Tempting Scout (#9) wins the final race on Friday at Remington Park to clinch Tom Maher of Pierre, S.D. his first leading owner title.

© Dustin Orona Photography

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—JUNE 2, 2023— Tempting Scout won her career debut Friday night in the 11th race at Remington Park. That victory gave owner Tom Maher of Pierre, S.D., the title as top owner of the meet.

Maher defeated Brenda Reiswig of Bismarck, N.D., taking a 13-11 lead into the final race night of the season, Saturday, at Remington Park.

The races for leading owner, trainer and jockey this meet have been tighter than a big man’s blue jeans at an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast.

The owners’ battle between the Dakotas could have gotten a little tighter if Reiswig’s horse in the seventh race Friday had won. She had a chance to get back into a tie with Maher, with a win there, but Cowboys R Myheros, a first-time starter, broke poorly and never had a chance.

That gave Maher a chance to clinch the owners’ title in the eighth or 11th race Friday with Relentlessly Fast or Tempting Scout, respectively. Relentlessly Fast couldn’t get the job done, but Tempting Scout, a 2-year-old daughter of Tempting Dash, out of the Apollitical Jess mare Apollitical Scout, cruised to victory from the outside easily. Jason Olmstead saddled the winner.

Maher has no horses entered on Saturday’s card, but it didn’t matter after winning the 11th race. Reiswig only has one, Midnight Politics (8-1) in the Heritage Place Futurity. The best she can do is finish second, one back.

The trainers’ race is also a tight one with Olmstead of Pryor, Okla., starting Friday night two wins behind Dee Keener of Inola, Okla., 36-34. Olmstead won the final race to pull within 36-35 of Keener but it would still require a miracle for Olmstead to tie or overtake Keener for the title.

Olmstead only has three horses entered in Saturday’s races, but they’re all in the same race, the Grade 1, $1,207,640 Heritage Place Futurity – Midnight Politics, Cardiac Cowboy (8-1) and Sheza Famous Candy (12-1).

Barring a triple dead heat with all Olmstead’s horses in the big race, he would have to win with one of them and Keener would have to lose with all 11 horses he has entered Saturday to tie for the title. So, we’re saying Olmstead…has a chance...a mathematical one. Also, if you believe in miracles, if two or all three of Olmstead’s horses dead-heat for the Heritage Place Futurity, he could win the title outright.

Keener will try to put the hammer down with 11 horses Saturday, six of them in one race – the Grade 1, $257,675 Speedhorse Graham Paint and Appaloosa Futurity. Those six are Triple L Xpress (4-1), R Cowgirl (5-1), Railway Café (6-1), WF Candy Tellin Tales (8-1), Mighty Mocha (10-1) and EL Flying Cowgirl (30-1). All six qualified for the final in the May 20 trials.

Keener’s other horses entered Saturday are RP Reckless Wire (6-1) in the fourth race, the Grade 1, $30,000 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Stakes for Paints and Appaloosas; Deck Stack (6-1) in the sixth race, the $100,000 Heritage Place Juvenile; O Donovan Ross (2-1) in the seventh race, the Grade 1, $50,000-added Remington Park Distance Championship at 870 yards; A Dream to Fill (15-1) in the eighth race, the Grade 1, $100,000-added Junos Request, and BP Cartel Policy (15-1) in the 12th, the Heritage Place Futurity.

In the jockeys’ race, three-time Remington Park title-holder, James Flores trailed leading rider Edwin Escobedo, 42-37, going into Friday’s races and pulled within four of him, winning his 38th and 39th races with Lowes Royal Wagon (Even money) in the fourth and with Go O Commando (2-1 post-time favorite) in the eighth. Escobedo’s 43rd win of the meet came aboard Tempting Scout in the 11th.

Escobedo takes a four-win lead into Saturday’s card with both jockeys scheduled to ride five horses each. Both have mounts in the final race of the meet in the Heritage Place Futurity – Escobedo aboard Midnight Politics (8-1) and Flores riding BP Cartel Policy (15-1), for the top two trainers of the meet, Olmstead and Keener, respectively.

Remington Park wraps up the 2023 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season on Saturday, June 3 with the Champions’ Night program of 12 races, starting at 5pm-Central.

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Tracked by more than 175,000 fans on Facebook and 10,700 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $317 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 features the 2023 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa season through June 3. Remington Park presents simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.