Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma (TRAO)

1 day ago

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, September 23, 2026
by Richard Linihan



OKLAHOMA DERBY CONTESTANTS ARRIVING AT REMINGTON PARK



OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma Derby horses have begun to arrive at Remington Park and one went to the racetrack Wednesday morning for a quick official workout.



Among those arriving in their stalls for the 38th running of the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby is Crupper, who worked three furlongs in :38.13 handily over a fast track Wednesday for Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame trainer Donnie Von Hemel. Von Hemel, who has the second most wins in track history, also could catch Brad Cox for most wins in the Oklahoma Derby if Crupper upsets this field. He has three to Cox’s four. Von Hemel’s winners were Clever Trevor (1989), Queen’s Gray Bee (1991) and Going Ballistic (2007).



There will be a rider change for Von Hemel in the Oklahoma Derby. Martin Garcia was originally named to be the jockey aboard Crupper but was involved in a racing accident at Churchill Downs and sent to the hospital in Louisville, Ky., on Sept. 19. Stewart Elliott will ride Crupper in the Oklahoma Derby, according to Von Hemel. He also said John Velasquez would be aboard the Von Hemel filly Justified Gift in the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks in the 11th of 12 races on Sunday, Sept. 27. The Oklahoma Derby is the finale in race 12.



Crupper, a colt by Candy Ride (ARG), won the Bath House Row Stakes at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., this spring on April 18 before Von Hemel sent him to the Grade 1, $2 million Preakness Stakes in Maryland. The Kentucky-bred colt is listed as 15-1 in the morning line for the Oklahoma Derby.



Pavlovian, arrived and stretched his legs Wednesday morning. The Sunland Derby winner, sired by Pavel, will be ridden by second-leading rider at Remington Park, David Cabrera. The colt is apparently a little bit ornery, according to another Remington Park rider – Obed Sanchez.



Sanchez held up his right arm, grabbed his bicep and said, “he bit me right here. That’s how I know he’s going to win.” Pavlovian, a gray in the race, beat 2025 Springboard Mile winner, Express Kid, by a slim nose in the Sunland Derby. The two hit the wire together in a Sunland Derby photo in New Mexico.



Also arriving at Remington Park was Zihnal (7-2 second morning-line favorite) and Vintage Cowboy (10-1) for trainers Jonathan Thomas and Steve Asmussen, respectively. Zihnal, a gray gelding by Quality Road, is one of the bigger specimens physically for this race, standing tall in his barn. Zihnal won the Grade 3, $400,000 West Virginia Derby by 6-1/4 lengths with Hall of Fame jockey John Velasquez up. Velasquez follows this horse to Remington Park for the Oklahoma Derby.



Vintage Cowboy schooled in the paddock Wednesday morning for Asmussen, the all-time winningest trainer in North American horse racing history and 20-time title winning trainer here. His son, and leading rider at Remington Park, Erik Asmussen has been named to ride Vintage Cowboy, another gray in the race. This colt by Essential Quality, gets in off a nose-victory against allowance non-winners of two career race-company at Ellis Park in Kentucky. That was with Erik in the saddle on Aug. 21.



The morning line 5-2 favorite for the Oklahoma Derby, Silent Tactic, is expected to arrive at Remington Park on Thursday for trainer Mark Casse and owners John C. Oxley of Tulsa, Okla., and Victoriam Farm. Silent Tactic, a colt by Tacitus, was on his way to the Kentucky Derby this year before bruising a foot. He was the runner-up to Renegade in the Grade 1, $1,500,000 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn after winning the Grade 3, $1,000,000 Southwest Stakes there on Feb. 6. Cristian Torres, who also was sent to the hospital in that Churchill Downs accident on Sept. 19, is named to ride Silent Tactic and there has been no word on any change there.



J J Grey is expected into Oklahoma City on Thursday for trainer Ken McPeek. This gray colt by Street Boss is listed at 5-1 odds on the morning-line. Two races back he was the winner of the $250,000 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa, on July 11. His regular rider, Emmanuel Esquivel, has been named to ride in the Oklahoma Derby.



The Oklahoma Derby Day program on Sunday features total purses of $1,389,500.



Remington Park racing this week continues Sept. 24-27. Thursday through Saturday action begins at 6:30pm. Oklahoma Derby Sunday starts at 3pm. All times are Central.



Remington Park has provided more than $426 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 Oklahoma Derby is set for Sunday, Sept. 27 at Remington Park. 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.

Caption: Pavlovian (3) wins the $500,000 Sunland Park Derby in February this year. He has arrived at Remington Park to continue his preparations for the Oklahoma Derby this Sunday, Sept. 27.

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