Jess Good Wine (left) drives to victory over Apollitical Payoff (#2) in the $100,000 Dee Raper Sooner Stakes (RG1) at Remington Park Monday afternoon.

© Dustin Orona Photography

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK–APRIL 29, 2024–Heavy post-time favorite Jess Good Wine raced to his third consecutive stakes victory in a determined effort under jockey Bryan Candanosa on Monday when he defeated Apollitical Payoff by a head in the $100,000 Dee Raper Sooner Stakes (RG1) at Remington Park.

"This horse is just smooth," said Candanosa. "We didn’t get away well, but he did it all on his own."

Jess Good Wine took a quick lead shortly after the start while racing in step with Apollitical Payoff and jockey Escobedo. The son of champion Good Reason SA pinned his ears as he propelled himself over the wire in :19.655 seconds, a 94-speed index into a 5 mph headwind.

"I knew my horse would finish," Candanosa said.

Toby Keeton trains the Oklahoma-bred 4-year-old for owner Guns Up Racing. Bred by Flagg Ranch LLC, from the Mr Jess Perry mare Mr Perrys Wine, Jess Good Wine entered the race off a victory in the Grade 2 Mr Jet Moore Stakes at Remington Park on April 6.

Last season the sorrel gelding won the Grade 3 Hobbs America Derby Invitational, was second in the Texas Classic Derby(G1), and also won the All American Invitational and Rainbow Invitational at Ruidoso Downs last summer.

"It's been a lot of fun the last year and a half with him," said Kevin Hogan, who is a partner in the ownership group. "It’s been a blast. I have to thank (our vet), who fixed him when he had a tendon tear as a 2-year-old."

Keeton stays in a state of amazement with Jess Good Wine.

"He just keeps doing it," Keeton said. "He didn’t really run a great race today, but he’s always in front."

Jess Good Wine has won eight of 16 career starts and used the $58,800 Dee Raper Sooner winner's purse to boost his bankroll to $424,883. Jess Good Wine paid $2.40 to win, $2.10 to place and $2.10 to show.

Brenda Reiswig's homebred Apollitical Payoff put in a gallant effort to earn $19,600 for second. Trainer Jason Olmstead named jockey Edwin Escobedo to ride the Apollitical Jess 5-year-old out of Seis The Royal Cash by Tres Seis.  The multiple stakes winner has pocketed $303,098 off seven wins in 29 starts.

One Stolin Eagle, under jockey Juan Paulido, got the nod for the show, picking up $10,780 for owner Francisco Lopez.  Jose Villafranco trains the One Fabulous Eagle 4-year-old out of Stolin Sign by Stoli. Bred by Darling Farms, One Stolin Eagle won the SLM Big Daddy Stakes (G2) in his last start on March 16. He has banked $90,442 in 14 starts.

A Legacy Of Tales, Candy Cartels Jess, Defours, and Hooked N Gone completed the field. 

All the horses wore red saddle cloths in deference to Dee Raper, the late gentleman who was instrumental in the passage of pari-mutel racing laws in Oklahoma in the early 1980s. He was president of the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association from 1993-2001 and is a member of the Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame at Remington Park. The University of Oklahoma Sooners supporter passed away in 2020.

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Remington Park has provided more than $ 347 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District, Remington Park presents simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. The 2024 racing schedule begins Thursday, March 7, as the American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season starts its 50-date season. Parking and admission are always free. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.