Page 104 - May2020.indd

RACING NEWS
Remington Park Oklahoma Bred Futurity-RG1
EYE WORK FOR YOU
by Tracy Gantz
When 23-year-old trainer Marcos Carrizales of Harlingen, Texas, was a young boy, his father, Santos, rode for jockey James Flores’ family.
“We’ve known James and his family for a good while,” said Marcos. “They’re good friends from back home.”
So it’s not surprising that James now rides many of Marcos’ runners. They collaborated last year to win the All American Futurity-G1 with Jose Ernesto Guzman and Rito Sosa’s Mr Jess Jenkins. They won again April 18, this time with Guzman’s Eye Work For You in the $891,900 Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Futurity-RG1.
“Marcos’ dad, Santos, used to be our jockey back at the bush tracks in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas,” said Flores. “Now I’ve been riding for Marcos for a couple of years. Funny how things work.”
It is a good partnership. Flores has ridden Eye Work For You in all three of his races. Carrizales unveiled the gelding on March 13 at Remington Park in a 250-yard maiden race, and Eye Work For You won by wire-to-wire 3/4-length over a sloppy track. He came back to ace his Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Futurity trial by a 1/2-length to qualify as the second fastest behind Dalts Fancy Pistol.
“To be honest with you, when I rode this horse on the farm last winter, I knew we really
had something on our hands,” said Flores. “He was really fast and really professional.”
Dalts Fancy Pistol went off as the favorite in the Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Futurity, with Eye Work For You the second choice.
When the gate opened, Eye Work For You came away from the 5 post
on top, and he battled for the
lead throughout with longshot
Dangerous Cartel. They took
it right down to the wire, but
Eye Work For You nailed the
victory at the line by a nose.
He stopped the timer
in :16.908 for 330 yards, posting an 87 speed index. The $356,760 winner’s share of the purse boosted the unbeaten gelding’s total bankroll to $379,330.
“He has such a big heart,”
said Carrizales. “He never
gives up. It was a tough race, but he loves what he does and he’s a real good runner.”
Carrizales added that Eye Work For You has a super disposition. “He’s just like a little pony horse—he’s real nice,” the trainer said. “He’s not too big. He’s just perfect-sized.”
Eye Work For You is one of several 2 year olds that make up Carrizales’ 33-horse stable. The
trainer hopes to take the string to Ruidoso, with some of the 2 year olds waiting until that meet to debut because they are New Mexico-breds.
As for Eye Work For You, Carrizales will aim for the All American and a possible second win in the prestigious race.
“There are no words
to even think about that,” Carrizales said. “I would be speechless—I wouldn’t even know what to say.”
Carrizales almost pulled off a stakes double on the April 18 Remington Park card. He saddled Mr Jess Jenkins in the Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Derby-RG2, and the 2019 All American winner finished second to Fernweh after being brushed midway.
The races went off without fans, as Remington Park adhered to safety pro-
tocols in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. “It’s a little weird, but it’s nice and quiet,” said
Carrizales. “You can hear all the horses coming down the stretch and all the jockeys. Thank God they still have us running, unlike other states.”
Jose Acosta bred Eye Work For You out of winner Eye Love It. The mare has produced
Remington Park $891,900 • 330 yards :16.908 • si 87
Corona Cartel
Coronas Leaving You
Lil Bit Rusty
EYE WORK FOR YOU, ‘18-g.
Mr Eye Opener
Eye Love It
Sweetly Special
102 SPEEDHORSE May 2020
Eye Work For You and jockey James Flores win the $891,900 Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Futurity by a nose.
Dustin Orona Photography