A Tres of Eagle (6) fends off A Famous Ribbon (3) to win the Grade 2 American Quarter Horse Association Remington Park Championship Challenge on Sunday.

© Dustin Orona Photography/Remington Park

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK–APRIL 7, 2024– A Tres of Eagle is quickly approaching the half-million dollar mark in lifetime earnings, winning his third stakes in his last four tries at Remington Park, on Sunday in the Grade 2, $67,787 American Quarter Horse Association Remington Park Championship Challenge.

The 5-year-old gelded son of One Fabulous Eagle, out of the Tres Seis mare A Tres of Paint, earned $33,216 from the purse to boost his career earnings to $456,920. He has raced 19 times with six total wins from 15 starts for owner Bella Vista Farm (Fred Helmuth) of Arcola, Ill and won the last five of seven outs.

The winner burst from the gate in the 440-yard race under jockey Jhaciel Soto, and he pressed to the wire in front by a neck over A Famous Ribbon (6-1).

A Tres of Eagle was sent off as the 2-1 betting favorite and paid $6.00 to win, $4.40 to place and $2.20 to show. Running time for the winner was :21.411 over the fast track for a speed-index of 105.

“He broke on top and did his job,” said Soto. “He got it all done good. He’s an awesome horse.”

It’s almost a guarantee for A Tres of Eagle, trained by Eddie Lee “Bubba” Willis, to wind up in the winner’s circle at Remington Park anytime his trailer enters the city limits. Prior to this race, A Tres of Eagle won the $100,000 Dee Raper Sooner State Stakes last year on April 22 and also the $68,000 Mr Jet Moore Stakes on April 1, 2023. The only stakes he lost here last year was the $275,000 Debbie Schauf Remington Park Invitational Stakes, when he ran third to multiple AQHA World Champion Danjer.

A Tres of Eagle was bred in Oklahoma by The Mixer Ranch and may have been the bargain-basement purchase of the decade as he was bought at the 2020 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale in New Mexico for $40,000.

It was the first win in this stakes series for all the connections of the horse.

A Famous Ribbon, ridden by Manuel Gutierrez, moved up quickly on the inside, digging in for second best by neck recording a 103 speed index 2 3/4-lenths ahead of the rest of the field. Trainer Juan Diaz Jr saddled the Texas-bred for owner Adrian Aleman. The son of One Famous Eagle has six wins with two in stakes competition and $128,202 in the bank.

Bred by Weetona Stanley, A Famous Ribbon was a $30,000 Heritage Place Yearling Sale graduate in 2020. The five-year-old gelding is out of Fast Prize Ribbon by Corona Cartel.

Jockey Roman Cruz saddled Pretty Lie to her third place finish. The four-year-old daughter of Tempting Dash has four career wins with $63,065 in the earnings.

Dunn Ranch and Top Roustabouts bred Pretty Lie in Oklahoma out of Pretty Little Liar by Mr Jess Perry. Salimm Hernandez conditions the sorrel filly for owners Ismael Donato and Marcos Mora.

This race also included the 2022 All American Futurity winner, Hes Judgeandjury, but he never was a factor as he was shaking his head when the gate opened. He ran sixth in the field of seven at lukewarm odds of 5-1. That’s how tough this field was.

The rest of the field was Big Caney (22-1) in fourth, Jess the Leader (7-1) fifth, Hesjudgeandjury (5-1) sixth and Im No Lawyer Butt (7-2) seventh.

Remington Park racing continues next week with a Thursday-Sunday schedule, April 11-15. The first post time is 6pm nightly except for Sundays when the first race goes at 4pm. All times are Central.

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About Remington Park

Remington Park has provided more than $345 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, Remington Park presents simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. The Remington Park Futurity for Oklahoma-breds is featured on April 27. The 2024 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season continues through June 1. starts its 50-date season. Parking and admission are always free. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.