Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma (TRAO)

2 days ago

NEDRA NELL and CRAZY GRACIE - GET SHORT BULLET TIMES IN FIRST REMINGTON PARK OFFICIAL WORKS OF PRESEASON

OKLAHOMA CITY – Thoroughbred horses took to the racetrack for the first official workouts at Remington Park for this upcoming meet on Thursday morning. A couple of 2-year-olds trained by Pat Swan recorded the first bullet works of the preseason.

Nedra Nell and Crazy Gracie worked in tandem and were both clocked in :37.14 seconds for three furlongs, breaking from the gate, for the top time of the seven horses that tried the distance.

“We sent the two out with exercise riders; doesn’t seem like many jockeys are here right now,” said Swan, 74, who makes his home on a 160-acre ranch in Jones, Okla. “The times were a little slow, it wasn’t about the times. We just wanted them to learn the gate and get their gate cards. We accomplished that so we are happy.”

Nedra Nell is by Mo Town, out of the Proud Citizen mare Tranquility Dream, who was in foal to Mo Town with this filly when Swan said they bought her. Crazy Gracie, who was bred by Swan, is by Mister Lucky Cat, out of the Lucky Lionel mare Oh My Goodness. Both will be first-time starters when they debut this fall.

Horses were on the track Wednesday morning but none posted an official workout. The 2026 Remington Park Thoroughbred Season begins Friday, Aug. 21 and continues to Saturday, Dec. 19.

At 74 years of age, Swan doesn’t even think of the possibility of retiring.

“Oh, when you have a yearling in the pasture, you’re thinking he’s probably the best you’ve ever had,” said Swan, with a laugh. “I have too much to do to retire. This ranch is a full-time job; we have 30 cows out here and I bought 10 broodmares.”

Swan said among those returning with his stable for the meet this year is How About Bob, a 3-year-old Oklahoma-bred gelding by Mister Lucky Cat, out of the Beau Genius mare Serene Serena. How About Bob has started 11 times in his career, winning three and earning $103,870. His most recent win came in the $50,000 Golden Circle Stakes at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa, on May 16, going six furlongs in 1:09.52. He won under up-and-coming jockey Ronnie Huckaby, as the 7-2 third choice in the race. He beat the 9-5 favorite, Canned Heat, by a half-length.

“He’s a nice gelding,” said Swan. “We have started riding Ronnie, who had his bug this year at Will Rogers Downs (in Claremore, Okla.). He has won quite a few this summer.” Huckaby even rode some at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., this past spring.

“We like Ronnie,” Swan said. “He will be coming to Remington Park after the Prairie Meadows meet is done. We love to have David Cabrera on our horses, but everyone wants him. Ramon Vazquez (last year’s top rider at Remington Park) wins a lot on our horses and he will be back.”

Swan always points his stable to Remington Park and has been coming here since the first meet in 1988. Swan has started a total of 1,743 times in his thoroughbred racing career, winning 175 times, running second 182 times and finishing third another 206 times, for earnings of $3,651,613.

He has been known to produce some longshot winners (10-1 or higher) each meet and he did it twice last year, once with How About Bob (11-1) and once with a horse named Mirror (10-1). Vazquez rode How About Bob in that Sept. 12, 2025, race and Isaiah Wiseman rode Mirror on Nov. 7. How About Bob broke his maiden in the first race of his career, at Remington Park, on Sept. 12 last year and then ran third in the Oklahoma Classics Juvenile Stakes on Oct. 17. He also finished third in the Welder Stakes at WRD on March 10 this year.

Swan’s top runner ever, an Oklahoma-bred mare named Dicey, ran out $431,837 in her career and is now making foals for Swan. Dicey was a multiple stakes winner at Remington Park and concluded her racing career with a record of 52 starts, 10 wins, five seconds and nine thirds. He owned her in conjunction with Judith E. Lewis. Dicey was by sire Flat Out, from the Broken Vow mare Broken Blues.


For Immediate Release
Thursday, July 23, 2026
by Richard Linihan


Remington Park has provided more than $417 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District. The 2026 Thoroughbred Season at Remington Park will begin on August 21. Remington Park presents year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. Guests must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or to enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information. ... See MoreSee Less