Juan Pulido is coming off the two most dominating weeks of the season at Remington Park.

© Dustin Orona Photography

By Richard Linihan

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—MAY 1, 2025—Juan Pulido was having an off meet for himself as he watched Edwin Escobedo and Francisco Calderon fight it out for the leading rider earlier this Remington Park season.

Pulido is coming off the two most dominating weeks of the season, moving from a top-five jockey, bursting into the lead by eight wins at the end of last week, and justifiably being named Lip Chip Jockey of the Week for the second week in a row.

Dee Keener has been awarded the Lip Chip Trainer of the Week after one of his Paint horses, JC Speeding, broke the track record for 330 yards for Paints and Appaloosas in the $25,000 Victoria Ennis Stakes on Friday night.

Pulido won the Remington Park jockeys’ riding title in 2021 and made it to the winner’s circle as the Grade 1, $1 million Heritage Place Futurity winner for the first time, the “greatest win of my life.”

He put himself in an opportune position to get another crown this year with the way he has been riding the past two weeks. He currently is in front with 34 trips to the winner’s circle, compared to second-place Calderon, who has 26. To show the dominance Pulido has displayed, Calderon is nine wins ahead of third-place Ali Rivera a 17.

Two weeks ago, Pulido became the first jockey this season to win four races in one night, following that with a pair of stakes wins the next night – the Remington Park Oaks and the Remington Park Derby.

This week, he became the first rider to win four races in one night a second time when he got his horses in front with the quad on a special Wednesday night of racing. Every day last week, Pulido had at least one win, and most nights more than that. His one-win night came on Saturday, but he scored at least twice every other racing night. Besides his four-bagger, Pulido won two each on Thursday and Sunday, and had a riding triple on Friday.

For the week, he was an amazing 12-of-26 winners for a 46 percent winning rate. Usually, if a jockey gets his horses into the money (first, second or third) with that kind of ratio, it’s considered good. But, 46 percent winners is almost unfathomable. James Flores had a great week with seven victories, but was still five behind Pulido.

Keener sent JC Speeding to post on Friday night for the Victoria Ennis Stakes and not only came away from the race with a black-type win, but also the track record of :16.522 seconds for 330 yards.

The previous Paint and Appaloosa record for that distance at Remington Park was held by The OSC Goldenboy (:16.563 on April 30, 2022). Flores was aboard JC Speeding for that magnificent run for Keener and owner Planefun (Carl Duggins) of Broken Arrow, Okla.

For the week, Keener, the leading trainer this meet by a wide margin and the two-time defending champion trainer here, made it to the winner’s circle seven times in 19 tries. He won at a 37 percent rate for the week. Keener now leads the way for all conditioners at Remington Park this season with 33 wins, compared to second-place Matt Whitekiller at 15 victories.

Remington Park racing continues Thursday through Sunday, May 1-4, with the normal 6pm post time on Thursday and Friday. Saturday, May 3 features the simulcast of the Kentucky Derby from Churchill Downs, so Remington Park action will begin that day at Noon. Sunday racing starts at its usual 4pm. All times are Central.

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Remington Park has provided more than $377 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the casino's opening in 2005. Located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District, Remington Park presents year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. The 2025 American Quarter Horse Season will begin on March 6. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.

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