walkin Farms (Toby Keith) of Norman, Okla.

If you're going to reach a milestone, it should be done in impressive fashion and Quinonez did not pass up that opportunity. His mount flew to the front out of the gate in this 5-1/2 furlongs race on the main track and just kept widening his lead to the wire. As he hit the finish line in 1:05.31 over the fast track, he was 6-1/2 lengths ahead of everyone. Ace Gilford was sent off as the 2-1 second wagering favorite and made every pole a winning one, setting interior fractions of :22:91 for the first quarter-mile, :46.81 for the half-mile and :58.91 for five-eighths of a mile.

Ace Gilford paid $6 to win, $3.20 to place, and $2.60 to show. Bred in Kentucky by the owner, Ace Gilford won for the first time in seven tries, scoring in his career debut at Remington Park. He had hit the board in his last two starts at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., with maiden claimers. Von Hemel gave him nearly five months off and the gelding fired fresh on all cylinders.

Quinonez, inducted into the Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2017, needs only 99 more wins to reach 4,000 for his career. Only Berry, Quinonez, and Pettinger have won more than 1,000 races at Remington Park. Two other Oklahoma Racing Hall of Famer jockeys round out the top five – Tim Doocy with 796 and the late Pat Steinberg with 727.

Quinonez has had 26,833 mounts in his career with 3,901 wins, compiling $76,907,686 in horses' earnings, according to Equibase statistics. His top horses have included Grade 2 winners Alternation and Gold Medal Dancer. He also won with Grade 3 winners Suddenbreakingnews, Shotgun Kowboy, She's All In, Maysville Slew, and Injustice.

Quinonez made it to the Kentucky Derby once, aboard Suddenbreakingnews, the 2016 winner of the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park for Von Hemel. They had teamed up to win the Clever Trevor Stakes at Remington Park in 2015.

Quinonez said he got his first win at Remington Park on his first mount in 1989 when he was in his early 20s aboard New Writer. He beat such riders as Berry, Steinberg (winner of seven riding titles in the early days of the track and an Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Famer), Dale Cordova (10th all-time here and regular rider for Silver Goblin), and Tony McNeil, now the paddock judge at Remington Park. Quinonez now is 54 years old and says retirement doesn't even cross his mind.

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Pettinger finished his career with 1,419 Remington Park victories, 706 behind all-time leader Cliff Berry, who had 2,125. All three riders are in the Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame. Quinonez, 54, came into this meet with 1,416 and has one win in the first four days. He needs 101 more wins to reach 4,000 trips to the winner's circle overall in his career.

“I used to think, 'I'd really like to get to 4,000,' but the last couple of years, it's gotten a little tougher,” said Quinonez, who makes his home in Jones, Okla., just outside of Oklahoma City. “Now it's, 'If I get to 4,000 that would be great. I'm not going to sweat it.'”

He said he will celebrate if and when he moves into second place.

“I got my first win at Remington Park on my very first mount in 1989 when I was about 22 or 23 years old,” he said. “I had just gotten my riding license. I was just galloping horses in 1988, the first year here. The next year, I won on the first horse I rode – New Writer.”

His horse went off at odds of 22-1 for trainer Cliff Darnell and came home with Quinonez's patented late run on the turf. He beat such riders as Berry, the late Pat Steinberg (winner of nine riding titles in the early days of the track and an Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Famer), Dale Cordova (10th all-time here and regular rider for Silver Goblin), and Tony McNeil, now the paddock judge at Remington Park.

“Second place would be great, fantastic,” said Quinonez. “I have so many memories at Remington Park, some good and some bad.”

He said one horse almost broke his neck after finishing second in the race.

“He jumped the tracks at the wire and I tried to grab his mane but I came off,” he said. “We still ran second because it was after the finish, but I came back with a bloody nose.”

Was he injured badly?

“Hey, I came back and won the very next race,” he said.

A jockey doesn't win almost 4,000 times without a few X-rays in his life. He said he's had several concussions at Remington Park in his career, but nothing major. And then there are the good memories.

He made it to the Kentucky Derby once aboard Suddenbreakingnews, the 2016 winner of the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park for trainer Donnie Von Hemel. The best trivia question to come out of that win has to do with who ran second. It was none other than Whitmore, who went on to win the 2020 Breeder's Cup Sprint. Suddenbreakingnews won the Clever Trevor Stakes at Remington Park and finished second in the Springboard Mile in the fall of 2015 before moving to Oaklawn. After winning the Southwest, he ran second to Creator in the Arkansas Derby. Whitmore was third.

“Suddenbreakingnews has to be my all-time favorite because he got me to the Big Dance (Kentucky Derby),” said Quinonez. “Shotgun Kowboy ($1,548,648 earner) and Alternation ($1,064,727) were right up there and Brownie Points ($957,230), but going to the Kentucky Derby was awesome.”

It might have been awesome, but it was a nightmare for him early on.

“We drew the 2-hole and we almost got dropped twice before we went under the wire the first time,” he said. “I really thought we had a chance to win the Derby. I always wanted another chance. I'd been on horses that finished 22nd and 23rd in the Kentucky Derby list (top 20 get in) a few times, but this was my only chance. When I finally got going on him (with clear sailing) the horses on the final turn came out, off the rail, so I took it. We were closing fast and I thought I was going to finish third.”

Suddenbreakingnews finished fifth, less than five lengths behind the 2016 Derby winner Nyquist. Quinonez was within a head and a nose from running third. Exaggerator was second, Gun Runner (2017 Horse of the Year) third and Mohayem fourth.

“I thought we'd catch Gun Runner, but he just had enough left,” Quinonez said.

Quinonez said he still loves riding and competing.

“I still am in pretty good shape,” he said. “I'm not as young now, but this will be fun trying to catch Pettinger for second. I don't think I can catch Cliff, but that's OK. He's my brother from another mother. We've been roommates before and we always play golf together. I don't think I can, but you never know.”

Times have certainly changed. Quinonez won only four races that first year at Remington Park.

“And Cliff only won two, I think,” he said. “He won his first one early and then he ran second about 60 times before winning one more.”

Quinonez, going into Wednesday night's race card at Remington, has had 26,803 starts in his career with 3,899 wins, 3,690 seconds and 3,532 thirds for $76,805,803 from his horses' earnings. At Remington Park, he has ridden 9,719 times with 1,417 wins; 1,344 seconds, and 1,225 thirds for earnings in excess of $25 million.

With a little luck, he could tie the record Wednesday night. He has only two mounts – My Baby Blue (10-1) in the fifth race and Alternative Slew (5-2) in the eighth.

This is the first week Remington Park moves into a four-night racing week, with cards scheduled Wednesday through Saturday, Sept. 1-4. First post nightly is 7:07pm-Central.

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Ima Discreet Lady and Shes Our Fastest dueled for the early lead in the six-furlong sprint on the main track. Ima Discreet Lady got the edge and carried the winner and favorite wide, Shes Our Fastest (2.60). The winner drew clear late to win under a drive.

Final time was 1:10.96 on a fast track. Fractions were :22.98; :45.72, and :58.13. Natalies Joy made a mild late rally to get up for third and Samborita finished last. Boerne and Gee She Sparkles were scratched from the race.

Scott Gelner was the winning trainer for owners Mark Norman and Norman Stables LLC. Winning rider was Stewart Elliott.

Saturday also saw the $75,000 Fiesta Mile for Accredited Texas-bred fillies & mares 3-yr-olds & up contested on the turf course which was labeled firm.

Favorite Boerne vied for the early lead on the inside, made an inside move leaving the turn to draw clear in the final furlong. It was a good effort, but she was caught late by the winner, Miss Perfecta (8.60). Miss Perfecta angled out for racing room leaving the turn and was set down to get up late driving. Corluna moved into contention out of the turn, but lacked needed effort and got up for the show. Zarelda was fourth followed by Herbs Love, Discreet Smile, Kitty's Queen, and Set the Pace completing the order of finish.

Final time for the mile on grass was 1:35.20. Winning owners were Tyree J. Wolesensky and Jose Silva, Jr. Miss Perfecta is trained by Hall of Fame trainer, Steve Asmussen. Jockey Stewart Elliot was aboard.

The $100,000 Texas Thoroughbred Futurity, Filly Division produced longshot winner, Streak of Silver (36.00), for owner Carl R. Moore Management LLC. Second place finisher, Expect the Boss was crushed on both sides leaving the gate, recovering to get into contention with the winner, but flattened out late. Favorite, Red Hot Moon dueled early, but weakened on the drive, but was better than the others for the show.

The final time for the five and one half furlong futurity was 1:05.91 on a fast track. Fractions were :22.63, :46.49, and :59.22.

Karen Jacks was the winning trainer and Iram Diego was the winning jockey.

Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch's Tengo Mis Pepeles (3.80), trained by Bret Calhoun, impressed again today winning the $100,000 Colt & Gelding Division of the Texas Thoroughbred Futurity. The victorious grey colt by My Golden Song won his debut here on June 13 in the Texas Stallion Stakes by nine and three-quarters lengths. Today's win margin wasn't as far as that effort, but the one and one half length win today showed the 2-yr-old's confidence and professionalism. Reylu Gutierrez was the winning rider.

Final time for the five and one half furlongs was 1:50.02 behind fractions of :22.14, :45.56, and :58.42.

Sparky Hale took aim on the winner out of the turn and was gaining and held on to second over third-place finisher Stan's Miracle Man who was gaining fast.

Fourth-place finisher was Simply Wicked, followed by Ghost Cowboy, Hedaresthedevil, Dare to Fail, Linc's Boy, On My List, Pickingupstrangers, Timed Event, and Royal Tap.

The final stake on the card was the $75,000 Assault Stakes at one mile on the turf for Accredited Texas-bred horses, three years olds and up.

Winner, Kenai Bob (11.50) was off first, but allowed second-placed Mr Money Bags to set the pace shortly thereafter, settling in behind him through ultra slow early fractions. Kenai Bob made a bid in the stretch, slowly edging clear late to win by three-quarters of a length. Mr Money Bags was the leader throughout most of the race, but was out-finished to get second. Favorite Sunlit Song was well placed, but was boxed in and was slowly gaining late only to get third. Moojab, Jr. ran fourth with Men of Kyle, Gold Pilot, Direct Dial, and Gottherightonebaby completing the order of finish. There were three late scratches, Gunnerscelesticman, He's a Sailor, and Quarterback Dak.

Final time for the Assault was 1:36.12 over a firm turf course. Fractions were :24.64, :49.62, 1:12.83, and 1:24.51.

Kenai Bob is owned by Michael Grossman, trained by Francisco Bravo, and was ridden by Luis Quinonez.

Tomorrow, Sunday, July 11 is the final day of the meeting. First race post time is at 2:05 p.m. There are 11 races on the final card.

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In what was close to a repeat performance, My Boanerges ($8.40) dueled for the early lead then shook clear in the turn. He was asked passed the furlong marker and responded well to keep second place finisher and favorite, Archidust, who broke in the air, at bay by three quarters of a length. Share the Upside got the show followed by Seven Scents and Quarky. Bob's Bad Boy was a late scratch.

Final time was :55.68 seconds on a firm turf course.

Again trainer Dallas Keen sent Tony Crognale and Fred Dullano's Curlin's Journey ($4.60) out for the win in the $75,000 Wasted Tears Stakes, a mile & a sixteenth turf contest for fillies & mares, 3-yr-olds & up. This 6-yr-old daughter of Curlin was well reserved early on the backstretch, advanced on the far turn, roused passed the furlong marker, responding well to get clear in the final sixteenth. Luis Quinonez was aboard for the two-length victory.

Valentine's Day proved to be no match late for the winner, but was clearly second best. Brandon's Babe rallied late for show. In fourth place was Tizahra followed by Zamzam, Needs No Alibi and Elle's Town completed the order.

Final time was 1:42.16. Fractions were 24.32, 48.84, 1:12.23 and 1:36.24.

The $75,000 Chicken Fried Stakes for fillies & mares, 3-yr-olds & up at five furlongs on turf was won by favorite, Yes It's Ginger owned by Brilliant Racing LLC and trained by Gregory D. Foley.

With Reylu Gutierrez in the irons, Yes It's Ginger ($7.60) a 5-yr-old daughter of Yes It's True, vied inside for the early lead, made a bid leaving the turn to get clear then drew off in the final sixteenth to win by four lengths over a game Uptownblingithome in second. Canoodling finished well to gain third followed by Stormieis Blue, Ima Discreet Lady, A Bit of Both, Raintree Starlet and Quick Quick Quick.

Final time was :55.69 seconds.

The final stake on the card was the $75,000 Singletary Stakes, a mile and an eighth turf contest for 3-yr-olds & up.

Carson McCord's Artie's Rumor, trained by Ron Moquett was the winner of the Singletary. Claimed for $40,000 at Churchill last month, this proved the perfect spot for his first start with his new connections. It was his first ever trip to Lone Star Park and it suited him well.

Artie's Rumor ($14.00) with David Cabrera up, settled back early, moved out four wide down the backstretch to be clear, made a move on the turn while still four wide and continued through the stretch to prove best by two and three quarters of a length at the wire. Hard Attack rallied well for second and Carlea's Dream hung late. But was able to save third. Fourth place finisher was Henley's Joy, then Don'task Don'ttell, favorite Me and Mr. C, Colloquist and Tapit Wise completed the running order. Popular Kid was a late scratch.

Final time for the distance was 1:48.05 behind fractions of 24.57, 48.31, 1:11.95 and 1:36.06.

Live racing resumes Monday with an eight race card. Gates open at 1 p.m. General Admission is free! First race post time is 2:35 p.m.

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Run at 1 1/8 miles, the Risen Star is the 13th and final race on a six-stakes card billed as Louisiana Derby Preview Day. It is by far the deepest and most competitive Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) prep to date and will offer a total of 85 Derby qualifying points to the top four finishers (50-20-10-5). The $300,000 Rachel Alexandra (G2) presented by Fasig-Tipton, at 1 1/16 miles, will be offered for 3-year-old fillies, with the same 85 qualifying points up for grabs for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1). In addition, four stakes for older horses will also be presented on the card – the $200,000 (G3) Mineshaft at 1 1/16 miles, the $150,000 Fair Grounds (G3) at 1 1/8 miles on turf, the $100,000 Colonel Power Stakes at 5½ furlongs on turf, and the $100,000 Albert M. Stall Memorial Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Joe Peacock Jr.'s homebred Senor Buscador (post 5 at 6-1 on Mike Diliberto's morning line with Luis Quinonez to ride) went from an unraced maiden in early November to a wise guy Kentucky Derby contender a little more than six weeks later, as he parlayed a 5 ½-furlong maiden win at Remington Nov. 6 into a dominant 5 ¾-length win in the Springboard Mile there Dec. 18. With Senor Buscador an unknown no more, Fincher had plans to make. Fair Grounds, with a long stretch and the Risen Star, which is followed by the March 20 TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) at 1 3/16 miles, made perfect sense. Saturday can't come soon enough.

“I've never been there, it's a big race, there's Kentucky Derby points on the line and I'm really looking forward to it,” Fincher said. “I think the distance is absolutely in his favor. My wish list would be two preps and hopefully qualify for the Kentucky Derby.”

Senor Buscador, a son of Mineshaft, has lagged in last in both starts before unleashing a devastating stretch run to win going away, though it was the two-turn Springboard Mile that really got people talking. Last on the backstretch in the field of 10, he delivered an extended wide run, circled the field, and drew off with ease by 5 ¾ lengths. And while he's been a turtle early in his races and a hare late, Fincher says it's not necessarily by design.

“He has more speed than you've seen but he just does his own thing,” Fincher said. “We didn't teach him to do that. We taught him to come from behind but not walk out of the gate and do a slow roll before he does anything. He's so nerve-racking to watch him run. They get so far back and you think 'What the heck.' But he makes it work.”

Fincher and the Peacock family have had a long relationship and he's trained several of Senor Buscador's siblings, including his half-brother Runaway Ghost, who won the Sunland Derby (G3) in 2018 but was forced to miss the Kentucky Derby that year with an injury. Fincher knew his little brother had a pedigree to be a runner, but also knew you can't count on anything in this game.

“We hoped he would develop into this kind of horse but you get let down too many times,” Fincher said. “We knew he could run quite a bit but we didn't have any idea he could be this level, but we hoped. But you just never know until you see it on the track. There are no similarities (among his siblings), they are all different. The Peacocks have been great to me and I've been very fortunate to have them in my corner and we're really looking forward to seeing what Senor Buscador can do.”

Winchell Thoroughbreds' Midnight Bourbon (post 6 at 6-1 with Joe Talamo) led every step of the way in the local Jan. 16 Lecomte (G3), but has shown plenty of versatility in his career as well. The son of Tiznow took advantage of an alert beginning from his rail draw and had plenty left in reserve while winning his first start of the year for trainer Steve Asmussen. Midnight Bourbon showed promise at 2, hitting the board twice in graded stakes but looked like a more polished product in his 3-year-old debut. With the distance of the Risen Star and Louisiana Derby a bit longer than the typical mid-winter Derby prep, Asmussen expects Midnight Bourbon to only get better.

“I think the 1 1/8 miles is right in his wheelhouse and we're excited about running him in this series because of the distance of these preps,” Asmussen said. “He's an efficient mover with a high cruising speed and horses like that can be very effective at the Fair Grounds. We were very pleased with how he started off the year, and this is the next step.”

Godolphin's homebred Proxy (post 2 at 8-1 with John Velazquez), a 3-year-old son of Tapit, has progressed nicely in New Orleans this winter for trainer Mike Stidham, as he led gate-to-wire over maidens then did the same against allowance foes in December, before stepping up and running a strong second in the Lecomte. For Stidham, seeing Proxy settle a bit off the pace in the Lecomte and battle on late against much tougher horses was a sign he's moving in the right direction, though he also feels there's still more room for improvement.

“He's still a work in progress but I like having a 3-year-old that I think has something left that we haven't seen yet,” Stidham said. “He's still figuring it out, both mentally and physically. But in his works, and in his races, he seems to be getting a little better, and I think that's where he is right now. Now that we're getting into these longer races, it starts to separate them a little bit, and I think that's really going to help my horse, and I'm not sure that's the case for everybody.”

Juddmonte Farms' homebred Mandaloun (post 11 at 9-2 with Florent Geroux) was a somewhat disappointing third at odds-on in the Lecomte for trainer Brad Cox after chasing the pace while wide throughout. The son of Into Mischief entered that race 2-for-2 off sprint wins in Kentucky but didn't kick on quite enough through the lane behind Midnight Bourbon. Cox has opted to add blinkers to Mandaloun for the Risen Star. He is looking for a more focused performance, and has been extremely pleased by his two works with them.

“I feel like the works with blinkers have shown some progression and he can take that next step forward with them and have more focus late,” Cox said. “He was right there in the Lecomte and he was wide. The two horses that finished in front of us had a little more seasoning and I think he got a lot out of that race.”

Cypress Creek Equine, Arnold Bennewith, and Spendthrift Farm's Keepmeinmind (post 12 at 3-1 with David Cohen) would bring plenty of class should he make the trip from Oaklawn Park for trainer Robertino Diodoro. The deep closing son of Laoban was third to 2-year-old champion Essential Quality in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland in November then won Churchill's November 28 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) to end his campaign. Keepmeinmind is also entered to run in the Feb. 15 Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn, but with a few potential pitfalls, Diodoro wants to have options.

“We just wanted to cover our bases,” Diodoro said. “We are concerned with the weather in Arkansas, and we're also concerned with a short field as well. The rumor is it could be a five or six-horse field. That's good for a speed horse, but with his (Keepmeinmind's come from behind) running style, I'm not doing backflips over that, to be honest. We're going to make a decision by Wednesday.”

Trainer Tom Amoss has an uncoupled pair of Union Rags colts in Greg Tramontin, Joel Politi, Brittlyn Stable, and Asaro Enterprises' Carillo (post 4 at 15-1 with James Graham) and Nice Guys Stables, Manganaro Bloodstock, and Steve Hornstock's Defeater (post 9 at 12-1 with Dean Saenz), and both will look to bridge the gap from a one-turn debut win to the grade 2 ranks. The former won going a one-turn mile at Aqueduct Jan. 8 for trainer Chad Brown and was subsequently purchased Jan. 14 for $875,000 out of a dispersal sale from the Estate of the late Paul Pompa, while the latter pulled clear late going 6 furlongs locally Jan. 2 and defeated a strong field that included third-place finisher Gershwin, who impressed breaking his maiden here Feb. 6. Carillo hasn't been with Amoss long but shows two local works, which give his trainer reason for optimism.

“He trains like he ran and shows a great deal of stamina in the mornings and in his workouts,” Amoss said. “He shows a very good turn of foot at the end. The horse is pretty straight forward since I've gotten him. He needs to show he can make the transition from one to two turns, but he's not the only horse like that at this time of year. All things point to that being something he's going to successfully do, but he hasn't done it at this point.”

Completing the Risen Star field from the rail out: trainer Dallas Stewart Racing Stable's and WinStar Farm's homebred Starrininmydreams (post 1 at 12-1 with Brian Hernandez Jr.), undefeated in a pair of Churchill starts at 2 and making his stakes and 3-year-old debut; Marylou Whitney Stables' homebred Beep Beep (post 3 at 20-1 with Miguel Mena), fourth in a strong local optional-claimer January 16 for trainer Norm Casse; Barrett Bernard, Tagg Team Racing, and West Point Thoroughbreds' O Besos (post 7 at 12-1 with Marcelino Pedroza), an easy stretch running winner of a pair of sprints at the meet for trainer Greg Foley; Kevin Porter's Sermononthemount (post 8 at 50-1 with Declan Carroll), a 7-furlong allowance winner at Delta Downs January 21 for trainer Tim Dixon; Calumet Farm's homebred Santa Cruiser (post 10 at 15-1 with Adam Beschizza), fourth after a slow break in the Lecomte for trainer Keith Desormeaux; and Wayne T. Davis' Rightandjust (post 13 at 15-1 with Mitchell Murrill), who wired Beep Beep and eight others in the optional-claimer off the claim for trainer Shane Wilson.

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Senor Buscador and Quinonez made up every bit of their trailing deficit, and more, to win the Springboard, Remington Park's top 2-year-old offering and a Kentucky Derby qualifying-points race. After making the lead before mid-stretch, Senor Buscador pulled away with ease to win by 5 3/4 lengths.

“He broke bad, but that was good because he settled down on the backstretch,” said Quinonez. “On the turn for home, I thought, 'Oh my God, what a horse I have.' It feels like he can go farther.”

This 2-year-old colt by Mineshaft, out of the Desert God mare Rose's Desert, showed signs of his bloodlines from his 2003 Horse of the Year sire. Mineshaft finished his career that year with three Grade 1 wins in a row, sweeping the Suburban Handicap, the Woodward Stakes and the Jockey Club Gold Cup all at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. Two of those races came at 1 1/4 miles and the other at 1 1/8 miles. Mineshaft won 10-of-18 starts lifetime for $2.2 million in earnings.

It sure looked like Senor Buscador wasn't stopping as he cleared the field and drove through the finish line without being asked to run by Quinonez.

On the dam side, Rose's Desert's sire was unraced, but she won 10-of-15 starts, albeit in New Mexico, winning $626,035 in her career. That's not easy to do on that circuit. Rose's Desert won most of her stakes sprinting, taking one at one mile.

“She had bad ankles and still did that,” said trainer Todd Fincher. “She did win one around two turns.”

The New Mexico circuit is one Fincher frequents and calls home. He said it doesn't look like their 3-year-old races are going to be a go this year, sending Senor Buscador in search of his next late-running effort.

“We'll see how he comes back tomorrow and then take him to Houston and possibly on to the Fair Grounds (in New Orleans) for their stakes schedule,” said Fincher. “We do what's best for the horse. That's my responsibility. So we'll see.”

Senor Buscador won his first race, a maiden event, at 5 1/2 furlongs by 2 1/2 lengths at Remington Park on Nov. 6, but he was very green in that race.

“The first time he won, he really didn't know what he was doing or what was going on,” said Fincher. “He was really ornery in the post parade. But he was impressive in that race even though he sure doesn't like breaking from the gate.”

Senor Buscador was 10 lengths behind in his career debut after a half-mile and still caught his opponents like they were standing still. He went off at 7-2 odds in that maiden race, and was amazing enough for his fans to knock him down from 15-1 morning line odds in the Springboard to go off at 7-2 again.

Senor Buscador paid $9.80 to win, $5.80 to place and $4.60 to show across the board. Cowan (7-2), a shipper from Keeneland out of trainer Steve Asmussen's barn, was a distant second and he was 3 3/4 lengths ahead of longshot Red N Wild (30-1), who finished the slimmest of noses ahead of fourth place Saffa's Day (9-1).

The 7-5 betting favorite, another shipper from Wesley Ward's barn, Outadore, could do no better than fifth. He had run third in the Grade 1, $1-million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky. in his last start before the Springboard.

The rest of the Springboard order of finish was Joe Frazier (9-1) sixth, Vim and Vigor (61-1) seventh, Number One Dude (9-1) eighth, Flash of Mischief (23-1) ninth and Gushing Oil (33-1) last. Game Day Play was a late scratch after he got loose in the walk over to the paddock before the race, hopping the outside rail on the backstretch, and then going back to his barn.

Senor Buscador wasn't in the same time zone with the Springboard field during the early part of the race. The pacesetters, Saffa's Day and Flash of Mischief, hit the timers in :23.52 for the first quarter-mile, :47.22 for the half-mile and 1:12.51 for three-quarters of a mile. Senor Buscador made the lead at the top of the stretch, reaching the time for seven furlongs in 1:25.69. He stopped the mile timer at the wire in 1:37.87 over the fast track.

Senor Buscador put up a quality time for the mile on the night compared to older horses earlier in the program. Dont Tell Noobody, a 3-year-old Oklahoma-bred gelding, won the one-mile $70,000 Jim Thorpe Stakes in 1:39.50. Dipping In, a 3-year-old Oklahoma-bred filly, won the $70,000 Useeit Stakes at one mile in 1:40.69.

Senor Buscador earned $120,000 for owner Joe Peacock Jr., of San Antonio, and is two-for-two lifetime with $137,247 in earnings. He was bred in Kentucky by the owner and his father, Joe Peacock, Sr., both of San Antonio.

Senor Buscador was the second Springboard win for Quinonez who won aboard Louies Flower in 2013. He provided the first victory in the race for the rest of his connections.

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