For Immediate Release – Oklahoma City, Ok – October 24, 2022 — In a race that appeared more up in the air than any Oklahoma Classics race Friday night at Remington Park, Fly to the Bank was an easy winner in the $114,800 Classics Sprint at 8-1 odds.
Even though it seemed like anyone’s ballgame, indicated by co-favorite at 5-2 odds, Shannon C finishing last of nine Oklahoma-bred sprinters, it was easy pickings for Fly to the Bank who won by 3-3/4 lengths.
Jockey Obed Sanchez was as surprised as anyone that it was this easy on the James Helzer trainee.
“Me and (owner Juan) Carlos (Gallegos of Edmond, Okla.) have been working with this horse since the beginning of the meet,” said Sanchez. “At the end, my horse was just waiting for horses to fight.”
It didn’t happen, however, as Fly to the Bank won by open daylight and was never challenged. Behind him was longshot city as Euromantic (10-1) came in second and Mister Wayside (21-1) finished third, 2-1/2 lengths back of Euromantic. The other 5-2 co-favorite was Tommyhawk, who came in fifth.
Fly to the Bank paid $19.20 to win, $8.40 to place and $5.60 to show. His running line for the race looked like this: :21.93 for the first quarter-mile, :44.70 for the half-mile, :57.14 for five eighths of a mile and finishing in 1:10.38 for the six furlongs on the fast track. Despite the swift pace, he never faltered.
Fly to the Bank was bred in Oklahoma by Helzer. He is a 5-year-old gelding by Euroears, out of the Kingkiowa mare Take It and Fly. Earning $68,880 for the trip to the winner’s circle, he improved his record to 28 starts, seven wins, five seconds and four thirds for earnings of $294,117.
Fly to the Bank had just beaten Tommyhawk in a 5-1/2 furlongs sprint by a neck in allowance company on Oct. 5 at Remington Park, but apparently the public didn’t believe their eyes. He proved it in spades on Friday night, however, winning his second race in a row over the track.
It was the first Classics win for the owner and Sanchez, but Helzer had won another Classics race as a trainer in 2017 when Diamondsandstripes won the Juvenile.
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Tracked by more than 171,000 fans on Facebook and 10,600 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $301 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, Remington Park features the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby and Grade 3 Remington Park Oaks on Sunday, September 25. Thoroughbred racing continues through December 17 with simulcast racing daily, and a casino that is always open! Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
