Eastex Stakes

Head Patron was successful in his first start of his 4-year-old campaign, as the chestnut son of Zoomin For Bux won Saturday's 350-yard, $51,840 Eastex Stakes (G2) at Remington Park.

Trained by Waylan Melton for owner Brant Barley of Mindemines, Missouri, and racing against a reported 10-mph head wind, Head Patron stopped the timer in :17.418, and his margin of victory was a clear 1 1/2 lengths from Apollitical Payoff. Juan Pulido rode the Missouri-bred gelding, who earned $29,946 from his third career stakes win and first graded stakes victory.

Head Patron was extending his win streak to four races, as he ended his sophomore season with a 1 1/2-length victory in the 400-yard, $126,000 QHRAI Derby at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The gelding was bred by Jon Barley and Brant Barley, and he is out of Dash Leader, a homebred winning daughter of world champion Special Leader.

All told, Head Patron has won seven of 14 races, including four of seven at the 350-yard trip, and he has banked $227,851. During his 2-year-old season, he scored a 2 1/2-length victory in the 350-yard, $146,000 Governor's Stakes at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Hesa Party Wagon and Watch Out finished in a dead heat for third.  Apollitical Gold and Tres Coronas completed the order of finish.

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