Rowdy Rascal was full of run Friday night, winning the $75,000 Don C. McNeill Stakes but his owners said that wasn't what he was full of when he was a foal.
“When he was two days old, he was all over his stall and his mother was beside herself,” said owner Theresa Moore of JT Stables of Springdale, Ark. “My dad saw him and said, 'Man, he's a rowdy rascal!' And there you have it.”
Even now, winning the Don McNeill and the $100,000 Oklahoma Classics Juvenile at Remington Park in Oklahoma City, Okla., trainer Boyd “Jobe” Caster says he isn't anywhere near his peak ability because of his rowdiness.
“If he ever takes racing seriously, no telling what he will be able to do,” said Caster. “He is what he is. This is still a game to him. He's so immature. But he should be a nice 3-year-old. He is what he is.”
What he is is a multiple stakes winner and jockey Freddy Manrrique and Caster put him in the category of a possible $400,000 Springboard Mile candidate at the end of the meet, Dec. 17.
“Mr. Caster thinks he is the best 2-year-old at Remington Park,” said Manrrique. “We work hard every morning. I was confident, but he is just a baby. I have to let him know I'm there if he needs me (during the race). He was getting out a little so I had to remind him.”
Rowdy Rascal, a juvenile gelding by Den's Legacy, out of the Affirmatif mare Dancing Diva, earned $45,000 for the victory and is showing the same kind of bloodlines his dam (mother) had.
“We campaigned the mom and she was a champion sprinter in Oklahoma,” said Moore. “We bred her to Den's Legacy to try to get more distance and he's showing it was a good idea.”
Rowdy Rascal covered the one mile in 1:40.38 over the fast track after sitting mid-pack throughout the first half-mile. He came flying on the outside at the top of the lane and gained a one-length lead quickly that turned into three lengths at the wire. He went off as the 7-5 betting favorite and paid $4.80 to win, $3 to place, and $2.40 to show.
Rowdy Rascal improved his record to six starts, three wins, and one second for a bankroll of $132,859. Showing his adolescent side, he didn't win the first race of his career until his fourth attempt, on Sept. 18 this meet at Remington Park. He has won three in a row, including that maiden victory, increasing his speed and endurance with each race. He ran second to Cuatro Madres in a maiden event here on Aug. 28, but Friday night, Rowdy Rascal beat that horse by three lengths. Cuatro Madres (2-1) got up for second, 4-1/4 lengths in front of third-place finisher Beckett's Luckyday (10-1).
The fractions for the race were :24.10 for the first quarter-mile, :48.97 for the half-mile, 1:14.34 for three-quarters of a mile, and 1:27.17 for seven-eighths of a mile.
The score for Rowdy Rascal gives his connections their first triumph in the Don McNeill Stakes. The race is named in honor of the late Don McNeill. The owner and breeder who was so prominent in Oklahoma-bred racing, represented by many talented horses including top Oklahoma-breds Clever Trevor and Mr. Ross, as well as 2011 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Caleb's Posse. McNeill passed in 2015.
Remington Park racing concludes this week with a Saturday night card of nine races. First post time is 7:07 pm Central.
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