OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—MAY 24, 2013—Winless since his 3-year-old season in 2011, Thru The Fire finally found the finish first in Friday’s $23,600 allowance feature at Remington Park.

Owned by Melany and Ron Shalz of Colby, Kan. and trained by Eddie Willis, Thru The Fire was ridden to his first win since October 2011 by David Pinon. The 5-year-old gelding was a regular player as a 2-year-old in million-dollar futurities at Los Alamitos in southern California. He also qualified for the Super Derby there at age three before returning to Remington Park and his home-state of Oklahoma.

The homecoming took time to be successful as four starts since early 2012 had produced nothing better than a fourth-place finish. Friday night, Thru The Fire was engaged throughout the 350-yard race, battling with even-money favorite Lethal Vote for the entire measure before prevailing by a head. Cruisin Chew Chew gained well outside to finish third.

Thru The Fire crossed the finish in :17.485 seconds over the fast track.

Away at 8-1 in the wagering, Thru The Fire paid $19.40 to win, $5.40 to place and $5.20 to show. Beaten favorite Lethal Volt returned $2.80 to place and $2.60 to show. Cruisin Chew Chew paid $14 to show.

The win was the sixth from 16 lifetime attempts and his third at Remington Park where he started his career. An Oklahoma-bred son of Walk Thru Fire from the Invisible Injun mare Algonquin, Thru The Fire picked up $14,290 for his return to the winner’s circle, boosting his overall earnings to $285,352.

There are just six race dates left in the 2013 Remington Park American Quarter Horse & Mixed-Breed Season. Saturday racing is headlined by the Grade 1, $35,000 National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Stakes for Paints & Appaloosas.

Sunday racing features three stakes races for state-breds on the Oklahoma Speedfest card, including the $50,000 Jack Brooks Stakes, the $50,000 FL Lady Bug Stakes and the $50,000 Easy Date Handicap.

Remington Park’s holiday racing weekend continues Saturday thru Memorial Day, May 24-27. The first race is 6pm on Saturday with racing underway at 1:30pm for Oklahoma Speedfest Sunday and Memorial Day Monday.

Remington Park’s season continues thru Sunday, June 2.

Tracked by over 36,000 fans on Facebook and 3,700 Twitter followers, Remington Park is Oklahoma City’s only Racetrack & Casino and is located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District. For more information, reservations and group bookings please call 405-424-1000, 866-456-9880 or visit remingtonpark.com.