Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma (TRAO)

15 hours ago

MELLENCAMP TAKES THEM GATE TO WIRE IN FEATURED REMINGTON PARK ALLOWANCE WITH JOCKEY ERNESTO VALDEZ-JIMENEZ IN SADDLE

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, November 11, 2026
by Richard Linihan


OKLAHOMA CITY – Check it out. Mellencamp came to this small town for a third time Wednesday night and proved he was the (cherry) bomb, winning the featured allowance race under jockey Ernesto Valdez-Jimenez at Remington Park.

The 4-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding fought the authority in this race, the 3-5 Steve Asmussen favorite, Mirage, in this spot and this time, the authority did not win. The son of Constitution, from the Bayern mare American Model, stretched his legs out for the first time this meet, after two failed trips sprinting, and it was just what Mellencamp needed. As for Valdez, neither Jack (Kaenel) nor Diane (Crump) could have ridden this horse better in their prime.

Mellencamp jumped out of the gate on top and made every pole a winning one in the 1-1/16 miles race over a main fast track. He set fractions of :24.47 for the opening quarter-mile, :48.63 for the half-mile, 1:12.73 for three-quarters of a mile and 1:36.76 for the mile before stopping the timer in 1:42.91. By that time, he had won by 1-1/4 lengths and was as happy as a kid suckin’ on a chili dog outside the Tastee Freez.

Oh, yeah, life goes on in a much sweeter fashion for trainer Dick Cappellucci with another trip to the winner’s circle with Mellencamp, who won for the second time in his career. This allowance race was for 3-year-olds-and-older who had not won two lifetime.

Owner Judge Lanier Racing and H.P. Drought and Company of Fort Sumner, N.M., earned $23,268 from this $39,000 purse. In the end, Mellencamp had beaten Drill Baby (5-1), who was another 5-1/4 lengths ahead of third-place odds-on favorite Mirage. Mellencamp paid $7.80 to win, $4 to place and $2.80 to show across the board.

Mellencamp improved his lifetime record to 12 starts, two wins, three seconds and two thirds for a bankroll of $107,396. He was bred by Breeze Easy, LLC and was a pinhook purchase by Judge Lanier Racing for $40,000 in the Keeneland Association November Sale for Horses of Racing Age in 2025. As a yearling, Mellencamp was originally bought for $775,000 at the Keeneland Association September Yearling Sale of 2023.

Mellencamp broke his maiden at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, sprinting six furlongs and winning by 1-1/2 lengths on May 16.

Mellencamp’s feature win tonight can best be described as a little ditty about Ernesto and Dick.

REMINGTON PARK LEADING RIDER ERIK ASMUSSEN NAMED CO-JOCKEY OF WEEK NATIONALLY

Top jockey at Remington Park this meet, Erik Asmussen (73 winners), was honored this week, being named Co-Jockey of the Week nationally by the Jockeys Guild for his efforts the first week of November.

Asmussen, the 2024 Eclipse Award-winning apprentice jockey had 12 wins last week, all for his father/trainer Steve’s barn at Remington Park, including four on the Friday night card. All four racing days saw Erik win at least two races each night. He shared the national award this week with Manny Franco, Belmont Park’s top rider.

Asmussen has never won the riding title at Remington Park even though his father has captured the local training title 20 times. They are both well on their way to the trophies in the jockeys’ and trainers’ categories, respectively. Erik leads in the jockeys’ race 73-48 over second-place David Cabrera, and Steve leads the trainers’ standings 80-17 over second-place Scott Young.

Remington racing continues Nov. 12-14, Thursday through Saturday, with the first post time nightly at 6:30pm-Central.

Caption: Mellencamp (2) wins the featured allowance on Wednesday, November 11, 2026 at Remington Park under Ernesto Valdez-Jimenez
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