OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—APRIL 6, 2017—Eyesa Shoofly Dandy broke on top in the Grade 3, $51,548 Pauls Valley Stakes and while he did not remain on top the entire race, he did fight back gamely in deep stretch to prevail by a head.

The initial stakes event of the Remington Park season around the turn at 870-yards, Eyesa Shoofly Dandy covered the ground in 45.169 seconds over a fast track. After sprinting to the lead from post three under jockey Donell Blake, Eyesa Shoofly Dandy had to fight back to win after Admiral Zoomwalt, the wagering favorite at 2-1 odds, went to the front just off the turn along the rail.

"My horse kind of went out a little bit at the top of the lane," Blake noted. "The 2-horse (Admiral Zoomwalt) went by me and I’m pretty sure he used up a lot of horse when he passed me. My horse, kept on battling on and battling on and I never gave up on him. When I started coming to (Admiral Zoomwalt) I was glad and I could tell that I was wearing him down."

Eyesa Shoofly Dandy fought back from a slim half-length deficit with under a furlong to go to score with Admiral Zoomwalt a clear second. A late-charging Jess A Hilbily Bone was third, beaten 1-1/2 lengths.

Eyesa Shoofly Dandy was at 7-2 odds in the wagering and paid $9.80 to win, $5.20 to place and $3 to show. Admiral Zoomwalt returned $3.80 to place and $2.80 to show. Jess A Hilbily Bone paid $2.80 to show.

Trained by 2016 American Quarter Horse Association Champion Trainer Judd Kearl, Eyesa Shoofly Dandy is owned by the Tulsa, Okla. partnership of Curtis Smith and Steve Holt. Eyesa Shoofly Dandy is a 6-year-old gelding by Gold Medal Jess, out of the Willie Wicked mare, Miss Sound Viking. He was bred in Oklahoma by Wesley Ann Anglin.

A winner of 10 career races from 24 attempts, Eyesa Shoofly Dandy has now won six races at the turn distance of 870 yards. The Pauls Valley Stakes was the second Remington Park victory for Eyesa Shoofly Dandy who picked up $30,918 to run his total earnings to $131,865.

Ridden by jockey James Flores, Admiral Zoomwalt races for owner Terry McLean and trained by Gerry McLean. Mike Nobles and Christine Hudson bred the son of Shazoom in Oklahoma from the First Down Dash mare Tellin It All. The multiple stakes winner earned $10,486 to boost his earnings total to $118,335.

Tammy Kay Johnson saddled Jess A Hilbily Bone to his third-place finish for owner/ breeder Rockin J Running Horses. The stakes winning Texas-bred son of Rock Solid Jess is out of Imaginiff by Game Patriot. Agustin Silva was riding.

Completing the Pauls Valley field were Blazen Panther, Cjs Rocksolid, Jmf Shazoomer, Fire On The Fly and Jess Twice Cash.

The Pauls Valley Stakes is named after the Oklahoma town about an hour south of Oklahoma City.

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Tracked by over 119,000 fans on Facebook and 8,400 Twitter followers, Remington Park is the home of the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Futurity on Saturday, March 25. Remington Park has provided over $165 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Open daily at 10:30am with free parking and admission, Oklahoma City’s only Racetrack & Casino 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.