Apoliticalgolddigger (#9), blue blinkers and shadow roll) keeps his head in front at the finish over Whatdyathinkofmenow (#10) to win the $971,955 Remington Park Futurity (RG1) on Saturday.

© Dustin Orona Photography

By Richard Linihan

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK–APRIL 18, 2026–Apoliticalgolddigger came out on the winning end as the two fastest qualifiers from trials hooked up all the way to the wire in the $971,955 Remington Park Futurity (RG1) on Saturday night.

Apoliticalgolddigger, under the expert handling of leading rider Juan Pulido, outlasted the other fastest qualifier from the two nights of trials, Whatdyathinkofmenow, to win by a head as the 2-1 favorite.

It was the fourth win of the night for Pulido, who is light years in front of the rest of the jockey colony here in the standings. Pulido also has won the two biggest futurities of the meet – the Remington Park Futurity and the Oklahoma Futurity.

Pulido had won the Grade 2 $435,395 Oklahoma Futurity on March 21 aboard Kiss Me Ina Flash.

One jockey, Bryan Candanosa, most recently won all three futurities in the same season at Remington Park. Candanosa won both the Oklahoma Futurity and the Heritage Place Futurity in 2022 with Tres Crystals and won the Remington Park Futurity in a dead-heat aboard PYC Avenue that same year.

Apoliticalgolddigger, a juvenile Oklahoma-bred colt by Apollitical Jess, out of the Heza Fast Man mare Ashleys Gold Digger, paid $6.60 to win, $3.20 to place, and $2.80 to show. Pulido said it never crossed his mind if he was winning or his competitor was as they came to the wire.

"To be honest, nothing is really going through your mind except staying busy doing your job," Pulido said. "I wasn’t thinking about that until I passed the wire. Then things like that run through your mind."

In a bit of an oddity, the four fastest qualifiers in the trials finished 1-2-3-4 in the Remington Park Futurity. PYC Dollars Cowboy (5-1) was third, a half-length back of Whatdyathinkofmenow and Cyber Hostage (19-1) checked in fourth.

The winning connections of Apoliticalgolddigger accept the Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Futurity stakes trophy Saturday night. © Dustin Orona Phtography

Apoliticalgolddigger’s winning time was 16.648 for the 330-yard race over a fast track, earning him a speed index of 92. Whatdyathinkofmenow’s time was :16.680 for a 91.

Pulido said he had his doubts going into the finals.

"It was exciting from the first jump," he said. "I wasn’t really all that confident because he is the kind of horse that likes to look around. You have to stay after him."

Apoliticalgolddigger earned $388,782 for the win and remained undefeated after three starts. He now has a total bankroll of $413,172. He was bred by Charlotte and Brett Northam and was purchased for $86,000 at the Heritage Place September Yearling Sale of 2025 in Oklahoma City.

The winner is trained by Josue Garcia, who also won the $217,910 Remington Park Derby with West Texas Royalty, to sweep the late daily double ($400 payoff) with his stablemates. West Texas Royalty was sent off at 44-1 odds and paid $91.60 to win, a far cry from his favored barn mate, Apolliticalgolddiger. The Remington Park Futurity winner is owned by Javier Cruz of Irving, Texas.

Runner-up Whatdyathinkofmenow, a brown colt by leading second-crop sire Cyber Monday out of champion Pj Chick in Black, by Desirio, was game throughout the duel but settled for second, earning $165,232 for owner Horton Racing LLC. The John Stinebaugh trainee was ridden by Francisco Calderon and sold for $65,000 at the 2025 Heritage Place Yearling Sale. Southfork Equine LLC/LS Racing Inc. bred the colt.

Third-place finisher Pyc Dollars Cowboy, a gelding by leading 2-year-old sire Flying Cowboy 123 out of Pyc Dollars, by Pyc Paint Your Wagon, rallied late to secure third money of $106,915 for owner Homero Campa-Mireles. Trained by Ramon Mendoza and ridden by Sergio Becerra, Jr., he also brought $65,000 at the 2025 Heritage Place Yearling Sale. Matthew Eck is the breeder.

The rest of the order of finish for the Remington Park Futurity was Dos Grandiose (21-1) fifth, BV So Long (3-1) sixth, D Molish (18-1) seventh, Heritage of Power (15-1) eighth, Kisses N Candy (19-1) ninth and Tellem Im in the 918 (34-1) 10th.

Remington Park racing continues Sunday, April 19 with first post time of 4pm-Central.

*******************

Remington Park has provided more than $410 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.

*******************

Would you like more industry news delivered directly to your inbox? Click here to sign up.