The Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby headlines the 2016 Remington Park stakes schedule, as it usually does. The entire derby day has been elevated in status for a second consecutive year.
The Oklahoma Derby program on Sunday, Sept. 25 now boasts 10 stakes events on a planned card of 12 races. The total purse amount for the 10 stakes races on Oklahoma Derby Day is $1,325,000. The afternoon’s stakes have increased from seven to 10 this year with the stakes purses increasing by $275,000.
“We’re looking forward to hosting the 28th running of the Oklahoma Derby and are making the afternoon bigger than it has ever been for quality racing in this state,” said Matt Vance, vice president of operations at Remington Park. “Thanks to the increased pool sizes experienced the past several years on our big days, wagering opportunities will be enhanced as well. We will feature a $50,000 guaranteed pool for the all stakes Primetime Pick 4 on derby day.
“The Oklahoma Derby has annually attracted owners and trainers from across the nation, seeking a quality, and graded, derby spot just prior to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships,” Vance noted. “The locally-based trainers have always been well-represented in the race with Donnie Von Hemel winning three times and Shotgun Kowboy winning in 2015 under the guidance of breeder/owner/trainer C.R. Trout.”
The rest of the Oklahoma Derby program, beginning at 3pm on Sept. 25:
– $200,000 Remington Park Oaks, 3-year-old fillies, 1-1/16 miles
– $175,000 Governor’s Cup, 3 & older, 1-1/8 miles
– $150,000 David M. Vance Sprint, 3 & older, 6 furlongs
– $100,000 Remington Green Stakes, 3 & older, 1-1/8 miles (turf)
– $75,000 Ricks Memorial Stakes, fillies & mares, 3 & older, 1-1/16 miles (turf)
– $75,000 Kip Deville Stakes, 2-year-olds, 6 furlongs
– $50,000 Flashy Lady Stakes, fillies & mares, 3 & older, 6 furlongs
– $50,000 Bob Barry Memorial, fillies & mares, 3 & older, 7-1/2 furlongs (turf) (OK)
– $50,000 Red Earth Stakes, 3 & older, 7-1/2 furlongs (turf) (OK)
The Governor’s Cup, the Bob Barry Memorial and the Red Earth Stakes have all been moved to Oklahoma Derby Day from the month of August, where they had been positioned for many years. The Remington Sprint Cup has been renamed the David M. Vance Sprint. The Vance had previously been conducted earlier in the season. That sprint race has been removed from the schedule.
Other big days on the Remington Park schedule of 31 stakes races include the rich Oklahoma Classics on Friday, Oct. 21 and the Springboard Mile Day on Sunday, Dec. 11.
The million-dollar Oklahoma Classics Night will feature eight divisional stakes races for Oklahoma-breds. Led by the $175,000 Classics Cup (OK) for 3 and older at 1-1/16 miles. The rest of the Classics night includes:
– $145,000 Distaff (OK), fillies & mares, 3 & older, 1 mile-70 yards
– $130,000 Sprint (OK), 3 & older, 6 furlongs
– $130,000 Distaff Sprint (OK), fillies & mares, 3 & older, 6 furlongs
– $130,000 Turf Classic (OK), 3 & older, 1-1/16 miles (turf)
– $130,000 Distaff Turf (OK), fillies & mares, 3 & older, 1-1/16 miles (turf)
– $100,000 Juvenile (OK), 2-year-old colts & geldings, 6 furlongs
– $100,000 Lassie (OK), 2-year-old fillies, 6 furlongs
The $100,000 Clever Trevor Stakes, won last year by Suddenbreakingnews, serves as the final 2-year-old stakes prior to the Springboard Mile. The Clever Trevor will be conducted at seven furlongs on Friday, Nov. 4.
The $300,000 Springboard Mile, Remington Park’s top 2-year-old stakes race, has received a purse increase of $50,000 and will headline the program on the final day of the season that includes:
– $100,000 Trapeze Stakes, 2-year-old fillies, 1 mile
– $100,000 She’s All In Stakes, fillies & mares, 3 & older, 1 mile-70 yards
– $50,000 Jim Thorpe Stakes (OK), 3-year-olds, 1 mile
– $50,000 Useeit Stakes (OK), 3-year-old fillies, 1 mile
The Springboard Mile was won in 2015 by Discreetness.
The total purse amount of the 31-stakes schedule for Remington Park in 2016 is $3,465,000.
The 2016 Remington Park season begins on Friday, Aug. 12 and continues thru Sunday, Dec. 11. The normal racing week after Opening Weekend will be Wednesday thru Saturday with a regular post time of 7pm.
There are special 3pm post times on Labor Day Monday, Sept. 5, Oklahoma Derby Day on Sept. 25 and Black Friday on Nov. 25. The final day of the season, Springboard Mile Day on Dec. 11 will begin at 1:30pm. All times are Central.