Both Make It Big (10 pts.) and Osbourne (4 pts.) earned qualifying points for the 2022 Kentucky Derby for their efforts in the Springboard Mile. The featured race was accompanied by a solid undercard of 12 other races with four of those also stakes events. The big night catapulted Remington Park to a record pari-mutuel handle night with wagering reaching $4,050,597. It was the first time in track history that handle on a single racing program exceeded the $4 million.

Total handle for the 67-date Remington Park season (Aug. 20-Dec. 17) reached $98,120,236, an increase of 31.2 percent over the similar number from the 2019 season which handled $74,806,848.

Remington Park also welcomed racing guests back in full for 2021, for the first time since 2019. Those on-track players responded with handle of $3,471,207 an increase of 15.8 percent over the 2019 mark of $2,997,881.

Export handle on Remington Park remained strong with $94,497,917 wagered by players from outside the jurisdiction controlled locally. That is an increase of 31.9 percent above the 2019 total of $71,620,980.

Remington Park's one off-track partner, Thunder Roadhouse in Oklahoma City, handled $151,112. Thunder Roadhouse is less than nine miles from Remington Park, offering wagering convenience to many local horseplayers.

Remington Park horsemen competed for record amounts in total purses of $17,838,020, an average of $266,239 daily. These totals are up 5.1 percent, topping the total mark of $16,971,799 in 2019, when the daily average was $253,310.

All handle and purses comparisons are made to the 2019 season, which was 67 dates in length and the most recent Thoroughbred season at Remington Park where the entire facility was available to guests. The 2020 season was conducted under limited access guidelines due to health concerns brought by the pandemic. 2019 was also the last racing year where the North American horse racing market operated on a regular business level.

There were 601 races conducted this season, nine fewer than a year ago. A total of 4,991 horses started this season for an average field size of 8.3. There were 5,261 starters in 2020 with average field size of 8.6 per race.

Remington Park live racing is on hiatus until the beginning of the 2022 American Quarter Horse Season, starting March 3. Thoroughbred racing will return in late August 2022.

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Greeley and Ben, owned by End Zone Athletics of Mansfield, Texas, and trained by Karl Broberg, not only was Champion Horse of the Meet, but has to be considered for claim of the year in the country. Broberg picked him up for a mere $10,000 at Oaklawn Park in a waiver claiming race on March 7 this year and all he did was win 10-of-12 after that for Broberg and his conglomerate of End Zone Athletics. Greeley and Ben has earned $296,277 with 11 wins from 15 starts in 2021.

The 7-year-old gelded son of Greeley's Conquest, out of the Langfuhr mare Traci's Wild, extended his winning streak to nine in a row, taking the $150,000 David M. Vance Stakes at Remington Park on Sept. 26, a race in which Welder ran fifth. It was arguably the toughest David Vance Stakes in history at Remington Park as multiple stakes winner Mr. Money Bags ran second, beaten 2-1/2 lengths. The third-place finisher, Long Range Toddy, had won the $400,000 Springboard Mile in 2018 and followed that up with a victory in the Grade 2, $750,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Ark., in 2019, beating a Kentucky Derby favorite, Improbable, in the process. Long Range Toddy then ran in the Kentucky Derby and was interfered with by the disqualified winner Maximum Security in the turn for home.

The 2021 Vance Stakes also included Share the Upside, who beat Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Whitmore, at Oaklawn two years ago in a stakes there, and, of course, Welder, who finished his career with 16 wins over this racing surface. Welder, owned by Ra-Max Farms (Clayton Rash) of Claremore, Okla., and trained by Teri Luneack, is the only horse to ever win Horse of the Meeting more than once.

The Vance Stakes was the first black-type win for Greeley and Ben. He won his championship at Remington winning both of his starts this season. Nationally acclaimed jockey Joe Talamo came in to ride this champion sprinter in the Vance and Remington's leading rider for the fourth year in a row, David Cabrera, was aboard in an open allowance win here on Sept. 4. The allowance was won by a full length over Empire of Gold, the fourth-place finisher in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, behind Whitmore in 2020.

“When did I know I had a stakes horse on my hands during the streak?” Broberg said on the night of the Vance Stakes. “Tonight, when he hit the finish line. I have worked very hard to keep this horse out of spots like this.”

Talamo was thrilled to get the call to ride Greeley and Ben for the first time in the horse's 26 starts and made a little joke in the winner's circle after the huge victory.

“I'll give you $10,000 for the horse right now,” Talamo said to Broberg. “Maybe more!”

Greeley and Ben earned nine times the price Broberg paid for him in the initial claim – $90,000 for the victory in the Vance.

“I just thought he was a horse that looked like he was worth $10,000,” Broberg said. “If I said there was anything genius to it, I'd be making up a story. I'll still be looking for a $10,000 starter allowance for him.”

The winner covered the six furlongs in 1:09.79 on the fast track and lit the track on fire in his allowance win, going 1:08.88.

Greeley and Ben was also voted the season's Champion Sprinter and Champion Older Male. He was bred in Kentucky by the Millard R. Seldin Revocable Trust.

The Remington Park seasonal divisional champions are selected by ballots submitted by media covering the season and track racing-affiliated personnel.

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At Remington Park Friday evening, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen gave a leg up to Ortiz on Casual in the She's All In Stakes for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up. Off at odds of 2-1 in the field of eight, Casual tracked the pace, took command on the far turn and cruised to a 5 1/4-length win in 1:43.96 for the one mile and seventy yard contest on the dirt track. Ortiz was riding the 4-year-old Casual for the first time.

Riding again for Asmussen, Ortiz was aboard Optionality in the Trapeze Stakes for 2-year-old fillies. Just past the half-mile marker, she went to the lead and was never headed drawing off to an impressive 8-1/4 length victory in 1:41.10 for one mile.

“She broke good,” Ortiz said to the Remington Park Publicity team, “and Steve had her ready. She started looking around at the end with it being nighttime and the lights and shadows at the wire, but she got the job done.”

In the final stakes race on the Remington card, trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. called on Ortiz to ride Make It Big in the Springboard Mile for 2-year-olds with Kentucky Derby points on the line. Off as the favorite in the field of seven, Make It Big battled with race favorite Osborne throughout the stretch, posting a half-length win for the mile contest in 1:41.23. Ortiz picked up the mount after regular rider Edgard Zayas had shoulder surgery.

Back at Aqueduct on Saturday, Ortiz rode Yo Cuz for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott in the Fifth Avenue Division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series, a seven furlong sprint for eligible New York-sired juvenile fillies. Breaking third in the field of 11, Yo Cuz was hustled to the lead and held off a determined Morning Matcha to post a 1 3/4-length win in 1:25.34. The win was the third on the card for Ortiz.

“When you ride good horses, this is what happens,” said Ortiz to the NYRA publicity team. “You get more chances to win races. I appreciate all the opportunities I have been getting with big owners and big trainers supporting my career. That's what it is all about. You have to have the horse to win.”

Weekly statistics for Ortiz included a 31.5 percent win rate and total purse earnings of $778,748.

Other nominees for Jockey of the Week were Junior Alvarado who won the G2 Ft. Lauderdale, Kendrick Carmouche who won the Gravesend at Aqueduct, Luis Saez with two graded stakes at Gulfstream, and Luis A. Valenzuela who won two stakes at Turf Paradise.

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The training title is named the Chuck Taliaferro Award to honor one of the most prominent trainers in the early days of Remington Park. He won the training titles here in the fall of 1989 and the spring of 1990. Among the top horses he campaigned at Remington Park were multiple stakes winner No More Hard Times and Remington Park Derby (Oklahoma Derby) winner Wicked Destiny in 1990.

Danny Caldwell of Poteau, Okla., won the owner's title for the second consecutive year, giving him 12 Thoroughbred trophies in all at Remington Park. He is the track's all-time winningest owner.

With the exception of trainer Karl Broberg in 2015, Asmussen has a streak that goes back to 2007. He has won 14 of the past 15 crowns. In total, he and Donnie Von Hemel have won 29 of the 45 Thoroughbred meet titles at Remington Park, going back to 1988, the opening year. There were years in the early days that Remington raced two Thoroughbred meets the same calendar year, spring and fall.

“I'm obviously very blessed to have had all the opportunities I've had a Remington Park and I'm very thankful,” Asmussen said. “Pablo (Ocampo) has been with me to handle all the horses and he deserves a lot of the credit.”

To give an accurate representation of Asmussen's and Von Hemel's dominance at Remington Park, the all-time training titles numbers are: Asmussen at 17, Von Hemel at 12, and then there is a tie for second place with two training titles among Chuck Taliaferro, Clinton Stuart, Kenny Smith, Joe Offolter and Joe Petalino.

Asmussen currently has a huge lead in most wins in the country in 2021 with 447 through Dec. 20, according to Equibase statistics. Broberg was in second with 394. In the earnings category, Asmussen trails Brad Cox nationally, but it's a close race. Cox's horses have earned $31,516,228 and Asmussen's $30,959,351.

The amazing thing about Asmussen's last four training titles at Remington Park is that his wins began dwindling since his record 104 victories in 2018. He followed that with 83 wins in 2019, 73 in 2020 and 42 this year but somehow continues to win titles. In fact, he was an easy winner this year despite the comparatively low totals. Broberg finished second this meet, 11 wins behind Asmussen, with 31 trips to the winner's circle. The top 10 trainers were rounded out by Scott Young and Austin Gustafson tied for fourth with 26 wins, followed by Oscar Flores (22), fifth; Danny Pish (20), sixth; Kari Craddock (19), seventh; Bret Calhoun (18), eighth, and tied for ninth and tenth were Ronnie Cravens III (17) and Brent Davidson (17)

The 42 trips to the winner's circle were the fewest for a training title holder since Asmussen's 38 wins in 2013, the last time he was below this year's totals.

Since beginning his career in 1986 when he had one win from 15 starters the whole year, he has reached an all-time fantastic milestone, winning more races than any other trainer in the history of the sport. Asmussen passed Dale Baird this year. Baird had held the title for years at 9,445 wins. Asmussen has currently won 9,576.

Asmussen is a two-time winner of the Eclipse Award for trainers, the most prestigious trophy given each year in the industry. Those came in 2008 and 2009. He also has won the Breeders' Cup Classic twice, North America's richest race. He did it with Horse of the Year, Gun Runner, in 2017 and with Curlin in 2007. Curlin was named Horse of the Year in 2007 and 2008.

Caldwell has won 1,065 Thoroughbred horse races since he started in the business in 2003 when he started one horse and it didn't run first, second or third. He got $0 for that race. Since then, his biggest year came in 2017 when his horses earned $3,019,423. His top 10 finishes among owners nationally have been 2020 (7th), 2019 (8th), 2018 (4th), 2017 (4th), 2016 (5th), 2015 (4th), and 2014 (8th). His career stats show him with 5,349 starters; 1,065 wins; 863 seconds, and 739 thirds for earnings of $21,433,276, according to Equibase.

“I'm proud to say this is my home track,” Caldwell said of Remington Park. “It's a privilege to race here. It's hard to win races anywhere, but especially at Remington Park.”

Caldwell's horses won 25 races this year, eight more than runner-up End Zone Athletics' 17, trainer-owner Karl Broberg's outfit out of Mansfield, Texas. Rounding out the top 10 owners were Bryan Hawk (14), third; tied for fourth, C.R. Trout (10) and Dream Walkin Farms (10); tied for sixth with eight each were Colleen Davidson, Michael and Linda Mazoch, and JT Stables, and tied for ninth, Steve Williams, Chad and Josh Christensen, and Caden Arthur with seven apiece.

Caldwell's best year, winning a title at Remington, came in 2016 with 50 wins and $862,830. His horses this year made $636,761. He has won training titles by wins in 2021, 2020, 2011-2018, 2010 and 2008.

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Cabrera had long since clinched the riding title as he finished the night with 90 wins on the season, 31 ahead of second-place Stewart Elliott at 59.

“I want to thank all the trainers and owners who give me a chance; I want to thank God and Remington Park and my agent Jose Santos,” Cabrera said. “This is home. I feel like I'm with family. It is an honor to ride here. I also want to thank all the grooms, hotwalkers and gate crew. They all do a great job.”

Cabrera's biggest night of the meet came on Nov. 13 when he won five races, including the 1,500th of his career. He took five of the nine races on the card that night. His winners were Quinn Ella (6-5) in the first, Mr B Quiet (3-1) in the fourth, Fred'stwirlincandy (2-1) in the sixth, Bobbin Tail (even) in the seventh and My Golden M (2-5) in the ninth for the 1,500th in his career.

Another highlight of Cabrera's fourth title in a row included riding Welder to his final win at Remington Park, the 16th such victory for the now retired all-time winningest horse here. Welder, owned by Ra-Max Farms (Clayton Rash) of Claremore, Okla., and trained by Teri Luneack, only won one race this meet but it was a significant one as he broke the tie of 15 wins all-time with Highland Ice and Elegant Exxactsy. Cabrera booted the 8-year-old gray gelding home on Aug. 27 in Welder's first start of the season.

The most wins Cabrera ever had in one meet at Remington Park during this skein was 96 last year. The 29-year-old jockey came to Jones, Okla., to live with his aunt Marti Rodriguez, a trainer at Remington Park, when he was 14 years old, moving from Mexico. He worked his way up from mucking stalls to becoming a jockey in 2013. He had 46 wins to start his career that year.

Cabrera's best year thus far was 2018 when he won 236 times. He has 216 wins thus far in 2021. In his nine-year riding career, he has won 1,526 times for earnings of $35,348,847, according to Equibase stats. His best year in horse earnings has been this year with $7,646,957.He has averaged $6,834 per start this year, compared to $1,372 per start in 2013 when he began.

The leading jockey award is named after Pat Steinberg who was a dominating jockey in the early years of Remington Park, winning nine riding titles before passing away in 1993.

There is only one more day of racing at Remington Park on Friday, Dec. 17. The final night of the season includes the cornerstone race for 2-year-olds at Remington Park, the $400,000 Springboard Mile, with horses eligible for Kentucky Derby points. It goes as the 12th race on Friday. The other stakes are:

Race 8, $70,000 Jim Thorpe Stakes, 3-year-olds, 1 mile (Oklahoma-breds)

Race 9, $70,000 Useeit Stakes, 3-year-old fillies, 1 mile (Oklahoma-breds)

Race 10, $100,000 She's All In Stakes, 3-year-olds and older, fillies-mares, 1m-70 yds
Race 11, $100,000 Trapeze Stakes, fillies, 2-year-olds, 1 mile

The last night of the season gets underway at 5pm-Central.

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The cornerstone open race for juvenile horses here has seen Cox nominate six and Asmussen four to this race run at the mile distance. Cox currently is the nation's top conditioner with $30,918,451 in horse earnings this year. Asmussen is a close second at $30,321,160.

Only one of Cox's six is a stakes winner and that horse, Kaely's Brother, was moved from second into the stakes win by disqualification at Delta Downs in Louisiana. Kaely's Brother, by Twirling Candy, out of the Yes It's True mare Policy of Truth, ran second in the $100,000 Jean Lafitte Stakes on Nov. 20. As the heavy favorite, Kaely's Brother checked behind the horse that crossed the finish line first, Waita Minute Hayes. The stewards ruled Waita Minute Hayes would be disqualified and Kaely's Brother be put up as the winner. Kaely's Brother had broken his maiden at Keeneland on Oct. 9 by three-quarters of a length, sprinting six furlongs. The colt's win in the Jean Lafitte was at the mile distance.

Kaely's Brother races for owner Dean Maltzman and has earned $110,737 in three races.

Cox's other nominees include Rocket Dawg, a Churchill Downs maiden winner in Louisville at first asking Nov. 19 in his only career race. He smoked a field by 5-1/2 lengths at seven furlongs. The colt is by Classic Empire, out of the Distorted Humor mare Rever de Vous. He races for owners Frank Fletcher Racing Operations and Ten Strike Racing.

Cox also has nominated Home Brew, who would be one of the top earners in the field at $113,000 if he goes. He is a Kentucky-bred colt by Street Sense, out of the Tapit mare Omnitap. He is two-for-three to start his career with his biggest win coming in an allowance-optional $80,000 claiming race last time out at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark. That win by 3-3/4 lengths came at the one-mile distance on Dec. 4.

Asmussen has nominated one Remington Park stakes winner, Concept, and three Churchill Downs maiden winners. All four are Kentucky-breds.

Concept, a Gun Runner colt out of the Cindago mare Majestic Jewel, won the $75,000 Kip Deville Stakes at Remington Park on Sept. 26, sprinting six furlongs on the main track. When he stretched out to seven furlongs in the $100,000 Clever Trevor Stakes, he made the lead after a half mile but faded to fourth, beaten nine lengths. Concept is owned by Tony Holmes and Winchell Thoroughbreds.

The Asmussen maiden winners from Churchill are All in Sync, Chasing Time and Classic Moment. All in Sync, by Maclean's Music, out of the Girolamo mare System Time, won his second start by 1-1/2 lengths over a sloppy track at six furlongs on Nov. 25. He is owned by Ed and Susie Orr.

Chasing Time, a colt by Not This Time, out of the Dixie Union mare Race Hunter, took three tries to break his maiden, winning by 1-3/4 lengths at seven furlongs on Nov. 27. He is owned by My Racehorse.

Classic Moment won in his second start Nov. 5 at 6-1/2 furlongs by a half-length. This colt is by Classic Empire, out of the Yankee Victor mare Victory Party. He is owned by L and N Racing of Tulsa, Okla., and Winchell Thoroughbreds.

The only horse among the nominees with multiple stakes wins, and the local flag bearer for Remington Park is Rowdy Rascal, trained by Boyd “Jobe” Caster and owned by JT Stables of Springdale, Ark. Rowdy Rascal has won three races in a row over the Remington Park main surface, taking the $100,000 Oklahoma Classics Juvenile on Oct. 15 at six furlongs and then stretching out to one mile to easily win the $75,000 Don McNeill Stakes on Nov. 12 by three lengths.

“I haven't decided whether we are going or not,” said Caster. “We'll play it by ear and see how he comes out of his workout.”

Rowdy Rascal, an Oklahoma-bred by Den's Legacy, out of the Affirmatif mare Dancing Diva, has a record of six starts, three wins, one second and a bankroll of $132,859. He would definitely be one of the most experienced horse in the field if he goes. He is expected to work five furlongs on Thursday morning at Remington Park.

The top earner in the field, should he be entered, would be Tejano Twist, a winner in the $200,000 Lively Shively Stakes at Churchill Downs on Nov. 27. He also was runner-up to Concept in the Kip Deville at Remington Park. He is a gelded son of Practical Joke, out of the Cuvee mare Haley's Lolipop, and is a Kentucky home-bred by owner Tom Durant. His record is eight starts, three wins, three seconds and $260,670 in earnings. He would be the most experienced runner in the field.

Barber Road, who ran second, beaten only a half-length in the Lively Shively by Tejano Twist, was nominated by trainer John Ortiz. This colt is a Kentucky-bred owned by WSS Racing. He is by Race Day, out of the Southern Image mare Encounter. His record is 4-2-1-0 with $100,720 in the bank.

Other trainers with multiple nominees were Ron Moquett with three, U.S. Racing Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer and Bret Calhoun with two each.

Remington Park racing continues this week with Friday and Saturday night cards, Dec. 10-11 that begin at 7:07pm-Central.

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Cabrera hit that magic mark when he won the final race of the night on a nine-race card, momentarily checking in the stretch before blasting through a hole down the lane aboard heavy 2-5 wagering favorite My Golden M ($2.80 to win). That gave him five wins for the evening, and 1,500 in his career.

Cabrera has won Remington Park riding titles the past three years, 2018-2020, and is well on his way to his fourth consecutive trophy. His five trips to the winner's circle on Saturday night gave him 69 for the meet. He now leads Stewart Elliott, in second place, with 46 wins.

Cabrera bookended the card with a win in the first race booting home Quinn Ella ($4.40) at 1-1/8th miles on the turf. The 4-year-old filly, owned by Joe Castillo of Porter, Texas, and trained by Ronnie Cravens III, took the opener by three-quarters of a length at 6-5 odds. The race was for 3-year-olds and older in second-level allowance conditions.

The second Cabrera win of the night did not come until the fourth race when he smiled for the camera after Mr B Quiet ($8.80) broke his maiden by eight lengths at 3-1 odds. The 2-year-old gelding by Mr. Besilu, out of the Quiet American mare Bin Quiet, was the most impressive winner for Cabrera, pulling away at the end, beating the bunch of $7,500 maiden claimers by a city block. He is owned by Linda and Michael Mazoch and Austin Gustafson, who also trains that winner.

Cabrera then won the sixth, seventh, and ninth races to complete his huge run. He had mounts in eight of nine races Saturday night. His winner in the sixth was Fred'stwirlincandy ($6.40), who won for the second outing in a row. The 6-year-old gelded son of Twirling Candy, out of the Wimbledon mare Daphne Angela, is one of the most versatile runners at Remington Park, winning on a muddy main track Oct. 27, and then taking to the lawn to win Saturday against $25,000 claimers over the turf course. He went off at 2-1 odds and won by 1-1/4 lengths. Cabrera rode him in both victories. It was his second win of the night for Cravens III. This winner is owned by Jeffrey Hoffman of Wichita Falls, Texas.

The young rider from Jones, Okla., was on fire at this point, taking down the seventh race with Bobbin Tail ($4), the prohibitive even-money favorite. That 3-year-old filly by Tale of Ekati out of the Indian Charlie mare Bobbin' Robin, was one of Cabrera's closest calls of the night, beating conditional allowance horses at the mile distance by a mere neck. In fact, there was an objection made by second-place finisher Itsallinthenotes' jockey, Jose Medina, but the stewards ruled there would be no change. Itsallinthenotes was trying to pull off the major upset as she went off at 74-1 odds, the longest shot by far in the field. Cabrera rode this winner for owner Dream Walkin Farms (Toby Keith) of Norman, Okla. The filly is trained by Kenny Smith.

Cabrera closed out the night with the final trip to the winner's circle aboard My Golden M, a 4-year-old gelding by My Golden Song, out of the Early Flyer mare Early M. She is owned by Kathy Stephens of La Verna, Texas. His chances of getting that fifth win on the night and 1,500th of his career seemed almost inevitable riding this horse at 2-5 odds. It was also the second victory for the top jock by the length of a neck. Cabrera had to ride hard in this spot after being shuffled back and being pulled out wide to rally down the middle of the track. The winner is trained by Hector Echeverria.

Cabrera began his North American riding career in 2013 with 46 wins. His best year thus far was 2018 when he won 236 times. This year has been his top year for horses' earnings starting Saturday night at $6,876,135 from 987 starts for an average earnings mark of $6,967 per start. That compares to 2013 when his horses earned an average $1,372 per start.

The total career earnings for Cabrera, from 8,528 starts tops $34.6 million.

Remington Park racing continues next week with a new schedule. Monday and Tuesday racing in the afternoons gets underway for four weeks, beginning Nov. 15 & 16. The first post time is set for 2:30 pm on Mondays and Tuesdays. Each week will conclude with night racing on Fridays and Saturdays, with a regular first post of 7:07 pm. All times are Central.

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Oklahoma Classics Night includes eight stakes races worth more than $1 million for the top Oklahoma-breds in the game. The first race of the evening is at 7:07pm.

Both Run Slewpy Run and Alternative Slew are from the barn of trainer Jesse Oberlander and both have the same mother (dam), Imadancingslew. Alternative Slew is the second favorite at 7-2 odds and probably would be the favorite as the two-time defending champion, but the 5-year-old mare has had only one race since Dec. 12.

“She almost put her eye out in her stall and almost lost the eye,” Oberlander said of Alternative Slew. “It got infected and we had to give her some time off. She's fine now and we were able to save her eye.”

Her half-sister, Run Slewpy Run, has had three races this meet, including a 2-for-2 run on the turf. This 3-year-old filly by Den's Legacy with Imadancingslew by Evansville Slew won an allowance on the grass to open the meet at 7-1/2 furlongs on Sept. 2 and then followed that with her first stakes win at the same distance greensward, the $70,000 Bob Barry Memorial Stakes on Sept. 24. In between those wins, she ran second in the $50,000 Oklahoma Stallion Stakes on the dirt Sept. 10.

Alternative Slew's sire is Alternation.

“These two are amazing,” said Oberlander of his filly and mare. “And their little half-brother is running in the Oklahoma Classics Juvenile, Dancing Devil.”

Alternative Slew won this race last year on Oct. 16 by 1-3/4 lengths as the 3-5 favorite with Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame jockey Luis Quinonez up. He retains the mount this year. Quinonez moved into second place on the all-time winningest jockey list at Remington Park this meet, passing Don Pettinger. She also won the 2019 edition by 4-1/4 lengths as the even-money favorite. Iram Diego rode her to victory that night. Her half-sister, Run Slewpy Run's two wins on the lawn have been at 7-1/2 furlongs while this race is set for 1-1/16th miles. It will be interesting to see who has the advantage down the stretch.

Mike Jones of Bristow, Okla., owns both horses and is also the breeder.

Another mare that can't be overlooked is Country Daisy, the third horse on the morning-line odds at 9-2, at the rail in post-position one. She ran second to Run Slewpy Run in the Bob Barry Memorial, beaten three lengths as the 2-1 favorite. She beat Alternative Slew in an allowance race on the grass Sept. 1 by five lengths at 7-1/2 furlongs, but that was also Alternative Slew's first race back after more than eight months off.

The National Weather Service is calling for a clear but cool evening Friday night with the high in Oklahoma City reaching 64 degrees. There is no rain in the forecast. Temperatures should be dropping into the 50s during the races.

Here's the field from the rail out with horse, jockey, trainer and odds:

1. Country Daisy, Leandro Goncalves, Ray Ashford, 9-2
2. Twilight Curfew, David Cabrera, Ronnie Cravens III, 6-1
3. Courtly, Ezequiel Lara, Lynn Chleborad, 5-1
4. Leather and Lace, Lindey Wade, Ronnie Cravens III, 20-1
5. Hawaiian Typhoon, Lane Luzzi, Austin Gustafson, 8-1
6. Tic Toc Toccet, Jose Medina, Steve Williams, 15-1
7. Run Slewpy Run, Luis Quinonez, Jesse Oberlander, 3-1
8. Tiztheboss, Chad Lindsay, Miguel Silva, 12-1
9. Alternative Slew, Stewart Elliott, Jesse Oberlander, 7-2

The Distaff Turf is the fourth race of the night with an approximate off time of 8:34pm. All times are Central.

The other stakes events comprising the Oklahoma Classics include:

Race 2 – $145,000 Distaff, 3-year-olds and up, fillies and mares, 1 mile-70 yards

Race 3 – $130,000 Sprint, 3-year-olds and up, 6 furlongs

**Welder, the all-time winningest horse at Remington Park with 16 wins here, will be making the final start of his career in the Sprint. His connections, Ra-Max Farms (Clayton Rash) of Claremore, Okla., and trainer Teri Luneack have indicated he will, after retirement, train to be the farm's pony horse, returning to the racetrack to accompany Ra-Max's racehorses in the post parade and to the gate.

Race 5 – $100,000 Lassie, 2-year-old fillies, 6 furlongs

Race 6 – $175,000 Classics Cup, 3-year-olds and up, 1-1/16 miles

Race 7 – $100,000 Juvenile, 2-year-old colts and geldings, 6 furlongs

Race 8 – $130,000 Distaff Sprint, 3-year-olds and up, fillies and mares, 6 furlongs

Race 9 – $130,000 Turf Classic, 3-year-olds and up, 1-1/16 miles (turf)

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The Classics Cup is the richest race on the $1 million night of stakes races for Oklahoma-breds that is the Oklahoma Classics.

Owned by Remington Park's all-time leading owner Danny Caldwell of Poteau, Okla., Dont Tell Noobody will make his third start of the current season for trainer Federico Villafranco. A gelding by Cyber Secret from the Cactus Ridge mare Yucca, Dont Tell Noobody has put forth a pair of third-place efforts in September to prep for the Cup. Jockey Ramon Vazquez has the mount who is the third-favorite in the morning-line odds at 5-1.

The morning-line favorite is the youngest horse in the field, 3-year-old Number One Dude, at 3-2 odds. Owned by Terry Westemeir of Broken Arrow, Okla., and trained by Kari Craddock, Number One Dude is the top stakes winner in the Cup with four black-type wins under his belt. The 3-year-old gelded son of American Lion, out of the Macho Uno mare Ebony Uno, will try to add the Cup to his stakes win earlier this season in the Oklahoma Stallion Stakes at seven furlongs. The Cup is at 1-1/16 miles and will be the longest attempt of 10 career races for Number One Dude who will be ridden by Leandro Goncalves.

Absaroka is the second choice in the morning line at 8-5 odds. Owned by Cowboy Stables of Clinton, Okla. and trained by C.R. Trout, the 5-year-old by Flat Out from the Brahms mare Wanton Song will be ridden by David Cabrera. Absaroka won his second consecutive race of the season here when he scored in an allowance event on Sept. 23 by 4-3/4 lengths going one mile.

Great Faces was the runner-up to Absaroka on Sept. 23, he will attempt the Classics Cup for the first time for trainer Donnie Von Hemel. Owned by Jack Schuyler and Kevin Keiser of Winner, S.D., Great Faces will be ridden by Richard Eramia, and is searching for his first win of the season, and 2021.

The Oklahoma Classics Cup will go as the sixth race of 10 on Friday, Oct. 15, starting approximately at 9:32pm. Here is the field by program and post-position order, with trainer, jockey and morning-line odds:

1. Absaroka: C.R. Trout, David Cabrera, 8-5
2. Dont Tell Noobody: Federico Villafranco, Ramon Vazquez, 5-1
3. Tonaltalitarian: Scott Young, Floyd Wethey, Jr., 20-1
4. United Patriot: Larry Frazee, Jose Alvarez, 20-1
5. Great Faces: Donnie Von Hemel, Richard Eramia, 6-1
6. Number One Dude: Kari Craddock, Leandro Goncalves, 3-2 (morning-line favorite)

The Oklahoma Classics Night begins at 7:07pm. All times are Central.

The post Dont Tell Noobody Chasing Repeat In Friday’s Oklahoma Classics Cup appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Elliott solidified his second spot in the jockeys' standings with 25 wins, seven behind three-time defending champion David Cabrera with 32. Richard Eramia is third with 17 trips to the winner's circle and rounding out the top five are Leandro Goncalves and Ramon Vazquez tied for fourth and fifth with 16 apiece.

Elliott had lost on his mounts in the first and fourth races on Wednesday, but he awoke in the last half of the nine-race card. Afleet Okie, who went off at 7-2 odds with two other horses, broke from the 10-hole in a claiming $7,500 race in the sixth for 3-year-olds and older, fillies and mares, and bided her time down the backstretch, sitting seventh. Elliott circled horses from the outside and passed the other two 7-2 horses in the stretch as they ran 1-2-3 in the race. The 9-5 favorite, Hunny Hush, broke very poorly from the gate and was pulled up on the backstretch when she faltered about 20 lengths back.

Afleet Okie scored a 1-1/2 length victory and paid $9.40, $4.80 and $3.40 across the board. Her running time for the 6 furlongs was 1:12.92. The early fractions she cut into were :22.44 for the quarter-mile, :46.11 for the half-mile and :59.26 for 5 furlongs. Elliott's first win came for owner Ross Burdette of Sallisaw, Okla., and trainer Jesse Oberlander. Afleet Okie beat runner-up S C Tiny Secret, who was another three-quarters of a length ahead of third-place finisher Cherokee Lass.

The second win for Elliott came in the seventh aboard Medalla Match for owner Twisted Chaps Racing Stables (John Morris) of Edmond, Okla., and trainer Michael Biehler. Elliott's mount, a 3-year-old filly in a second-level allowance sprint on the turf at about 5 furlongs, was a winner by three-quarters of a length at 5-2 odds. She was the co-favorite with slightly less win money on her nose. Italian Justice had a bit more win money on her and was the actual betting favorite. She finished fourth.

Medalla Match sat just off the pace for Elliott in third and then pounced in mid-stretch to pass front-runner Honeyfromthesouth (17-1), who faded to third as Chikara (7-1) closed strongly off the flank of the winner to lose by less than a length. Medalla Match returned $7.60, $4.40 and $3.20 across the board.

Elliott and his filly's winning time was :57.73 seconds after the early speed covered the grass like lawnmowers, setting fractions of :21.86 for a quarter-mile and :45.77 for the half. Chikara swept past Honeyfromthesouth to finish two lengths ahead of her.

Elliott's third win came for owners Amy Hardy and Westside Racing Stable (Cindy Perez) of El Paso, Texas, and trainer Mindy Willis aboard heavy favorite Favorable Outcome (6-5) in the eighth race, a one-mile allowance-optional claiming $50,000 race for 3-year-olds and older that had not won two races this year. That race scratched down to four horses from its original eight starters. Favorable Outcome made every pole a winning one, extending his lead with each stride. The 7-year-old horse eventually hit the wire 6-1/2 lengths in front of Catdaddy (3-1), who was another 2-1/2 lengths ahead of third-place finisher Drifting West in a strung out field. Fourth-place Popularity finished last, three lengths behind Drifting West.

Elliott sat chilly for most of the race as he looked like a statue in the saddle of the winner. His steed paid $4.60 to win and $2.40 to place in the short field. There was no show wagering. Favorable Outcome handled the distance in :23.94 seconds for the first quarter-mile, :47.56 for the half, 1:11.78 for three-quarters, 1:24.20 for seven-eighths and 1:37.03 for one mile at the finish line.

The final win of the night came in the nightcap aboard Morning Twilight, a $310,000 purchase at the 2021 Ocala (Florida) Breeders' Spring Sale of 2-year-olds in training for owners West Point Thoroughbreds, Edwin Barker and Titletown Racing Stables of Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The 2-year-old filly by Morning Line, out of the Medaglia D'Oro mare Sweet Golden Carol, was bred in Oklahoma by Joe Merrick. She is trained by the nation's leading conditioner, Steve Asmussen.

Morning Twilight went off as the even-money favorite, but was hard-pressed to win until she changed leads in deep stretch to get up by one length. The filly was followed in second by Diamond N Gasoline (18-1), who was 3-3/4 lengths ahead of third place finisher Presley's Artwork (15-1). Morning Twilight paid $4, $3.40 and $3 across the board. Her winning time for the 6 furlongs was 1:13.87.

That concluded the Primetime Pick 4 with Elliott up on all four winners. The 50-cent wager returned $72.10.

Racing continues this week with a Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 7-9, schedule remaining. First post time is 7:07 p.m. each night.

The post Jockey Stewart Elliott Wins Final Four Races On Wednesday’s Card At Remington appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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