De Elegant AJ (4) wins the featured allowance event on Saturday, May 23, 2026 at Remington Park under jockey Cristian Edqueda.

© Dustin Orona Photography

By Richard Linihan

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK–MAY 23, 2026–Jockey Cristian Esqueda returned to the saddle of De Elegant AJ on Saturday night at Remington Park and won the featured open allowance race in a mild upset.

Sent off at 6-1 odds, De Elegant AJ was first to the wire in the 350-yard race that had scratched down to six horses by post time. The original field size was nine, but two horses – Decision Made and Eye On Politics – were early scratches and Burning Follies was scratched just before the field began to load into the starting gate.

Trainer Kevin Goodnight had given a leg up to jockey Jesus Ayala the last time this 6-year-old Oklahoma-bred gelding went to the races on April 24 here, but Saturday night Esqueda was back. He had ridden the son of Apollitical Jess in his last two starts during the fall of 2025l at Horseshoe Indianapolis in the $110,000 Indiana Championship Stakes and an open allowance race leading up to that race. Going into Saturday’s race, De Elegant AJ had only won once at Remington Park in nine tries and that was with Ayala up. Now he and Esqueda both have had wins aboard him at Remington Park in his 10 starts here. De Elegant AJ is out of the PYC Paint Your Wagon mare De Elegant Colour.

Willow Ridge Farms (Domer Scaramucci) of Moore, Okla., owns and bred this winner. De Elegant AJ grabbed the lead before the halfway point of the race and extended his it to three-quarters of a length, scoring by that margin in a time of :17.343 over a fast track, earning a speed index of 97. He earned $26,400 from the $42,230 allowance purse to improve to 20 starts, four wins, two seconds and five thirds for a career bankroll of $102,321.

The runner-up was Relentless Rocket (2-1), who finished a head in front of third-place finisher Big Bang Rocket, sent off as the 4-5 odds-on wagering favorite. De Elegant AJ paid $14.40 to win, $6 to place and $2.60 to show. His last win, prior to Saturday night, came right here at Remington Park on March 23, 2025, against allowance non-winners-of-three lifetime.

Remington Park racing continues Sunday, May 24 with the first race at 4pm-Central.

About Remington Park
Remington Park has provided more than $411 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District. The $1,000,000 Heritage Place Futurity takes place on the final night of the spring season on Saturday, May 30. Remington Park presents year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. Guests must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or to enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.

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