For Immediate Release
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
SATURDAY’S LEO STAKES FEATURES THE WORLD CHAMPION AND A MILLIONAIRE IN A SUPERB FIELD
OKLAHOMA CITY – A tremendous field of veterans entered the Grade 1, $100,000 Leo Stakes, to be run Saturday night. The post-position draw held this morning in the Remington Park racing office came out with a group of 10, led by 2011 American Quarter Horse Association World Champion Cold Cash 123 and one of his main rivals, millionaire Llano Teller.
The Leo Stakes will be contested at 400 yards and feature 10 entrants and offer nine wagering interests to the public as there is one same-owner entry of two horses. The Leo Stakes is scheduled as the 10th of 11 races on Saturday, going at 9:54pm. The first race on the programs is at 6pm. All times are central.
Cold Cash 123 won the World Championship title in part by defeating and denying Llano Teller a sweep of the derby series at Ruidoso Downs, N.M. last year. Llano Teller won the $703,000 Ruidoso Derby in June, only to finish out of the money in the $900,000 Rainbow Derby in July which was won by Cold Cash 123. Llano Teller was able to score the $1.3 million All American Derby in September while Cold Cash 123 finished third.
Their rivalry resumed at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas where Cold Cash 123 once again had the upper hand in winning the $373,000 Texas Classic Derby in November.
Owned by T. Bill Stables of Clare, Mich. and trained by Dwayne “Sleepy” Gilbreath, Cold Cash 123 won six of his eight starts in 2011, capping his year with a triumph in the $350,000 Championship at Sunland Park on New Year’s Eve against older horses to clinch his World Championship.
Remington Park odds-maker Jerry Shottenkirk placed the two rivals near each other for morning-line status with Cold Cash 123 at 5-2 odds and Llano Teller at 3-1.
“It's hard to imagine a tougher race for older horses. Off his big finish and ultimate World Championship season, Cold Cash 123 is a slight favorite over Llano Teller who is a 3-time winner over the strip and has never been off the board here.”
Owned by the Llano, Texas partnership of Wootan Racing and Reed Land and Cattle, Llano Teller won six of nine starts in 2011, earning $1,090,221. Trained by Heath Reed of Seminole, Okla., Llano Teller now boasts career earnings of $1,575,609. He has the chance to make a legitimate run at the all-time earnings record for Quarter Horses, now held by Stolis Winner who has accumulated $2,235,161.
A win in the Leo Stakes would put Cold Cash 123 over the million-dollar mark in earnings as he comes into the race with $979,741. While achieving great success elsewhere, Cold Cash 123 is still in search of his first win at Remington Park, where he has never reached a top-three finish in two prior outs.
The 10 Leo entrants boast a combined earnings total of $4,581,570. They have 69 career victories between them.
The field for the Grade 1, $100,000 Leo Stakes, by saddle-towel and program number, with trainer, jockey and morning-line odds:
1. T Gold J, Bonifacio Almanza, Paul Nieto, 10-1
1a. Jess Special Candy, Bonifacio Almanza, Adalberto Candanosa, 10-1
2. PK Fire, Eddie Willis, David Pinon, 5-1
3. Cold Granite Stone, Michelle Hurdle, Bryan Ernst, 8-1
4. Llano Teller, Heath Reed, G.R. Carter, 3-1
5. Shakem Blue, Jorge Mendoza, Benito Baca, 15-1
6. Streakin Down, Eddie Willis, Jimmy Brooks, 4-1
7. Shake Em Special Pop, Kenneth Griggs, Jesus Salazar, 20-1
8. Cold Cash 123, Sleepy Gilbreath, Roy Baldillez, 5-2
9. Smokey Stone, Alonzo Loya, Ricky Ramirez, 20-1
The Leo Stakes undercard on Saturday also features the Grade 3, $50,000 Decketta Stakes for older fillies and mares (race 9, 9:28pm) and the $21,500 Paul Harbor Memorial Stakes for Paints & Appaloosas (race 8, 9:02pm).
Remington Park live racing resumes on Thursday, March 22 at 6pm.
Open daily at 10am for casino gaming and simulcast racing, Remington Park features the Bricktown Brewery on the casino floor. Admission, general parking and valet parking are always free at Remington Park.
Remington Park is Oklahoma City’s only Racetrack & Casino, located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District. For more information, reservations and group bookings please call 405-424-1000, 866-456-9880 or visit remingtonpark.com.
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For more information, contact:
Dale Day
Dale.day@remingtonpark.com
405-425-3215, 405-326-7496 (m)
