Oklahoma-bred Shotgun Kowboy Named Horse of the Meeting at Remington

Shotgun Kowboy (Photo by Dustin Orona Photography)
Shotgun Kowboy (Photo by Dustin Orona Photography)

Shotgun Kowboy, undefeated in three starts during the 2015 Remington Park Thoroughbred Season, is a unanimous selection as the Horse of the Meeting.

In balloting by media and Remington Park racing department personnel, Shotgun Kowboy was the easy winner for the top award of the season by virtue of his wins in the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby, the Oklahoma Classics Cup and an allowance event.

Owned, trained and bred in Oklahoma by C.R. Trout of Edmond, Okla., Shotgun Kowboy was also a unanimous selection as the season’s Champion 3-year-old Male and as Champion Oklahoma-bred. Shotgun Kowboy was ridden to his Oklahoma Derby and Classics Cup scores by Cliff Berry. Jockey Luis Quinonez had the helm for his allowance win at the beginning of the season.

A gelding by Kodiak Kowboy from the Siphon (Brz) mare Shotgun Jane, Shotgun Kowboy is now pointed to a 4-year-old campaign that could begin in the handicap division series at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.

Champion 2-year-old – My Master Plan
In the only other unanimous vote, My Master Plan was the selection on all ballots for Champion 2-year-old Female. She completed a perfect season at Remington Park, scoring in the $100,000 Trapeze Stakes on the closing day of the meeting.

Owned by Joyce & Dan McGough of Granbury, Texas, My Master Plan finished the season undefeated in four starts. After breaking her maiden status at six furlongs in September, My Master Plan won an allowance race and the $50,000 E.L. Gaylord Memorial Stakes in October, both at 6-1/2 furlongs.

Trained by Donnie Von Hemel, My Master Plan successfully stretched out in the Trapeze on Dec. 13, handling one mile under Luis Quinonez. She was bred in Texas by her owners and sired by Oklahoma stallion Oratory.

Champion 2-year-old – Suddenbreakingnews
Despite missing victory in the season’s biggest 2-year-old race, Suddenbreakingnews managed to get the nod in voting for Champion 2-year-old.

Owned by Samuel Henderson of Odessa, Texas, Suddenbreakingnews lost the $250,000 Springboard Mile on the final day of the Remington Park season by a nose, in a photo-finish, to Discreetness. His victory in the $100,000 Clever Trevor Stakes in November along with his versatility, proved to be the edge in winning the vote.

Suddenbreakingnews debuted over the turf, around two turns at 7-1/2 furlongs, in August, crossing the finish first before being disqualified for interference. He then broke his maiden for good in September, on the main track at one mile. After a solid second in allowance-company in October, Suddenbreakingnews won the Clever Trevor Stakes in November.

Trained by Donnie Von Hemel, Luis Quinonez had the helm in all five of the races this season for Suddenbreakingnews. He was bred in Kentucky by Branch Equine, LLC.

Champion 3-year-old Female – Include Betty
She only made one start during the season but Grade 1 winner Include Betty made enough of an impression in winning the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks to gain the honor as top 3-year-old Female.

Owned by the Midway, Ky. partnership of Brereton Jones and Timothy Thornton, Include Betty won the Grade 3 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park in April and then the Grade 1 Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park in June, before finding her way to Oklahoma City in September.

Trained by Tom Proctor, Include Betty was handled by Drayden Van Dyke in the Remington Park Oaks.

Ivan Fallunovalot – Champion Older Male, Champion Sprinter
Sweeping the top sprint races of the season, Ivan Fallunovalot won the vote for Champion Sprinter and Champion Older Male for his perfect two-for-two record here.

Owned by Lewis Mathews, Jr. of Bismarck, Ark. and trained by Tom Howard, Ivan Fallunovalot had the services of Hall of Fame Jockey Calvin Borel in winning the $75,000 David M. Vance Sprint Stakes in August and then the $150,000 Remington Park Sprint Cup in September.

A 5-year-old gelding, Ivan Fallunovalot used the Remington Park races to ready for an appearance in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at the end of October. The Texas-bred by Valid Expectations was in contention until early stretch in that race before fading.

Champion Older Female – Zeta Zody
A victory in an open-company allowance race for older females over the turf, followed by a pair of Oklahoma-bred stakes wins on the lawn, earned top older female honors for Zeta Zody.

Triumphant in both the $50,000 Bob Barry Memorial Stakes at 7-1/2 furlongs over the turf in August and then the $130,000 Oklahoma Classics Distaff Turf in October at 1-1/16 miles, Zeta Zody enjoyed her best season yet at Remington Park.

A 4-year-old filly, Zeta Zody is owned by Al and Bull Ulwelling of Elk River, Minn. and is trained by Michael Biehler. Jockey Alex Birzer was up for all of her wins this season.

Zeta Zody was bred in Oklahoma by Robert Zoellner.

Champion Turf Performer – Cougar Ridge
Victories in the top two grass events of the season made Cougar Ridge the Champion Turf Performer.

Owned by Richard Bahde of Omaha, Neb. and trained by Randy Morse, Cougar Ridge won both the $75,000 Edward J. DeBartolo Memorial Handicap in August and then the $100,000 Remington Green Stakes in September. Jockey C.J. McMahon was up for both scores.

Cougar Ridge was bred in Kentucky by Wild As Elle, LLC and Johannesburg Syndicate.

Champion Claimer – Treacherous
A winner in four of his five starts this season, Treacherous won the voting for Champion Claimer.

Owned by End Zone Athletics of Mansfield, Texas in all of his starts here, Treacherous was trained by Karl Broberg and ridden in all of his outs by C.J. McMahon. The 6-year-old gelding won at the $20,000 claiming level in August, posted a starter allowance win in September and then ran third for a $50,000 price in early October. Treacherous bounced back after missing early in the month, winning at the $25,000 level and then finally at the $20,000 level before October was complete.

Treacherous was claimed out of his Oct. 30 start for the $20,000 price. He was bred in Kentucky by Ramona Bass.

Live racing is now on hiatus at Remington Park until 2016. The American Quarter Horse Season runs 50 dates from March 11 thru June 4. The 67-date Thoroughbred Season will be contested from Aug. 12 thru Dec. 11.