Jockey Roman Cruz got Champions Night kicked off at Remington Park on May 30 by bringing more drama to the race for leading rider by winning the first race of the day aboard Cuz Eyema Cowboy Baby in the Grade 1, $20,000 Speedhorse Graham Paint and Appaloosa Stakes on Saturday.
Cruz began the day four behind leading rider Juan Pulido and closed the gap to three with the victory. He was sent off as the 2-1 betting favorite and outlasted the 2-1 co-favorite Set On Cruise by a neck in the 350yard race. The margin in the jockeys’ standings narrowed to 53-50.
Cuz Eyema Cowboy Baby, a 3-year-old Oklahoma-bred Paint gelding by Flying Cowboy 123 (QH), out of the CRM Livewire mare Cuz Eyema Livewire, covered the distance in :17.659 on the fast track to earn an 88 speed index. It was the fifth win in 12 starts for this gelding, who is trained by Jesus Ruiz and owned by Gary and Charity Hensley of Coalgate, Okla. He earned $11,640 from the purse and improved lifetime to 12-5-4-1, for earnings of $88,526. Cuz Eyema Cowboy Baby was bred by his owners.
