Challenge


Rock A Billy, Winner of 10-of-20 at 870 Yards, Is Fastest Qualifier For G3 RP Distance Challenge
Rock A Billy, ridden by Alfredo Triana, Jr., defeats Bet I Make U Famous to set the fastest qualifier for the Remington Park Distance Challenge, to be contested on May 12.

© Dustin Orona Photography
Rock A Billy, Winner of 10-of-20 at 870 Yards, Is Fastest Qualifier For G3 RP Distance Challenge

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—APRIL 27, 2019—Rock A Billy, a multiple stakes winner at 870 yards, was the fastest qualifier in two trials Saturday for the Grade 3 $27,500-added AQHA Distance Challenge set for Sunday, May 12 at that same distance.

Two fields of six horses each made up the distance trials Saturday evening. Eight of the 12 competitors qualified for the finals and Rock A Billy showed his prowess around the hook, stopping the timer in a swift :44.796 seconds with a 15 mph tailwind over the fast track in the first trial heat, getting home the fastest of the 12.

Rock A Billy has won 10-of-20 starts lifetime at 870 yards for owner Rockin J Running Horses of Gatesville, Texas and trainer Tammy Johnson. Along the way the 6-year-old gelded son of Rock Solid Jess, out of the Game Patriot mare Imaginiff, has won three stakes races at 870 yards at three tracks.

He won the $20,000 Bill Reed Stakes at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico on Sept. 3, 2017; the $32,000 Will Rogers Downs Distance Challenge in Claremore, Okla., on Sept. 23, 2018, and the $50,000 King Rick Rack Stakes at Zia Park in New Mexico on Dec. 2, 2018.

Rock A Billy has yet to find the winner’s circle in a stakes race at Remington Park, but he has not lost here in his last two tries with new jockey Alfredo Triana, Jr., in the saddle. He was up for a victory here April 14 in an optional claiming $30,000 race, drawing away by 3-1/4 lengths.

On Saturday night, Triana booted him home to a neck win over Bet I Make U Famous. The two earned speed indexes of 104 and 103, respectively, finishing 5-3/4 lengths ahead of third-place finisher Flight Force.

Rock A Billy went off at 3-5 odds and paid $3.40 to win, $2.10 to place and $2.10 to show. Johnson qualified four of the final eight to run in the stakes race on May 12.

Cloud Ridge, under jockey Berkley Packer, defeated Madewell in the second trial to get the third fastest clocking of :44.911 seconds, a 103 speed index with a 15 mph tailwind. The son of grade 1 sire Carters Cartel races for owner-trainer Randy Davis.

Bred in Oklahoma by Davis, the multiple graded stakes winning 4-year-old is out of Snow Clouds by This Snow Is Royal. A winner of seven of 15 career starts, Cloud Ridge has earned $198,763.

For the field of qualifiers with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys CLICK HERE.

Racing continues Sunday at Remington Park with a nine-race card that starts at 1:30 p.m. The day includes Extreme Racing with Clydesdales, ostriches, camels and zebras between actual horse races.

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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 153,000 fans on Facebook and more than 9,900 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $216 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.