Jockey Stewart Elliott affirms the adage that age truly is only a number. The 58-year-old veteran jockey is still going strong with five stakes wins during the week at Remington Park, including the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby, proving that he has no intention of slowing down.
A panel of racing experts voted Elliott Jockey of the Week for Sept. 18 through Sept. 24. The honor recognizes jockeys for riding accomplishments and who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 1,050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.
On Friday, Elliott's first stakes win of the weekend came aboard Run Slewpy Run for trainer Jayde Gelner in the Bob Barry Memorial. Off as the favorite in the field of nine fillies and mares, Run Slewpy Run raced at the back, 10 lengths off the leader. At the top of the stretch, Run Slewpy Run closed the gap and was in front to win by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:32.34 for 7 1/2 furlongs.
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen provided Elliott with his second stakes win of the evening aboard Tap the Dot in the Red Earth Stakes at 7 1/2 furlongs on the grass for 3-year-olds and up. Off at odds of 5-1, Tap the Dot settled in mid-pack before taking command in the stretch to post a 1 1/2-length win in 1:31.32.
The win was Elliott's fifth trip to the winner's circle on the night for five different trainers.
Elliott's stakes haul continued on Sunday, Oklahoma Derby Day, with Sunlit Song for trainer Mindy Willis in the Remington Green for 3-year-olds and up. As the prohibitive favorite in the field of seven, Sunlit Song raced in fourth along the rail until Elliott guided him off the fence on the final turn and drove to the wire with Paluxy in hot pursuit. Sunlit Song turned back the challenge to post a one-half length win in 1:51.43 for 1 1/8 miles on the grass.
Trainer Michael Biehler gave a leg up to Elliott on Medalla Match in the Ricks Memorial at 1 1/16 miles on the turf for fillies and mares. Off as the favorite, Medalla Match made every pole a winning one taking the field of eight gate-to-wire in 1:45.09.
Riding again for his top trainer Steve Assmussen, Elliott had the call aboard longshot How Did He Do That in the feature race of Sunday's card, the G3 Oklahoma Derby. Off at odds of more than 40-1, How Did He Do That tracked the leader Ghost Hero through six furlongs before moving to the front turning for home. How Did He Do That held a narrow lead with a furlong to go as Tumbarumba and stablemate Red Route One gained ground. The trio hit the wire together with How Did He Do That prevailing by a short nose in 1:50.34 for 1 1/8 miles on the main track.
“He ran great, what can I say,” said Elliott. “Down the lane, I kept asking him and he kept digging in.”
It was the first Oklahoma Derby win for Elliott and his 11th win for the week. He sits atop the Remington Park jockey standings by double digits.
Elliott out polled Florent Geroux who won the G1 Pennsylvania Derby, Paco Lopez who won 13 races for the week including the Parx Dirt Mile, Edwin Maldonado with a G1 win in the Cotillion, and Edgard Zayas with two stakes wins including the G2 Presque Isle Downs Masters.
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