OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—MAY 30, 2011—The 2011 American Quarter Horse & Mixed-breed Season came to a close on Memorial Day with a series of Oklahoma-bred stakes races featured. Cold Granite Stone won his second stakes event of the meeting, taking the $50,000 Jack Brooks Stakes(RG3) by a neck in the co-main event.

Owned by Joe Hurdle of Sallisaw, Okla. and trained by his daughter Michelle Hurdle, Cold Granite Stone adds the Jack Brooks Stakes to his score in April’s Remington Park Derby. Jockey Bryan Ernst had his usual mount as Cold Granite Stone rallied from the outside post position to get up for victory in the 350-yard event for 3-year-old Oklahoma-breds. The colt covered the ground in :17.639 seconds over the fast track, passing Just Wannabe Postoak to win in the final yards.

Away as the 2-1 wagering favorite, Cold Granite Stone paid $6.80 to win, $4.40 to place and $3.40 to show. Just Wannabe Postoak returned $6.80 to place and $6.20 to show. PYC Takes All was a half-length back in third and paid $3.20 to show.

Bred in Oklahoma by Pompy Farm West, Cold Granite Stone is by Granite Lake from the Skirt Chasin Alibi mare Hempen Chics Alibi. The Jack Brooks victory was his seventh career win from 11 attempts and his fourth score at Remington Park. The first-place check of $26,250 moves the overall bankroll for Cold Granite Stone to $222,403.

The Jack Brooks Stakes is named after the legendary trainer from Blanchard, Okla. who won an unprecedented eight All American Futurities in his career. He also won 25 stakes races at Remington Park and three training titles in Oklahoma City before retiring in 2007.

$50,000 Easy Jet Stakes

Oklahoma-bred 2-year-olds were in the co-feature on Memorial Day with BP Cartels Fastmoney battling to victory in the Easy Jet Stakes.

Owned by Bill Price of Thackerville, Okla. and trained by Eddie Willis, BP Cartels Fastmoney was ridden by Cody Smith. The gelding was in contention throughout the 350 yards, making the lead at the halfway mark of the race before holding off a final surge by Send Me A Candy Tree to win by a head in :17.605 seconds.

BPs Jumpin Frisco, a stable-mate of BP Cartels Fastmoney, ran third. He is also owned by Price.

Coupled in the wagering with his stable-mate, BP Cartels Fastmoney was 5-1 in the wagering and paid $13.60 to win, $5.80 to place and $6.20 to show. Send Me A Candy Tree paid $4.20 to place and $3.20 to show.

The third consecutive win this season from four attempts was the first stakes triumph for BP Cartels Fastmoney. Bred in Oklahoma by Price, he is a gelding by Cartel Success from the Heza Fast Money mare Fast Mans Money. The winner’s share of $26,250 moves BP Cartels Fastmoney to $50,870 overall.

The Easy Jet Stakes is named in honor of the 1969 All American Futurity winner who was campaigned by the late Walter Merrick of Sayre, Okla. Easy Jet went on to become one of the major stallions in Quarter Horse racing history.

$31,000 Boyd Morris Memorial Stakes

Nocona Mafia pulled the mild upset under jockey Larry Payne, rolling late to pass his rivals on the outside before winning by a half-length over Fast Flung Floyd. The Boyd Morris Memorial was for 3-year-olds and older going 400 yards.

Nocona Mafia handled the measure in :19.928 seconds. Owned by Jean Dillard of Ringling, Okla. and trained by Sam Howard, the 5-year-old gelding was 8-1 in the wagering and paid $19.60 to win, $7.80 to place and $4.20 to show.

Fast Flung Floyd paid $11 to place and $4.40 to show. Looks Royal was third and returned $3.60 to show.

The win in the Boyd Morris Memorial was the fourth overall from 12 races for Nocona Mafia, bred in Oklahoma by Dillard. He is a gelding by Corona for Me from the Coordinator (TB) mare Coordinated Babe (TB). Picking up $18,000 for the triumph, Nocona Mafia has now earned $76,211 overall.

The Boyd Morris Memorial is named after the longtime Remington Park conditioner who was a prominent jockey prior to training, winning many of Quarter Horse racing’s top events, including the 1964 All American Futurity aboard Decketta.

$30,500 FL Lady Bug Stakes

Oklahoma-bred 2-year-old fillies were featured in the FL Lady Bug Stakes, an event named after one of the foundation broodmares in Quarter Horse racing. BV Valentine Wagon won the race by a neck over Jess A Queen, handling 330 yards in :16.897 seconds.

Owned by Bella Vista Farms of Arcola, Ill. and trained by Eddie Lee Willis, BV Valentine Wagon was handled by Jacky Martin. Away at 9/2 odds in the wagering, she paid $11 to win, $4.80 to place and $4.40 to show.

Jess A Queen paid $16.40 to place and $8.80 to show. Eyema Special Candy was third and paid $6.20 to show.

Winning for the second time in three races this season, BV Valentine Wagon picked up $18,000 to move her total earnings to $30,054. Bred in Oklahoma by her owner, BV Valentine Wagon is by PYC Paint Your Wagon from the Eyesa Special mare Eyesa First.

Price and Sills Share Owner Title

When BP Cartels Fastmoney scored in the Easy Jet Stakes on the final day of the season, he gave owner Bill Price of Thackerville, Okla. his 10th win for the meeting. That put him into a tie with James Sills of Cedar Hill, Texas atop the owner standings.

The horses of both owners are trained by Eddie Willis. It is the first leading owner title for both men at Remington Park. Sills enjoyed his biggest win of the season with Capo De Capi in the Heritage Place Derby on May 28.

Willis Sets Training Record

Trainer Eddie Willis won his sixth leading trainer title at Remington Park and set a new track standard for most wins in an American Quarter Horse & Mixed-breed Season with 53.

The Caney, Okla. resident receives the Jack Brooks Award as the leading trainer. His biggest triumphs came with Freighttrain B in the Oklahoma Derby in March and Capo De Capi in the Heritage Place Derby on May 28.

Luis Villafranco was second in the trainer standings with 32 wins while Guillermo Valdivia third with 29.

Carter Wins Jockey Title Outright

G.R. Carter shared the leading jockey honors with Jimmy Brooks for the 2010 American Quarter Horse & Mixed-breed Season at Remington Park. Such was not the case for 2011 as the native of Pawhuska, Okla. rolled up 91 scores to best Brooks by 31 wins.

The riding title is the 14th at Remington Park for Carter. His biggest win of the season came aboard Mighty B Valiant in the Remington Park Futurity in April. He also posted a pair of victories on Louisiana Senator in the Eastex Handicap and the Leo Stakes in March.

Brooks finished second in the standings with 60 wins while Kenny Muntz was third with 26.

Final 2011 American Quarter Horse & Mixed-breed season statistics will be released later this week.

Open daily at 10am for casino gaming, Remington Park also features Henry Hudson’s on the first floor, which opens for lunch at 11am. Admission, general parking and valet parking are always free at Remington Park.

Remington Park is Oklahoma City’s only Racetrack & Casino, 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.