While plenty of horses shipped in from outside the Southwest to have success at Remington Park on the track’s biggest day of racing, including Untrapped winning the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby (G3) and Champagne Room taking the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks, the local contingent more than held its own with horses bred in Texas and Oklahoma winning a total of five stakes. Following is a recap of all the undercard stakes:
IVAN FALLUNOVALOT RUNS STREAK IN VANCE STAKES TO FOUR
Ivan Fallunovalot. Ivan Fallunovalot. Ivan Fallunovalot. Ivan Fallunovalot. It’s a name you see a lot when it comes to the $150,000 David M. Vance Stakes at Remington Park.
This 7-year-old gelded son of Valid Expectations has won the 2014, 2015, 2016 and now the 2017 edition of the Vance Stakes and seemed to look better as a 7-year-old than he did the other three years. In fact, his time of 1:08.19 in the six-furlong sprint was a new stakes record for the David Vance Stakes, beating the old mark of 1:08.72, run by Humble Smarty in the first running of this race in 2011.
“He just seems to be getting better,” said jockey Luis Quinonez. “He was tough to handle as a 3-year-old, getting him to switch leads and things like that, but now he’s a dream.”
Ivan Fallunovalot, owned by Lewis E. Mathews Jr. of Bismarck, Ark., and trained by W.T. “Tom” Howard, came extremely close to the track record set in 1991 by Smoke Of Ages. The official Daily Racing Form chart that day marked the time at 1:08, when times were still kept in fifths of a second, before they were recorded in hundredths of a second.
“I thought we had a chance at it and I pushed him a little this time, but it just wasn’t quite enough,” said Quinonez. “He wanted to go to the lead at the 3/8ths pole, and I wanted to make him happy, so I let him go. Down the stretch, I really thought we might get it.”
This horse has been so sharp, winning six of his last eight starts, mostly in stakes company, that Mathews is tempted to take him back to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
“When we took him in 2015, it was the worst trip during a race that he’s ever had, so yes it is tempting,” said Mathews. “We’ll let the horse tell us what he wants to do.”
Ivan Fallunovalot was the heavy 2-5 betting favorite with Wings Locked up running second, three lengths back. Counterforce rounded out the top three in the race. Ivan Fallunovalot is such a strong crowd favorite that he keyed a Pick 3 payout of $1.55.
The payoffs had Ivan Fallunovalot at $2.80 to win, $2.10 to place and $2.10 to show. Wings Locked Up paid $5.20 to place and $4 to show. Counterforce paid $6.60 to show.
Bred in Texas by Eileen Hartis, Ivan Fallunovalot is a gelding by Valid Expectations from the Horse Chestnut (SAF) mare Flashdance Missy. A winner of 17 races from 28 career attempts, Ivan Fallunovalot picked up $89,847 in winning his fourth straight Vance Stakes. He has now earned $945,803 overall.
The Vance Stakes is named after Remington Park’s founding president and general manager who was once again on hand to present the trophy to the connections in the winner’s circle.
PACIFIC TYPHOON LEADS THE WAY IN RED EARTH STAKES AT REMINGTON PARK
The big Oklahoma Derby Day racing program at Remington Park came to a close on Sunday with a front-running winner as Pacific Typhoon defeated eight other Oklahoma-breds in the $50,000 Red Earth Stakes.
Owned by Carol Nelson of Mannford, Okla. and trained by Veronica Griggs, Pacific Typhoon was ridden with confidence on the lead by David Cabrera. The 4-year-old gelding moved briskly with fraction of :23.38 for a quarter-mile, :46.95 for the half-mile and 1:10.55 for three-quarters of a mile and still had enough to pull clear to win by 1-1/4 lengths over Ibaka, the even-money betting favorite. Mister Keith as another neck back I third.
Pacific Typhoon paid $6.40 to win, $3.20 to place and $2.60 to show. Ibaka paid $2.40 to place and $2.20 to show. Mister Keith paid $8.20 to show.
The win is the seventh from 25 career attempts for Pacific Typhoon, a gelded son of Don’t Get Mad from the Stormy Atlantic mare My Stormy Elaine. Bred in Oklahoma by Clark Brewster, Pacific Typhoon earned $29,796 to move his total bankroll to $156,606.
STRONG ON THE LEAD, DIVA’S RULE DOMINATES IN BOB BARRY MEMORIAL
Setting an easy pace paid off for Diva’s Rule as no rivals challenged her and she drew away to win Sunday’s, $50,000 Bob Barry Memorial at Remington Park by four lengths.
Owned by Michael Grossman of Fredericksburg, Texas and trained by Francisco Bravo, Diva’s Rule was ridden by Jareth Loveberry. The 4-year-old filly went to the front early in the 7-1/2 furlongs turf event for Oklahoma-bred females, and never looked back.
Loveberry put her through quarterly splits of :24.23 for the quarter-mile, :48.64 for the half-mile and 1:12.65 for three-quarters of a mile. Diva’s Rule had plenty left in the lane to hold off Sweetdreamstonight in second and Mischievous Misty who faded to third after trying to keep company with the winner early in the race.
Away at 5-1 odds in the betting, Diva’s Rule paid $12 to win, $5.80 to place and $3.80 to show. Sweetdreamstonight paid $8 to place and $4.40 to show. Mischievous Misty returned $2.60 to show.
Diva’s Rule is by Roman Ruler from the Major Impact mare Four Plus Four. The win is her eighth from 20 career starts. She earned $29,796 to run her overall money to $216,970. She was bred in Oklahoma by Eureka Thoroughbred Farm.
The Bob Barry Memorial is named in honor of legendary sports broadcasters Bob Barry, Sr. and Bob Barry Jr. Between the father and son they covered over 60 years of sports in Oklahoma.
LONGSHOT FINAL ARROW SUPRISES IN KIP DEVILLE STAKES AT REMINGTON PARK
The 2-year-old gelding Final Arrow didn’t convince the public when he broke his maiden by 8-1/2 lengths last time out at Remington Park in a $25,000 claiming event. He backed it up with a huge step up in class to the $75,000 Kip Deville Stakes.
Final Arrow proved he can run at this level with a victory at 41-1 odds. Andy Gladd trained the long shot for T and M Precision Services of Claremore, Okla. Jockey David Cabrera booted home the winner of the Kip Deville in a time of 1:10.30 for the six-furlongs against nine other juveniles.
Five horses went to the lead down the backstretch, sprinting to fractions of :21.61 for the quarter-mile and :44.39 for the half-mile. By the time they reached the quarter-mile pole, only Final Arrow and Land Battle remained of the five speedballs. The two of them battled down the stretch until Final Arrow finally prevailed by a half-length. Land Battle held on for second and Flat Lucky was a late-running third.
The winner’s 41-1 odds keyed huge payouts as Final Arrow returned $85.0 to win, $41.80 to place and $11.20 to show. Land Battle paid $7.60 to place and $4.80 to show. Flat Lucky paid $3 to show.
The win is the second from five career starts for Final Arrow, a Texas-bred son of Crossbow from the Magic Cat mare Final Trick. He was bred in the Lone Star State by Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch. The winner’s share of the Kip Deville was $44,745 to run his total earnings to $58,475.
The Kip Deville Stakes is named after the Oklahoma-bred who broke his maiden status at Remington Park in 2005, eventually winning the Breeders’ Cup Mile in 2007 and becoming the all-time richest state-bred horse.
The $100,000 Clever Trevor Stakes is the next major 2-year-old event for open-company runners at Remington Park. It will be contested on Nov. 3.
CHAMPION CHAMPAGNE ROOM TOO TOUGH IN REMINGTON PARK OAKS
Champagne Room came to the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks with a lot of questions swirling around her. She had not raced in nearly seven months and had only one start since winning the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies last November at Santa Anita.
The Breeders’ Cup score earned Champagne Room the Eclipse Award as the top 2-year-old filly in North American racing. However, a poor performance in the Grade 2 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita in February left her with an ankle chip that required cleaning and rest. Even the connections of Champagne Room had some concerns on how she would act in her return to action at Remington Park.
“I was a little worried but not because of the layoff,” said two-time Kentucky Derby winning jockey Mario Gutierrez, who rode Champagne Room. “I was just a little worried because of her not relaxing before the race.”
Trainer Peter Eurton was on the same page with Gutierrez. “She was agitated, yeah,” he said. “She wanted to run and was having a tough time waiting behind the gate.”
Once the feisty Champagne Room left the starting gate, she dominated her four rivals in the Oaks, running freely and imposing her will. Owned by Sharon Alesia, Robin Christensen, Ciaglia Racing and Gulliver Racing of Carlsbad, Calif., Champagne Room went straight to the lead and never looked back in the 1-1/16 miles race, finishing in 1:42.05 and winning by 3-3/4 lengths. Her time was a stakes record, breaking the 1:42.76 set in 2011 by Tourmaline.
“We knew she was going to be off for two-to-four months at least with that injury and surgery to remove the chip, but we had no doubt that she was ready,” Eurton said. “She was working great in the mornings, not only her timed workouts but also her gallops.”
Gutierrez, who the Kentucky Derby with I’ll Have Another in 2012 and again with Nyquist in 2016, guided Champagne Room to a comfortable lead on the backside and then with about a half mile to go in the race, her competitors began to move up beside her. Some must have thought she was starting to feel the seven-month layoff, but not Gutierrez.
“She was beginning to relax at that point and came off the bit on her own, but as soon as they come up to her, you saw her kick it back in and she drew away from them.”
After that, it was easy to see Champagne Room was going to win by as many as she wanted as she cruised home easily in front. The 3-year-old filly added $120,000 to her lifetime earnings, boosting her bank to $1,430,600 in only seven starts. It was her third career win.
Running second behind the heavy 2-5 favorite was Ever So Clever and second favorite Babybluesbdancing in third.
Now the connections of Champagne Room must decide whether to send this daughter of Broken Vow from the Bernstein mare Lucky To Be Me to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff or to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. There is no race in the series strictly for 3-year-old fillies.
Champagne Room paid $2.40 to win, $2.10 to place and $2.10 to show. Ever So Clever returned $2.80 to place and $2.10 to show. Babybluesbdancing paid $2.10 to show.
It was the first win in the Remington Park Oaks for all of the connections of Champagne Room. With the victory, she became the first horse to have won an Eclipse Award to win a race at Remington Park.
IRON FIST ROLLS WIDE TO WIN GOVERNOR’S CUP AT REMINGTON PARK
Some folks go an entire race meet without winning a stakes race. Then there is Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Ricardo Santana who enjoyed a dominant Sunday afternoon at Remington Park, adding the $175,000 Governor’s Cup to their win collections when Iron Fist won by 1-3/4 lengths.
A 5-year-old son of Tapit from the Orientate mare Successful Outlook, Iron Fist handled the 1-1/8 miles of the Governor’s Cup in 1:48.31. Owned by Whispering Oaks Farm of Carencro, La., Santana relaxed on Iron Fist and watched the other four horses in the race fight it out early. He then swooped to the outside coming into the homestretch, passing all four of his foes to win going away.
Iron Fist and American Dubai both went off in the wagering as even-money choices, with Iron Fist actually the favorite due to a few dollars more in his favor. American Dubai could not match strides with the winner and settled for third place as Code West gained late for the runner-up spot.
“I’m truly blessed to be on horses like this,” said Santana. “The horse knew what to do when we got position.”
Iron Fist paid $4.20 to win, $2.40 to place and $2.10 to show. Code West, winner of the Governor’s Cup in 2014, paid $5.60 to place and $2.60 to show. American Dubai paid $2.10 to show.
Bred by Gainesway Thoroughbreds in Kentucky, Iron Fist won his eighth race from 22 tries. He added $105,000 to his bankroll with the victory, making his lifetime earnings $984,189.
Iron Fist gave Asmussen his fifth career victory in the Governor’s Cup at Remington Park while Santana won his second. It was the first Governor’s Cup for Whispering Oaks Farm.
GOLDEN MISCHIEF WINS FLASHY LADY STAKES WITH HUGE LATE RUN
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen showed why he continues to be the leading trainer at Remington Park, winning the $50,000 Flashy Lady Stakes with Golden Mischief. The win was the first of four stakes races he would win on the on Oklahoma Derby Day program.
Golden Mischief, owned by William and Connie Heiligbrodt of Houston, was a winner for the fifth time in her 15 career starts. Ridden by Ricardo Santana, Jr., the 3-year-old Kentucky-bred filly covered the six furlongs in a swift 1:08.53 seconds as front-runners Donita’s Ruler and Euro K Shotgun wore each other out after setting a solid pace with fractions of :22.01 for a quarter-mile and :44.14 for a half-mile. Both Golden Mischief and the 4-5 wagering favorite Wheatfield passed the early runners in the stretch before Golden Mischief crossed the finish a neck in front at 8-5 odds. Donita’s Ruler held third.
Golden Mischief paid $5.40 to win, $2.20 to place and $2.10 to show. Wheatfield paid $2.20 to place and $2.10 to show. Donita’s Ruler paid $2.60 to show.
It was Golden Mischief’s first win since December 2016 when she went to the winner’s circle at the Fair Grounds. A 3-year-old filly by Into Mischief from the Carson City mare Lanai City, Golden Mischief was bred in Kentucky by Fredericka Caldwell. She made $30,000 in the Flashy Lady, moving her career bankroll to $350,830.
GIANNA’S DREAM CONTINUES HER MASTERY OVER TURF AT REMINGTON PARK, WINNING RICKS MEMORIAL
Gianna’s Dream lived up to her name in the $75,000 Ricks Memorial Stakes, winning by daylight as the 1-2 odds-on favorite for owner Jordan Wycoff of Fort Washington, Pa.
The 4-year-old filly by Twirling Candy from the Rahy mare Untamed Beauty, Gianna’s Dream put jockey Robby Albarado and trainer Michael Maker in the winner’s circle against a full-field of 12 in the 1-1/16th miles race on the Remington Park turf. She stopped the clock in 1:41.52 over the firm going after easily moving to the lead off the final turn and putting her rivals at bay. Strive ran second, 1-1/4 lengths behind Gianna’s Dream while Joyous Thunder was third.
Gianna’s Dream has always been one of the most competitive horses once she sets foot on the track, winning 8-of-16 starts and running in the money in 13 of those tries. She pocketed $49,143 for the win and pushed her total bankroll past the $323,791. Gianna’s Dream is also now five of seven in races over the lawn and she is perfect in three attempts on the grass at Remington Park.
Gianna’s Dream paid $3 to win, $2.60 to place and $2.20 to show. Strive returned $4.20 to place and $3.40 to show. Joyous Thunder paid $8.20 to show.
Gianna’s Dream was bred in Oklahoma by Center Hills Farm & Randy Blair. In 2016, she won the Bob Barry Memorial on the Oklahoma Derby Day undercard. She then went on to score in the Oklahoma Classics Filly & Mare Turf for state-breds. It remains to be seen she will follow that schedule again this year.
The Ricks Memorial is named in honor of the late Ran Ricks, Jr. who was the first owner with horses on the grounds at Remington Park. He was a multiple leading owner during the first eight years in track history before passing in late 1996.
TURBO STREET WINS STRETCH BATTLE TO SCORE REMINGTON GREEN
Turbo Street (Aus) steadily rallied in the stretch to defeat stable-mate Paternal Pride by a neck in Sunday’s $100,000 Remington Green at Remington Park.
The Remington Green victory was the second in five years for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr. as they teamed up in 2013 with Daddy Nose Best to win the top open-company turf race of the season at 1-1/8 miles.
Turbo Street is owned by Clark Brewster of Tulsa, Okla., who claimed Turbo Street for $25,000 in a Sept. 2 start at Saratoga in upstate New York. Brewster then entered him in the Remington Green and by winning, almost tripled that claiming price by taking home $60,000 for first place.
“Our farm manager is from Australia and we claimed this horse to honor him,” said Brewster. The horse, in turn, honored all the connections victory in the Remington Green, giving Brewster, a long-time supporter of racing at Remington Park, his first stakes win in the race.
Santana sat third off the front-runners and then asked Turbo Street to run in the stretch.
“I was just looking for my hole and found it,” said Santana in the winner’s circle. “This is a very nice horse but I knew we had a tough one chasing us too.”
He knew that because the second place finisher Paternal Pride is also trained by Asmussen.
Turbo Street was at 3-1 odds and paid $8.40 to win, $5 to place and $3 to show. Paternal Pride paid $6.80 to place and $3.80 to show. Net Gain was third and paid $2.80 to show.
Turbo Street covered the distance in 1:49.71 over firm turf. He is a 6-year-old gelding by Encosta de Lago (Aus) from the Quest For Fame (GB) mare Extra Terrestial (Aus). The win was the fifth from 27 career starts for Turbo Street who has now made $154,646 and was bred in Australia by Bangaloe Stud Syndicate.
(from Remington Park news release)