Tag: remington park

Quality Rocket Repeats In Red Earth Stakes At Remington

Quality Rocket won his second consecutive $70,000 Red Earth Stakes at 7-1/2 furlongs on the turf Friday night at Remington Park in Oklahoma City, Okla. If not for a late runner two years ago, it would have been his third consecutive win in this race.

In that 2019 race, a huge longshot, Timely Reply chased down Quality Rocket in the stretch after the near three-time winner had a two-length lead coming for home in that race. Quality Rocket lost by a neck in that one, but has been perfect in the Red Earth Stakes since. The 7-year-old gelding by Backstabber, out of the King of Scat mare Lady Cambridge, won last year by 4-1/4 lengths with Garrett Steinberg up.

Quality Rocket passed the 9-5 wagering favorite Quarky on Friday night in the stretch to get up by one length with Ramon Vazquez in the saddle for trainer Boyd “Jo-be” Caster.

“He loves to be a racehorse,” said Caster. “and he gets better with age. He's like, 'Line 'em up and let me run.'”

Run, he did. He covered the distance in 1:28.45 over the firm turf, faster than his 1:28.64 that he won in last year. Quality Rocket actually ran even faster when he finished second by a neck. The winner two years ago, Timely Reply, finished in 1:27.69. It was Caster's second win in this stakes race and Vazquez's first. Last year, Quality Rocket won for owner Gerald Ball, who passed away between that race and this one. The gelding is now in the hands of Jeremy D. Ball, Gerald's son, of Shawnee, Okla.

“Yeah, we lost Gerald last year; I'm sure he was watching tonight,” Caster said. “Quality Rocket sure does like the grass. His daddy (Backstabber) did, too. He passed it on to his son.”

Quality Rocket, bred in Oklahoma by Gerald and Oteka Ann Ball, earned $42,000 for the victory and improved his lifetime record to 35 starts, 11 wins, nine seconds, and one third for $409,006 in his bankroll. His turf record is seven starts, three wins, and one second for $181,280. This horse has been versatile for Caster as well. He has won back-to-back $45,000 Route 66 stakes at Fair Meadows in Tulsa, Okla., the past two years, at 6-1/2 furlongs on the dirt of a half-mile bullring there. In this year's Route 66 he finished 4-1/2 lengths ahead of Welder, a sprinting Oklahoma-bred millionaire.

Quality Rocket followed up his win in the Red Earth here last year with a victory in the $130,000 Oklahoma Classics Turf, stretching out to 1-1/16th miles on the grass. Caster said he would likely go in that race again this year, scheduled for Oct. 15.

“Jo-Be just told me not to fight him and let him get comfortable,” said Vazquez. “I had my doubts, yes, about getting past that 2-horse. I was just waiting for my moment and my horse didn't quit.”

Quality Rocket (5-2) returned $7.20 to win, $3.80 to place, and $3.20 to show. Tommyhawk was third at 15-1 odds, 1-3/4 lengths behind the runner-up. The early fractions in the race were :23.22 for the first quarter-mile, :46.62 for the half-mile, and 1:10.48 for three-quarters of a mile.

Racing continues this week with a Saturday-Sunday schedule. It's the only Sunday race day of the meet, serving as Oklahoma Derby Day. Post time is 3 p.m. on Sept. 26, while Saturday night begins at 7:07 p.m.

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Shannon C Finally Gets The Win In Remington Park Turf Sprint

There was no one more excited to see that Welder was not entered for this year's $70,000 Remington Park Turf Sprint Stakes than the connections of Shannon C, this year's winner on Friday night.

Four times in his career, Shannon C had finished second to Remington Park's all-time winningest horse, Welder, in stakes races, including by only a neck in the Remington Park Turf Sprint Stakes last year. Shannon C has been to Welder what Alydar was to Affirmed or Sham to Secretariat, the ultimate of runners-up of stakes quality. Shannon C had a three-race winning streak going as a 3-year-old, including the $30,000 Oklahoma Stallion Stakes, his only other stakes win before Friday night. Then he ran into Welder for the first time. He was beaten 4-3/4 lengths in second of the 2018 $130,000 Oklahoma Classics Sprint and the $70,000 Silver Goblin Stakes, losing by 6-1/4 lengths as the bridesmaid. He also watched in second as Welder won the $55,000 TRAO Classic Sprint in 2020 at Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla., losing by 6-1/2 lengths. His final silver medalist run to Welder came in last year's version of this race.

“We've been chasing Welder a long time,” said Shannon C's trainer Scott Young. “We thought we had him last year in this race and then he got us by a neck.”

Welder, a winner of an unprecedented 16 races at Remington Park in Oklahoma City, Okla., lifetime, opted to run in Sunday's $150,000 David M. Vance Stakes on Oklahoma Derby Day. Young and jockey Floyd Wethey, Jr., couldn't be happier.

“He's been taking swings at giants,” said Wethey. “This horse knows what he's doing. I'm proud of him. It finally worked out.”

Young seconded that.

“He's fast,” Young said of Shannon C. “When it's his day, it's his day.”

Wethey kept the 6-year-old gelded son of Latent Heat, out of the Fistfite stakes-winning mare Miranda Diane, in perfect position, sitting just off the shoulder of front-runner Denver City, the even-money betting favorite. Broodmare Miranda Diane was a multiple stakes winner in her career.

When they came to the wire, Denver City had faded to fourth and Shannon C (2-1) was able to hold off the closing No Lak of Speed (10-1) in second by a neck. Those two had run second and third in this race last year behind Welder, so it was almost an exact replay. Getting up for third was Pomeroy Haze (8-1), a half-length back of No Lak of Speed. Shannon C paid $6.20 to win, $3.60 to place and $2.60 to show.

Owned by B and S Racing (Robert Smith) of Springfield, Mo., Shannon C earned $42,000 for the win in the 5 furlongs sprint on the grass. He improved his record to 26 starts, six wins, 11 seconds, and two thirds for $290,766. That is a ton of money earned from those runner-up spots and only six trips to the winner's circle.

Shannon C covered the distance in :56.05 over the firm turf. The early fractions were :21.34 for the first quarter-mile and a blistering :43.91 after a half-mile. Shannon C was bred in Oklahoma by his owner.

This is the first win in the Remington Park Turf Sprint for owner B and S Racing and for jockey Floyd Wethey. Shannon C gave trainer Scott Young his second win in the race as he also saddled Devious Runner to victory in 2016.

Racing continues this week with a Saturday-Sunday schedule. It's the only Sunday race day of the meet, serving as Oklahoma Derby Day. Post time is 3 p.m. on Sept. 26, while Saturday night begins at 7:07 p.m. All times Central.

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Remington’s All-Time Winningest Horse Welder Chasing Third David M. Vance Stakes Title

The greatest indication that this may be the toughest $150,000 David M. Vance Stakes in history Sunday is that Remington Park's all-time winningest horse, Welder, has been made the 7-2 second favorite in the race.

The David M. Vance stakes goes as the 10th race Sunday right before the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby, the highlight of an eight-stakes card.

One might wonder what a horse that has won 16 times at Remington Park and twice in the David M. Vance Stakes has to do to be the favorite in the race. Upon further review it is understandable why he is behind 3-1 favorite Greeley and Ben.

First of all, Greeley and Ben beat Welder this summer at Prairie Meadows in Iowa in an open allowance race, sprinting 6 furlongs, the same distance they will run Sunday. Greeley and Ben won that race by two lengths while Welder ran third, a neck behind the runner-up. The counterpoint to that argument is that Welder has lost to horses in Iowa before but those same horses came to Remington Park and couldn't get a sniff of Welder here, losing to him.

Secondly, Greeley and Ben has won eight races in a row, including a stakes-caliber open allowance race at Remington Park on Sept. 4 when he covered 6 furlongs in 1:08.88. Granted, a summer storm was pouring down during this 7-year-old gelding's win here, causing the track to become extremely fast. That still was the fastest time of the meet for that distance. Welder won an allowance race at Remington to etch his name into the record book on Aug. 27, covering 6 furlongs in 1:10.47, but he did it easily without much urging from jockey David Cabrera. Cabrera rode both horses to victory at Remington this fall and has chosen to ride Welder in this Sunday's stakes race.

What makes this race even more interesting is a quote from the trainer of Greeley and Ben prior to the race meet at Remington began. Welder had not won in 2021 until he broke the Remington record in August.

“Welder is a shell of his former self,” said Broberg, who conditions Greeley and Ben for End Zone Athletics of Mansfield, Texas. He backed off that quote somewhat after watching Welder beat Nitrous, a winner of the $125,000 Thanksgiving Classic at Fair Grounds, in his historic victory.

Welder's trainer Teri Luneack, who conditions Remington's history-making 8-year-old gray gelding for owner Ra-Max Farms (Clayton Rash) of Claremore, Okla., took the high road and did not respond to that particular quote, but she always loves talking about Welder.

“If he sets more records, that's great for him,” Luneack said. “If he doesn't, that's great for him, too. I don't feel like the horse owes me or us anything. I don't feel he has anything more to prove. You have to remember 99.9 percent of the horses aren't going to run like Welder. Any wins he gives us are a blessing. There's a million ways to lose a race and there's one way to win and all the stars have to align.”

The stars have aligned for Welder 27 times in his career in 42 races for earnings of $1,246,231. Greeley and Ben can't touch him in that category. He has 15 wins from 25 starts with $364,398. Welder has won 15-of-20 starts at Remington while Greeley and Ben will make just his second start here.

Is it really possible that these two could go to post close to their 3-1 and 7-2 odds? It is indeed because this stakes is as deep as it could possibly be. The third favorite is Nitrous (4-1) and he could benefit from his first race when he was coming off a seven-month vacation. If he's more fit and ready for trainer Steve Asmussen's barn, he could close that gap of 1-3/4 lengths in his runner-up finish to Welder on Aug. 27.

Empire of Gold is next at 6-1 in the morning line. He ran fourth in the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland in 2020. Three horses at 8-1 certainly deserve recognition and consideration – Long Range Toddy, winner of Remington Park's $400,000 Springboard Mile in 2018 and a participant in the Kentucky Derby that year; Mr Money Bags, who ran two lengths back of Nitrous in the Thanksgiving stakes at Fair Grounds, and Share the Upside, who finished ahead of Welder at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., but then came to Remington Park and couldn't beat him. He is the second entry from Asmussen's barn.

Here's the field for this year's David M. Vance Stakes with post position, horse, jockey, trainer and odds:

  1. Empire of Gold, Sasha Risenhoover, Terry Eoff, 6-1
  2. Bybee, Leandro Goncalves, Eduardo Caramori, 15-1
  3. Nitrous, Ricardo Santana, Jr., Steve Asmussen, 4-1
  4. Long Range Toddy, Jon Court, Dallas Stewart, 8-1
  5. Welder, David Cabrera, Teri Luneack, 7-2
  6. Mr Money Bags, Richard Eramia, Jaylan Clary, 8-1
  7. It Makes Sense, Jose Alvarez, Shawn Davis, 15-1
  8. Greeley and Ben, Joe Talamo, Karl Broberg, 3-1
  9. Share the Upside, Stewart Elliott, Steve Asmussen, 8-1

The Vance is scheduled to leave the starting gate at 7:37p.m. The other stakes races on the derby day program:

Race 4 – $75,000 Kip Deville Stakes, 2yo, six furlongs

Race 6 – $50,000 E.L. Gaylord Memorial, 2-year-old fillies, 6-1/2 furlongs

Race 7 – $50,000 Flashy Lady Stakes, fillies and mares, 3 and older, six furlongs

Race 8 – Grade 3, $200,000 Remington Park Oaks, 3-year-old fillies, 1-1/16 miles

Race 9 – $75,000 Ricks Memorial, fillies and mares, 3 and older, 1-1/16 miles (turf)

Race 11 – Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby, 3-year-olds, 1-1/8 miles

Race 12 – $100,000 Remington Green, 3 and older, 1-1/8 miles (turf)

Racing continues this week with a Thursday-Sunday schedule. It's the only Sunday race day of the meet, serving as Oklahoma Derby Day. Post time is 3 p.m. on Sept. 26, while every other race night begins at 7:07 p.m. All times are Central.

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Warrant Tabbed As Morning-Line Favorite In Oklahoma Derby

The Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby has collected a quality field for the Sept. 26 renewal at Remington Park. A cast of previous derby winners are featured in a field of eight to contest the 1-1/8 miles.

The Oklahoma Derby headlines a stellar stakes-laden program on Sept. 26, including the Grade 3, $200,000 Remington Park Oaks.

Warrant, from the strong barn of trainer Brad Cox, winner of the $300,000 Texas Derby in May at Lone Star Park, has been made the morning-line favorite at 5-2 odds. The Oklahoma Derby came up tough to determine a morning-line favorite with three past derby winners all extremely close in the equation. Joel Rosario will come into Remington Park to ride Warrant. He was also the pilot in the colt's score in the Texas Derby, over the slop on May 31.

Mr. Wireless, a two-time derby winner, has entered the Oklahoma Derby from the barn of trainer Bret Calhoun. Triumphant in the Grade 3, $500,000 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park on Aug. 7 and before that, the Grade 3, $300,000 Indiana Derby at Indiana Grand on July 7, Mr. Wireless will be ridden by Ramon Vazquez. Remington Park odds-maker Jerry Shottenkirk has set Mr. Wireless at 3-1 odds.

Super Stock, winner of the Grade 1, $1,000,000 Arkansas Derby in April at Oaklawn Park has been tabbed the third morning-line favorite at 7-2 odds. Recently victorious in the $200,000 Ellis Park Derby in Kentucky on Aug. 15, Super Stock is trained by Steve Asmussen, racing's all-time winningest trainer, and will be ridden by Ricardo Santana, the hottest jockey on Remington Park's biggest day since the mid-2010s.

Super Stock's Arkansas Derby win punched his ticket to the Grade 1, $3,000,000 Kentucky Derby in May, where he finished 16th in a field of 19.

Trainer Karl Broberg has entered Flash Of Mischief, fresh off his score in the $250,000 St. Louis Derby at Fanduel Fairmount Park. Joe Talamo handled the colt in his last derby and will be in for the mount again in the Oklahoma Derby. Flash Of Mischief is at 8-1 in the morning-line.

The field for the Oklahoma Derby, by post position and program number order, with trainer, jockey and morning-line odds:

  1. Super Stock: Steve Asmussen, Ricardo Santana, 7-2
  2. Flash Of Mischief: Karl Broberg, Joe Talamo, 8-1
  3. Warrant: Brad Cox, Joel Rosario, 5-2 (morning-line favorite)
  4. Parrot Head: Ronnie Cravens, David Cabrera, 20-1
  5. Team Merchants: Doug O'Neill, Mario Gutierrez, 6-1
  6. Defeater: Tom Amoss, James Graham,12-1
  7. Mr. Wireless: Bret Calhoun, Ramon Vazquez, 3-1
  8. Dial In For Lute: C.R. Trout, Jose Alvarez, 15-1

The Oklahoma Derby will go as the 11th race of 12 at 8:11pm.

Pauline's Pearl, winner of the Grade 3, $600,000 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park in April, has been made the morning-line favorite at 5-2 odds for the Grade 3, $200,000 Remington Park Oaks. The oaks is the top supporting stakes on the Oklahoma Derby Day undercard.

Trained by Asmussen, Santana will ride Pauline's Pearl. She finished eighth in the Grade 1, $1,250,000 Kentucky Oaks following her Fantasy score. Most recently she was second in the Grade 3, $400,000 Charles Town Oaks on Aug. 27.

The Remington Park Oaks will go as the eighth race on Sept. 26 at 6:33pm. Here is the lineup for the oaks by post position and program order, with trainer, jockey and morning-line odds:

  1. Pauline's Pearl: Steve Asmussen, Ricardo Santana, 5-2 (morning-line favorite)
  2. Bobbin Tail: Kenny Smith, David Cabrera, 10-1
  3. Amendment Nineteen: Brad Cox, Joel Rosario, 7-2
  4. My Girl Red: Steve Asmussen, Stewart Elliott, 15-1
  5. Lovely Ride: Bret Calhoun, Reylu Gutierrez, 3-1
  6. Hailey's Melody: Joe Offolter, Luis Quinonez, 15-1
  7. Lady Mystify: Peter Eurton, Flavien Prat, 4-1

The other six stakes races on Oklahoma Derby Day include:

Race 4 – $75,000 Kip Deville Stakes, 2yo, six furlongs

Race 6 – $50,000 E.L. Gaylord Memorial, 2-year-old fillies, 6-1/2 furlongs

Race 7 – $50,000 Flashy Lady Stakes, fillies and mares, 3 and older, six furlongs

Race 9 – $75,000 Ricks Memorial, fillies and mares, 3 and older, 1-1/16 miles (turf)

Race 10 – $150,000 David Vance Stakes, 3 and older, six furlongs

Race 12 – $100,000 Remington Green, 3 and older, 1-1/8 miles (turf)

The big Oklahoma Derby Day program begins at 3pm on Sept. 26. Remington Park racing goes with its longest week of the season, Wednesday through Sunday, Sept. 22-26. The nightly post time is 7:07pm, prior to the special derby day card. All times are Central.

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