Owner-breeder Terry Westemeir of Broken Arrow, Okla., said his only concern was the long layoff for his 3-year-old gelded son of American Lion, out of the Macho Uno mare Ebony Uno. Number One Dude had been off since Oct. 15 when he ran second in the $175,000 Oklahoma Classics Cup to multiple-time winner at Remington this meet, Absaroka.

Number One Dude has now won four Oklahoma-bred stakes races at Remington Park and one at Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla. His overall record improved to 10 starts, six victories, and two seconds for $276,843. He earned $42,000 from this purse.

He was purchased by Westemeir when the owner bought Number One Dude's dam (mom) Ebony Uno and she was in foal with him. Westemeir was trying to figure out how to break the news to his wife Leslie that he had bought not only one horse, but another one yet to come.

“She didn't want me to buy one, let alone two,” Westemeir said. “She's good now.”

Regardless of what the undisclosed purchase price was, it couldn't have been close to what he has earned on the track. Number One Dude broke his maiden at Remington Park as a 2-year-old on Sept. 18, 2020. He won that race by 7 1/2 lengths. He followed that up with victories in the $100,000 Oklahoma Classics Juvenile and the $75,000 Don McNeill Stakes on Oct. 16 and Nov. 13, respectively, last year. The margins of victory in those two were one length and six lengths.

An abscess developed and was found after he was soundly defeated in the $200,000 Springboard Mile to finish the 2020 meet, running eighth, and he was given time off before his next start at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas. The layoff showed as he could do no better than fifth, beaten 13 lengths in open allowance 3-year-olds company there on May 9 this spring.

After winning the $55,000 Will Rogers Stakes on May 25 by 5 1/4 lengths, he had a quick trip to Iowa and Prairie Meadows before returning to his home base at Remington Park. Once he got back to Oklahoma City, he became a monster again.

He won the $50,000 Oklahoma Stallion Stakes by seven lengths on Sept. 10 here and then was the runner-up to Absaroka prior to this race. Number One Dude, a beautiful dark bay, almost black, then had the short vacation.

“I was concerned about the lack of a race since the Classics Cup,” Westemeir said. “I have to give credit to (trainer) Kari (Craddock) and her crew, Jeremy Collier and exercise rider Keith Bilbey, (jockey) Leandro (Goncalves), and everyone else for getting him ready off of works.”

Number One Dude sat just off the shoulder of front-runner Salt Creek Kid all down the backstretch. When the pacesetter began to fade to last, the Craddock charge took over and drew away by seven lengths as the heavy wagering favorite at 2-5 odds.

Tap the Dot was second at 3-1 and You'reobadboy finished third, another half-length behind at 27-1.

Number One Dude showed his tactical speed behind early fractions of :24.76 for the first quarter-mile, :49.69 for the half-mile, 1:14.84 for three-quarters of a mile, and 1:27.51 for seven furlongs, finishing the mile in 1:40.25 over the fast track. He paid $2.80 to win, $2.10 to place, and $2.10 to show.

The Jim Thorpe Stakes is named after the native Oklahoman and Olympic gold-medalist who was considered the greatest athlete of the 20th century.

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Remington Park's all-time winningest horse, Welder, has won the race the past four years for owner Ra-Max Farms (Clayton Rash) of Claremore, Okla., three times for trainer Teri Luneack.

The 8-year-old gelding who retired on Oct. 15 with 16 wins at Remington Park and 27 overall has won the Silver Goblin Stakes a record number of times, one ahead of Okie Ride. This year, there were 20 nominations to the 6-1/2 furlong race, including the horse that beat Welder in the final race of his career. The race is written for 3-year-olds-and-older that are Oklahoma foals. Shannon C won the Oklahoma Classics Sprint on Oct. 15 and Welder ran third.

Shannon C had been beaten by Welder four times in his career before winning the Oklahoma Classics Sprint, but the fifth time was the charm. The 6-year-old gelded son of Latent Heat, out of the Fistfite mare Miranda Diane, is owned by B and S Racing (Robert Smith) of Springfield, Mo., and trained by Scott Young. He was ridden to his Classics win by Leandro Goncalves.

Shannon C could very well be the heir apparent to picking up the dropped baton. He is on a two-stakes win streak, having taken the $70,000 Remington Park Turf Sprint on Sept. 3. He could easily be the favorite in the Silver Goblin off those consecutive stakes wins.

“Shannon has been an iron horse from Day One,” said Young. “The Classics win was his day. It took a while but he showed why Bob and Ted (Bozarth and Smith) breed horses to Miranda Diane. It's come full circle now. He got that Oklahoma Classics win that we've been shooting for, for what? The past four years.”

Shannon C drew away impressively at the end, winning by three lengths at 5-1 odds. Young ran 1-2 in the race as Mesa Moon held off Welder by one length. The trainer has also nominated Mesa Moon for owner Cimarron TTT Farms (Marvin Triplett) of Edmond, Okla. Mesa Moon was three lengths back of his stablemate in the Oklahoma Classics Sprint at 6 furlongs.

Shannon C earned $78,000 for the win and improved to 27 starts, seven wins, 11 seconds, and two thirds for $368,766 in earnings.

Another multiple stakes winner that figures to vie for favoritism, if he should hit the entry box of this race, is Quality Rocket. He was soundly defeated in seventh in the $130,000 Oklahoma Classics Turf on Oct. 15, after winning it last year and taking the Red Earth Stakes two years in a row on the turf. His talents go far beyond routing on the grass, however. He has won the Route 66 Stakes at Fair Meadows in Tulsa, Okla., two years in a row on the dirt at the distance for the Silver Goblin Stakes.

Quality Rocket, a 7-year-old gelded son of Backstabber, out of the King of Scat mare, has an impressive lifetime record of 36 starts, 11 wins, nine seconds, and one third for $409,006 in earnings. If he were to go in the Silver Goblin, he would be the top money earner. That's not too shabby for a horse that had been put in for a $7,500 claiming tag three races in a row in the early part of his career. He is owned by Jeremy Ball of Shawnee, Okla., trained by Boyd “Jobe” Caster. Ramon Vazquez has been in the saddle for his last two stakes tries.

The record time for the Silver Goblin is 1:15, set by Zee Oh Six in 2005, the first year of the race named for one of the greatest Oklahoma-breds in history. Silver Goblin is seventh among Okie-breds in lifetime money earned with $1,083,895. He is behind Kip Deville ($3,325,489), Lady's Secret ($3,021,325), Shotgun Kowboy ($1,548,684), Clever Trevor ($1,388,841), Welder ($1,263,359), and She's All In ($1,102,489). Silver Goblin had 26 career starts with 16 wins, four seconds, and three thirds from 1993-99. He will long be remembered for running second to Cigar in the 1995 Oaklawn Handicap at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark. Cigar was in the middle of a 16-race win streak. Cigar won just short of $10 million in his career.

Racing continues next week with a Wednesday-Saturday night schedule. First post time is 7:07 p.m. Central.

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The fifth time is apparently the charm as Shannon C finally got the best of Welder, who made the final start of his career, running third in the $130,000 Oklahoma Classics Sprint, presented by The Kaw Nation, on Friday night here.

“Shannon has been an iron horse from Day One,” said trainer Scott Young. “Today was his day. It took a while but he showed why his breeders, Bob and Ted (Smith), breed horses to Miranda Diane. It's come full circle now. He got that Oklahoma Classics win that we've been shooting for, for what? The past four years.”

It was Young's first trip to the winner's circle in an Oklahoma Classics race as well as jockey Leandro Goncalves. Welder broke well, but veered out to the outside after leaving the gate. Shannon C, a 6-year-old gelding by Latent Heat, out of the Fistfite mare Miranda Diane, is a horse that likes to shoot for the front, but did not show that speed Friday night. Goncalves was mystified that Shannon C wasn't on the early lead.

“He is one of the fastest horses out of the gate I've ever ridden, but not tonight,” said Goncalves. “So, I was waiting and when I asked him to run, he just took off and ran like he was the best horse today.”

“Leandro said he had to go to plan B (because of the slow break) and it worked,” Young said.

It was the second stakes win in a row to the versatile Shannon C. He had won the Remington Park Turf Sprint Stakes on Sept. 24. That was a 5-furlong sprint on the grass. Friday night's win was a 6-furlong sprint over the fast main track.

Welder's owner Ra-Max Farms (Clayton Rash of Claremore, Okla.), before the race had wished Young good luck.

“I'm glad if Welder had to lose it was to this horse,” said Rash. “It's OK. I said before the race that, win or lose, we would be retiring him and we'll stick to that.”

“We knew it was time and we wanted him to retire sound and safe,” said Welder's trainer Teri Luneack. “He has done everything we've ever asked of him and he didn't owe us a thing going into this race.”

Now it seems a horse that Welder had beaten by 4-3/4 lengths, 6-1/4 lengths, 6-1/2 lengths, and a neck, the last four times they faced each other may be the heir apparent as top Oklahoma-bred sprinter on the grounds. Welder had won this race the past three years in a row and was trying to tie Highland Ice and Okie Ride for four wins in this race.

Shannon C drew away impressively at the end, winning by three lengths at 5-1 odds. He paid $12.80, $6.40, and $3.20 across the board. Young trained horses ran 1-2 in the race as Mesa Moon (2-1) held off Welder by one length.

The remaining order of finish in the Classics Sprint was Euromantic (4th), Fast Breakin Cash (5th), No Lak of Speed (6th), Fly to the Bank (7th), and D Toz (8th).

Shannon C earned $78,000 for the win and improved to 27 starts, seven wins, 11 seconds, and two thirds for $368,766 in earnings. He chased early fractions set by Fly to the Bank of :22.15 for the first quarter-mile, :45.30 for the half-mile, :57.68 for five-eighths of a mile, and a final time of 1:10.12. He was bred by B and S Racing of Springfield, Mo., the owner.

The Sprint was the first win in the Oklahoma Classics for all of the connections.

Welder was sent off as the wagering favorite at 4-5 odds in his final race. He finishes his career with 16 wins at Remington Park and a final record of 44 starts, 27 wins, five seconds, and seven thirds for $1,265,031 in earnings. He holds records at Remington Park as the only three-time Horse of the Meet, the six-furlong sprint record of 1:08.13 in the 2019 David M. Vance Stakes, three-time Oklahoma Horse of the Year, the only horse to win four stakes races in one meet at Remington Park, and a record 11 stakes wins in a row here.

The Oklahoma Classics is a $1,000,000 series of stakes races devoted to Oklahoma-bred Thoroughbreds.

Remington Park racing continues Saturday, Oct. 16 with the first race at 7:07 pm Central.

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Cabrera padded his lead in this year's standings to 25 wins to Stewart Elliott's 14. His four wins Saturday came with four different trainers – Karl Broberg, Ron Moquett, Austin Gustafson, and Danny Pish. Cabrera took both halves of the early Daily Double with Broberg-trained Tiz Showbiz (6-1 odds, $14.40 to win) in the first race and with Moquett's Pure Courage (8-5, $5.40) in the second. The $2 Daily Double paid $65. Cabrera rode Gustafson's first-time starter Steels All In (3-1, $8), hitting the line first in race five, as he did with Pish's Give It Everything (6-5, $4.60) in the eighth.

If that's not enough to solidify his riding prowess to fans, Cabrera, with all eight of his mounts Saturday, ran either first or second. The only race he didn't run first or second was the seventh race and he didn't have a mount in that race. He finished as the runner-up in the third, fourth, sixth, and ninth races.

It would have been five wins Saturday had Cabrera not been caught by a nose in the sixth race aboard Dont Float the Ice. Cabrera's mount had the lead the entire race except at the wire.

Cabrera, with his 25 victories, leads Elliott in second, 14; Leandro Goncalves, 12; Richard Eramia, 11; and Alfredo Triana, Jr. rounding out the top five. Elliott did his best to keep pace, winning two races on the Saturday program.

The trainers' race also is a tight one this meet with perennial winner Steve Asmussen scoring 11 wins thus far, followed by Broberg and Kari Craddock tied for second with eight each. Scott Young has seven and then tied for fifth are Danny Pish and Austin Gustafson with six victories each.

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Sky Ride Returns to the Winner's Circle in the $75,000 Bucharest Stakes

The $75,000 Bucharest Stakes featured just five  runners, with a solid showing once again by Triple V Racing LLC's Sky Ride to clinch back-to back stakes this meet.

The  Kentucky-bred son of  Candy Ride won the $75,000  Stonerside Sprint on January 31 in a dead heat with Hollis. Jockey Leandro Goncalves was aboard in two very different finishes. Sky Ride won the Stonerside with a powerful closing effort, but this evening, the bay gelding pretty much did it on the front, and was able to hold off his rivals, covering seven furlongs in 1:24.28.

Goncalves, who notched his 2,000th career win here on March 27, took command at the half-mile mark, which was completed in :45.72. Heading into the final turn, he was able to build a commanding lead over his stablemate Good Scout, drawing off to an impressive eight length score.

“Last time he made up ground, but today we had a different plan,” explained  Goncalves.  “He just galloped around the track; I never hit him, just asked him and he responded. J.R. (trainer J.R. Caldwell) could have ridden him tonight.”

“Maybe I could have ridden him for the first 25 yards,” quipped Caldwell. “He's a great horse, won three races here, including two stakes. We pointed him to this meet, and we couldn't have asked for more. He was a little fresh today; I was a little surprised to see him on the lead, but it was a good win.”

Good Scout ridden by Ezequiel Lara, held for second.  Gold Street ran third and Trumps Revenge completed the superfecta.

Sent off as the heavy favorite, Sky Ride ($2.80), has won five of his 16 starts and will be pointed to Lone Star Park, according to Caldwell.

The stakes is named in honor of the late Thoroughbred sprinter Bucharest, owned by Israel Flores and trained by Amos Laborde, who set three track records at Sam Houston Race Park, including the lightning fast six furlong time of 1:08.88 on May 11, 1994, as well as his 1:12.29 seven furlong clocking on May 4, 1996.

Raven's Cry Takes the $75,000 Miss HoustonTurf Stakes with a Powerful Closing Kick

The popularity of the Connally Turf Course at Sam Houston Race Park has grown in unprecedented fashion and attracted a very classy field of fillies and mares to the $75,000 Miss Houston Turf.

Raven's Cry (IRE) drew in from the also eligible list. The 4-year-old daughter of Raven's Pass had won three of her eight turf starts for owner Martin S. Schwartz. She's trained by Eclipse Award winning condition Brad Cox who gave the call to Louisiana-based jockey Diego Saenz.

Saenz guided the bay filly through fractions of :22.48;  :46.19 and 1:11.48 before gaining the lead at the top of the stretch. She was able to hold off a late charge by Valentines Day, crossing the wire of the one mile turf feature in 1:36.09.

“I knew she was a nice filly,” said Saenz. “The pace set up very well for her today.”

Cox was in Kentucky winning the Grade 2,Toyota Blue Grass with Essential Quality, so assistant Ricky Giannini saddled Raven's Cry at Sam Houston.

“She drew pretty wide, but after her win at Fair Grounds, this was a good fit for her,” said Giannini. “Diego got her into a very good striking position.”

Love Partnership Interests LP's Valentines Day ran third in the $75,000 Jersey Lilly on January 31 for trainer Bret Calhoun. The 4-year-old daughter of Summer Front closed gamely for second under rider Lindey Wade. Brandon's Babe completed the trifecta with Iram Diego in the saddle.  Our Iris Rose ran fourth, followed by Quick, Quick, Quick, Palio Flag, Curlin's Journey, After Red Son, Good Fight,  Simple Pleasure, Miss Perfecta and early pacesetter Believe In Beauty (IRE).

Raven's Cry ($5.00) improved her career record to four wins from nine starts and purses of $116.748.

Royal Prince Makes Sam Houston Debut a Winning One in $75,000 Bayou City Stakes

In the final stakes race of the 2021 Sam Houston Thoroughbred meet, Royal Prince ($2.80) captured the $75,000 Bayou City Stakes for trainer Brad Cox and owner Steve Landers Racing LLC.

Jockey Diego Saenz gave Royal Prince a confident and well-timed ride in the final stake of the night. The pair stalked the pace and dueled with Holy Vow and Sophie Doyle in the stretch before pulling away to win by three-quarters of a length.

“I was trapped for a little while, but I got the chance to get out and he responded for me,” said Saenz.

The 1 1/16 miles event for 3-year-olds was contested on a firm turf course with a final time of 1:43.88.

Royal Prince was the heavy post-time favorite after winning his last out, the $75,000 Black Gold Stakes at the Fair Grounds in late February. The well-traveled colt had previously raced at Del Mar, Keeneland and Kentucky Downs before arriving at Sam Houston.

The 3-year-old son of Cairo Prince is out of Rose and Shine, by Mr. Sekiguchi, and was bred in Kentucky by Sandra Sexton and Silver Fern Farm.

“We wanted to take a logical step forward before we run him in a graded stakes,” added Gianinni. “This was a nice race after the Black Gold; he needed every inch, but got the job done.”

Holy Vow finished in second for trainer Scott Young, with Drivehappy closing to gain third for trainer Steve Asmussen. Texas Bad Boy, War Falcon, Red N Wild and I'm Money completed the field. Stans Hookin Bull was scratched.

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Trained by Karl Broberg, Gurkha Gold won the maiden special weight race for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles on turf by 1 1/2 lengths and paid $20.80 to her backers.

Goncalves was on horses herding livestock by the age of 7 and two years later was riding in Quarter horse races. He attended Brazil's jockey school at age 16 and became the school's top apprentice. Goncalves moved to England briefly in 2004 but came to the U.S. the following year, struggled to break through, but won his first American race in 2007.

He's won as many as 298 races in a single season in 2011 and his mounts earned over $7.2 million the following year.

In 2017, Goncalves proudly became a naturalized U.S. citizen.

Congratulations to Jockey, Leandro Goncalves on a milestone achievement! He achieved his 2,000th career win in Race 5 aboard #2 Gurkha Gold (IRE). @MarthaClaussen @SHRPRacing @DRFRampellini pic.twitter.com/y5gwXJxePL

— Sam Houston Race Park (@SHRP) March 28, 2021

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That year Mr. Jagermeister got the best of it finishing 8 1/2 lengths in front of second-place Hot Shot Kid. He then went on to win three additional stakes that summer before being named the Canterbury horse of the meet, an honor bestowed on Hot Shot Kid last year.

“This is going to be a very exciting race; a very competitive race,” Mr. Jagermeister's trainer and co-owner Valorie Lund said. Leandro Goncalves has the mount. “[Mr. Jagermeister] is ready,” Lund said, but questions the prohibitively favored 2 to 5 morning line hung on her horse. “I've watched Hot Shot Kid training both here and at Oaklawn. He looks great,” she said.

Mac Robertson, perennial leading trainer at Canterbury Park and conditioner of Hot Shot Kid, is also quick to acknowledge the competition.

“Mr. Jagermeister is very good,” Robertson said, speaking Sunday from Delaware Park where he is preparing his East Coast string. He intended to run Hot Shot Kid at Keeneland but when that meet was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he changed plans and entered at Oaklawn where Hot Shot Kid ran a distant tenth in a sprint. Robertson has named last year's leading jockey Francisco Arietta to ride. He also entered Cinco Star in the five-horse field.

The 10,000 Lakes is the second race on an 11-race program that begins at 4:30 p.m., while the co-featured $50,000 Lady Slipper Stakes is the sixth. Robertson and Lund are also represented in the Lady Slipper. Robertson will run 7-year-old Honey's Sox Appeal and Ready to Runaway. Lund has entered Firstmate, a 5-year-old mare previously trained by Joe Sharp, for owners Barry and Joni Butzow of Eden Prairie, Minn. They must beat Lady Slipper defending champion Ari Gia and trainer Jose Silva, Jr.

“I'm tickled to have her,” Lund said of Firstmate. “There is a ton of speed in the race. I like the outside [post position] draw.” Firstmate recorded the fastest four furlong workout of the morning on June 10 in preparation. “She did it so easy,” Lund said.

Robertson has a very strong hand in the Lady Slipper. “I wouldn't trade my two for any of them,” he said. Honey's Sox Appeal is a multiple stakes winner who Robertson said “was in a brutally tough race at Oaklawn and she didn't run that bad.”

Ready to Runaway, claimed for $25,000, subsequently won three consecutive stakes last year at Canterbury. She raced three times at Oaklawn this spring with two third-place and one second-place finish, earning speed figures better than last year.

“She's never run a bad race really,” Robertson said. Not one to be without a plan, he considered potential strategy for Wednesday while examining the field. “We'll probably send one and take one back. This is a really good race.” He also entered Clickbait, but she will be a scratch and is reentered for Thursday. The field includes 2017 Minnesota Oaks winner Double Bee Sting and Pinup Girl, winner of the 2018 Lady Slipper.

Racing resumes Tuesday and runs through Thursday with first post at 4:30 p.m. each afternoon. More information is available at www.canterburypark.com .

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