OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—MAY 12, 2013—Cold Cash 123, American Quarter Horse Racing’s World Champion in 2011 and the Horse of the Meeting at Remington Park in 2012, made a triumphant return here Sunday. The millionaire overcame a slow start to win the Grade 2, $101,340 Bank of America Oklahoma Challenge Championship.

Owned and bred by T. Bill Stables, Inc. of Clare, Mich. and trained by Dwayne “Sleepy” Gilbreath, Cold Cash 123 was ridden by Roy Baldillez. The 5-year-old left the gate in slow order as he is prone to less-than-perfect beginnings. However, he usually has the time and the talent to overcome most of his starts and he did today as well, rolling to the front of the 440-yard race at the halfway point. Resilient once to the lead, Cold Cash 123 held on to win by a neck over The Sunday Assassin. BF Farm Boy was another head back in third.

Cold Cash 123 crossed the finish in :21.523 seconds over a fast track as the heavy wagering favorite at 4-5 odds. He paid $3.80 to win, $3.20 to place and $2.40 to show. The Sunday Assassin returned $7.60 to place and $4 to show. BF Farm Boy paid $5.40 to show.

The win was the 13th from 22 career starts for Cold Cash 123, a 5-year-old Michigan-bred by Oak Tree Special from the Takin On The Cash mare Hot Cash 123. He won his third career race at Remington Park, adding to his triumphs in the 2012 Leo Stakes and Remington Park Championship, both Grade 1 events.

Cold Cash 123 picked up $46,620 for his win in the Oklahoma Challenge Championship, upping his lifetime money to $1,326,216. His next start is expected to be a defense of his win in the Grade 1, $250,000 Remington Park Championship on June 1.

The Sunday Assassin races for owner/trainer Tana Pace. Ridden by Jesus Salazar, the FDD Dynasty 4-year-old earned $20,268 to boost his career total to $88,918. Corner K Quarter Horses, LLC bred the gelding in Arkansas from the Oh Shiney mare Oh Dusty Bunny.

Bf Farm Boy, ridden by jockey Larry Payne for trainer William Harris, picked up $10,134 for his third place effort. A homebred for Wade Siegel and Don Boyle, the 5-year-old sired by Hawkinson is out of Shirleys Strawfly, by Strawfly Special. The multiple graded stakes-placed gelding has earned nearly $125,000.

Completing the field were The Long Knife, Testing The Ice, Wagons West, Jesscuzican, Im The Key, Sm Country Streaker and Jodie Perry.

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For related story on the Grade 3 $45,270 Red Cell Remington Park Distance Challenge won by Stray Cat CLICK HERE.

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Distaff Challenge To Shez Jess Toxic

The $40,860 Merial Remington Park Distaff Challenge was won in another close photo-finish by Shez Jess Toxic who exchanged the lead with Southside Of Heaven for the better part of the 400-yard race before winning by a nose in :20.115 seconds.

Owned, trained and bred in California by Dean Frey of Stanton, Calif., Shez Jess Toxic was ridden by G.R. Carter. The 4-year-old mare won her Remington Park debut and her fifth race overall from 12 attempts. She has only finished out of the money twice in her career.

Shez Jess Toxic was 7-2 in the wagering and paid $9.60 to win, $5.20 to place and $6.40 to show. Southside Of Heaven paid $25 to place and $15.40 to show. Shanachee was a half-length behind the top pair for third and paid $13.80 to show. Cruzin The Wagon was the even-money betting favorite, finishing seventh.

Shez Jess Toxic is by Take Off Jess from the Victory Dash mare Dashing Fly Lady. The first-place check of $18,799 pushes her overall money to $158,634.

A daughter of Furyofthewind, Southside Of Heaven races for owner/breeder Steve Kirks and is conditioned by Peter Brown. Ridden by Kenny Muntz the 4-year-old earned $8,172 to push her bankroll to $18,993. She is out of the Stoli mare Stoli Oak.

Shanachee is an Oklahoma-bred daughter of Country Chicks Man from the Corona Cartel mare Court Etiquette. Charlton Hunt trains the 4-year-old for J. Garvin Kelly, who bred her in the name of E I R E Equine Nursery LLC. The $4,086 show check boosted her career total to $83,487.

Completing the field were Big Visions, Abreez, Naked Spur, Cruzin The Wagon, Don’t Look Ethel, Corona Mit Go and Woman Abouttown.

Zoetis Starter Allowance Challenge

Those that compete normally in the claiming ranks of racing had their challenge race Sunday as well in the $34,650 Zoetis Remington Park Starter Allowance Challenge. Knockout The Fire won the race by a length, covering 350-yards in :17.494.

Owned by Wade Helton of Pampa, Texas and trained by Alfredo Gomez, Knockout The Fire was ridden by Omar Reyes. Bred in Texas by James & Marilyn Helzer, Knockout The Fire is by Walk Thru Fire from the Feature Mr Jess mare Feature Knockout. She earned $15,941 for the starter allowance score to roll her overall money to $28,776.

Jim and Marilyn Helzer's homebred Watching The Cashflo earned $6,930 for second. C. Dwayne Gilbreath trains with Roy Baldillez getting the riding assignment. The gelding is by second crop sire Okey Dokey Fantasy from the Sixes Royal mare Confession Session.

Win Rabbits Fly was a nose back in the show position for owner Larry Abney and Chris Sheehy. Saddled by Abbney, the Fly Jess Fly 4-year-old picked up $3,465 for his efforts. G.R. Carter Jr., was aboard the Jackie Morgan Oklahoma-bred from the Spectacular Native mare Break The Market.

Completing the Zoetis field were The Sizzling Cartel, Oh Hell No, Zevi Powered, Really Hi, Teller Sheez Royal, Fast Jackson, Pt Special Feature and Barocco.

The Challenge winners from Remington Park are now qualified for the Bank of America Challenge Championships to be held at Los Alamitos in southern California in November.

The 2013 Remington Park American Quarter Horse & Mixed-Breed Season continues Thursday thru Sunday, May 16-19. The first race Thursday and Friday is at 6pm. Saturday racing starts at 5pm with the simulcast of the Preakness Stakes featured at 5:20pm. Sunday racing gets underway at 1:30pm.

Open daily at 10:30am for casino gaming and simulcast racing, Remington Park is the home of the $1,000,000 Heritage Place Futurity on June 1. Featuring the Bricktown Brewery on the casino floor, admission, general parking and valet parking are always free at Remington Park.

Tracked by over 33,000 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.