- Dustin Orona Photography

LOUISIANA SENATOR CONTROLS EASTEX HANDICAP

OKLAHOMA CITY – March 6, 2011 - The Opening Weekend of the 2011 American Quarter Horse & Mixed-breed Season closed Sunday afternoon featuring the $50,600 Eastex Handicap. Louisiana Senator led from start to finish to win the first graded stakes race of the season by a length.

Purchased by the Louisiana Senator Syndicate of Llano, Texas for $48,000 in January at the Heritage Place Winter Sale in Oklahoma City, Louisiana Senator came through with flying colors for his new connections. Now trained by Heath Reed and ridden by G.R. Carter, the 5-year-old California-bred horse was quick from the starting gate and never threatened in the Grade 2 Eastex.

“He’s had a really good career but he has never really shown that great spectacular start like he did here at Remington today,” Carter noted. “We were really expecting him to run big today and he left the gate just phenomenal.”

Louisiana Senator covered 350 yards in :17.305 seconds over a fast track. Streakin Down, the beaten even-money favorite, was second throughout the Eastex but could never get close to the winner.

“He just exploded down through there,” noted Reed. “He had it under control all the way. We were fortunate to outrun Streakin Down.”

Fishin CR rallied on the outside for a distant third, 1-1/4 lengths behind the runner-up.

Louisiana Senator left the starting gate at 5-1 odds and paid $13.40 to win, $5.20 to place and $4.20 to show. Streakin Down paid $3.60 to place and $3.20 to show. Fishin CR returned $3.40 to show.

A son of Jess Louisiana Blue from the Corona Cartel mare Corona Perfection, Louisiana Senator was bred in California by Vinewood Farms. The Eastex win was his fifth from 15 career starts and his third from five attempts at Remington Park. The winner’s share of $30,000 moves his career bankroll to $267,908.



Live racing will resume on Friday, March 11 at 6pm. The featured stakes event during the second weekend of the season is the $50,000 SLM Big Daddy Stakes at 550 yards on Saturday, March 12.

Open daily at 10am for casino gaming and simulcast racing, Remington Park also features Henry Hudson’s on the first floor, which opens for lunch at 11am. 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.