Ocho Rojo is the morning line favorite to win the $419,735 Oklahoma Futurity (G2), one of three AQHA stakes races scheduled for Saturday at Remington Park.

© Dustin Orona Photography/Lone Star Park

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK–MARCH 20, 2025–Florentino Leon's Ocho Rojo, a gelded son of Favorite Cartel and the fastest overall qualifier, is the 3-1 morning-line favorite for Saturday's 300-yard, $419,735 Oklahoma Futurity (G2), one of three American Quarter Horse stakes scheduled that night at Remington Park.

A $135,000 purchase from breeder Juan Humberto Moya at last year's Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, Ocho Rojo made his career debut with a head victory in his Oklahoma Futurity trial on March 7, the first of two nights of trials. Al Ray Watson trains the California-bred gelding.

Ocho Rojo drew post seven and will be ridden by Nestor Duran.

Trainer James Gonzales III will be represented by two finalists, including Nove Racing LLC's Tarzans Tarzi Lo. A homebred daughter of the Favorite Cartel stallion Tarzanito, Tarzans Tarzi Lo made her debut with a clear wire-to-wire, 1 1/2-length win in her Oklahoma Futurity trial.

Tarzan Tarzi Lo drew post 10 and will be ridden by Christian Cardenas.

The Oklahoma Futurity was first contested in 1947 and is the sport's oldest stakes.

Also on Saturday, 10 sophomores are entered back in the 350-yard, $219,635 Oklahoma Derby (G3).

West Texas Racing Partners' Cowboy Blue Z opened his 3-year-old season with a half-length victory in the fourth of seven Oklahoma Derby trials on March 9. The fastest qualifier, the Flying Cowboy 123 colt, was coming off of a juvenile campaign during which he earned $94,589 from eight races and was a finalist in Texas' richest horse race, the November 16, $912,000 Texas Classic Futurity (G1) at Lone Star Park.

Cowboy Blue Z drew post 10 and will be ridden by Francisco Calderon for trainer Mike Joiner.

Other contenders include Tempt Me Sass, a graded stakes placed son of champion Tempting Dash trained by James Gonzales III for owner LC Racing LLC. Tempt Me Sass ended his 2-year-old season with a second-place finish, a neck behind winner Electrifying Cowboy, in the December 15, 400-yard Southwest Juvenile Championship (G2) at Zia Park.

Tempt Me Sass drew post-five and will be ridden by Christian Cardenas.

Hernan Medrano's Hock Your Kisses leads a group of 10 2-year-olds entered in Saturday's 300-yard, $50,000 Oklahoma Juvenile Stakes.

A sorrel daughter of Kiss My Hocks trained by John Stinebaugh, Hock Your Kisses made her career debut with a clear 1 1/4-length win in her Oklahoma Futurity trial on March 7. The homebred filly drew post five and will be ridden by Ali Rivera.

All Remington Park races can be seen at Q-Racing Video.com.

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