OQHRA

OKLAHOMA CITY - May 27, 2019 – Jockey Agustin Silva had basically never seen Watah Flash before winning aboard him in the $55,250 Jack Brooks Stakes on Memorial Day at Remington Park.

He didn’t even see him in the starting gate when the 3-year-old American Quarter Horse colt was beneath him, getting ready to run.

“In the gate, I just closed my eyes and hoped for the best,” said Silva, who picked up the mount. “I just picked up the mount for this race and he was a good one.”

Watah Flash ran like the wind, flashing to the finish, beating a strong field of 3-year-old Oklahoma-bred Quarter Horses at 350 yards.

“We got this horse as a 2-year-old,” said owner Mike Lane of Lane and Sons Cattle Co. of Ada, Okla. “(Former trainer) Brian Muse went and picked him up for us (at the Heritage Place September Yearling Sale of 2017, paid $46,000 for him). When he got home with him and told us his name, my wife said he better run well with that name.”

Watah Flash was bred in Oklahoma by Steve Holt. He is trained by John Stinebaugh.

The $46,000 has been an excellent investment for the Lanes as Watah Flash earned $32,880 from Sunday’s purse and has now taken home $139,238 in winnings. The 3-year-old colt by First Moonflash, out of the Shazoom mare Lotawatah, now has two wins in 10 starts, four seconds and one third. Watah Flash paid $7 to win, $4.40 to place and $3.20 to show in the Jack Brooks Stakes win at wagering odds of 5-2.

“I wasn’t sure I had it at the wire,” said Silva, “but he got up.”

Watah Flash finished a nose ahead of runner-up Tarish in second. Saratoga Return and Eagles Fly Higher were third and fourth, respectively. Running time for the winner was 17.622 seconds over a fast track, about six-tenths of a second slower than the stakes record of 17.06 seconds, set by Cruzin The Wagon in 2012.

It was the first win of the Jack Brooks Stakes for all the connections. 

The Jack Brooks Stakes is named in honor of the American Quarter Horse racing legend and Hall of Fame trainer from Blanchard, Okla. He won the top race in the sport, the All American Futurity, a record eight times before retiring in 2007. Brooks and his wife Wynona were on hand to present the stakes trophy to the winning connections.

Racing continues Thursday as the final week of live racing is upon us for the Quarter Horse/Paints/Appaloosa race meet. First post Thursday night is 6 p.m.

Remington Park is always open for casino gaming. Simulcast horse racing is offered daily. Admission, parking and valet parking are always free at Remington Park. Guests must be 18 or older in order to wager on horse racing or to enter the casino.

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Tracked by more than 154,000 fans on Facebook and more than 9,900 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $218 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 is home to the Grade 1 Heritage Place Futurity and the Grade 1 Remington Park Championship on Saturday, June 1, the final night of the 2019 spring season. For more information, reservations and group bookings please call 405-424-1000, 866-456-9880 or visit