OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—MARCH 30, 2019—Leading trainer Eddie Willis padded his lead in the standings by taking the feature race at Remington Park on Saturday night with Southern Belle BP hitting the wire a half-length in front.

The 3-year-old filly by First Down Dash, out of the Southern Cartel mare BP Shes Southern, sprinted to the finish line first, covering 350 yards in 17.592 seconds over a fast track, for a speed index of 87. Sent off at 7-1 odds, jockey Jimmy Brooks put the pedal to the metal on Southern Belle BP from the git-go, breaking on top and holding off 9-2 third choice in the betting, A Prize Wagon. Ms Perry Cartel (13-1 odds) finished third, a neck behind the runner-up.

Southern Belle BP pocketed $15,872 for the win in the $30,750 allowance race that was restricted to 3-year-olds-and-up that had not won a second time in their careers. The filly was bred in Oklahoma by owner Bill Price of Thackerville, Okla. She has now earned $30,764, doubling her bankroll tonight.

Willis pushed his lead in the trainers’ standings to four wins, leading Dee Keener 17-13. Despite Brooks’ trip to the winner’s circle, he dropped another win behind leading rider James Flores, who won twice on Saturday. Flores has 18 wins to Brooks’ 13. They were four apart when the night began.

Southern Belle BP paid $16.80 to win, $7.20 to place and $5.60 to show. It was her second win in only seven starts and her second in four tries at Remington Park. Prior to Saturday night’s race, she ran in the Oklahoma Derby trials on March 8 here and finished fourth to Jess Proved Youwrong, who went on to win the Grade 3, $255,750 Oklahoma Derby on March 23.

Southern Belle BP broke her maiden at Remington Park as a 2-year-old on May 20, 2018 over a muddy track. After trying a futurity trial at Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico, in July, she came within a half-length of beating allowance horses there, running third. One more race at Lone Star Park in trial-company on Sept. 22 proved fruitless as she was bumped at the start on a muddy track and never had a chance.

After a six-month layoff, Southern Belle BP returned to Remington Park where she faced the Oklahoma Derby winner, then was a solid winner with the drop in class.

Racing continues Sunday at Remington Park with 10 races beginning at 1:30 p.m.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Remington Park is always open for casino gaming. Simulcast horse racing is offered daily. Admission, parking and valet parking are always free at Remington Park. Guests must be 18 or older in order to wager on horse racing or to enter the casino.

Tracked by more than 150,000 fans on Facebook and more than 9,800 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $215 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Home to the historic Grade 2 Oklahoma Futurity, to be run for the 78th time on March 23, 2019, Remington Park 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.