May 12, 2006 –World champion DM Shicago begins his defense of that title as he headlines the MBNA America® Oklahoma Challenge (G1) on Sunday night at Remington Park.

The $98,100 Grade 1 stakes highlights a huge weekend at the Oklahoma City track as it hosts the year’s first “Regional Challenge Weekend.”  Also slated for Sunday are the John Deere Oklahoma Distaff Challenge (G3), Red Cell Oklahoma Distance Challenge (G3) and Professional’s Choice Oklahoma Claiming Challenge.

DM Shicago (Separatist-Leading Sensation by Special Leader), who is making his highly anticipated first start for new owners Jim and Marilyn Helzer and trainer Heath Taylor, is trying to score his first stakes win outside of Ruidoso Downs. At the New Mexico mountain track, the 4-year-old gray gelding won the 2004 All American Futurity and then came back last summer to take the Ruidoso, Rainbow and All American derbies. He is just the third horse to sweep the three Grade 1 derbies at Ruidoso Downs.

Also on the bill for the weekend is the $48,040 Red Cell Oklahoma Distance Challenge. Plain Eye Opening, owned by the Grove, Oklahoma, partnership of Don and Linda Ryder’s Gore Range Construction and Jerry and Barbara Davis’ Double D Ranch, will face Walter and Pat Fletcher’s First To Ramble, who won the contest in 2005 and is looking to repeat the performance.

The Fletchers also are represented in the $45,000 John Deere Oklahoma Distaff Challenge with None As Easy who is making her 2006 stakes debut and should be favored on Sunday.  The 5-year-old mare has lit the board in 14 of 18 career starts, is a multiple graded-stakes winner and has earned $218,742.

The $40,500 Professional’s Choice Oklahoma Challenge will feature the Dub Seeley-owned and -trained Ligigator who will try to employ his past class as a stakes horse to top a tough field from the claiming ranks.

All four Challenge races at Remington Park on Sunday carry berths to the 2006 MBNA America Challenge Championships to be held Saturday, November 11, at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas.

For more information about American Quarter Horse racing or the MBNA America Racing Challenge Championship, go to aqharacing.com.

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