For Immediate Release – Oklahoma City, OK, October 5, 2023 – The scales of balance tipped in Kwontro’s favor in Thursday night’s featured allowance race at Remington Park when heavy rain on Wednesday night forced all the races on the turf course to be moved to the main track.
One could almost see the smile forming on the 6-year-old gelding’s face and those of his connections when the announcement was made because Kwontro had won three of his last four starts at the one-mile distance over a dirt surface and finished second in the other. All four of those mile races were at Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla. This was not WRD, but it turns out the 10-1 longshot is at home anywhere at one mile on the dirt. He got to the lead under jockey Alfredo Triana, Jr., and cruised gate-to-wire just like he did at WRD. The only difference was that his only loss among his three wins at Claremore was with Triana. Iowa-based Kylee Jordan won aboard him in the three successful miles up the turnpike from Oklahoma City.
Kwontro, a son of Shackleford, out of the Strike the Gold mare Sunny and Gold, outfinished the late-running 2-5 favorite Kodaline by head. Kodaline had won his last two starts from off the pace at Remington Park, going seven furlongs. This time he couldn’t catch the front-runner.
Kwontro wasn’t quite ready to fire in his first out of the meet on Sept. 8, finishing sixth, beaten 9-1/2 lengths. That was not his favorite distance, however, sprinting three-quarters of a mile. Trainer Pat Swan had him ready to go the second time off the layoff, stretching out to his preferred distance and Kwontro did not disappoint.
Kwontro paid $22.40 to win, $7.40 to place and $4.80 to show. He covered the distance in 1:39.34 over a fast track, setting every interior fraction along the way. They were :23.22 for the first quarter-mile, ;47.03 for the half, 1:12.58 for three-quarters and 1:25.62 for seven furlongs.
Kwontro earned $24,000 from the $40,000 purse for owners Robert E. Lewis and Swan of Jones, Okla., improving his record to 16 starts, four wins and two seconds for $80,584 in earnings. He was bred in Oklahoma by his owners.
Majestic Liaison (11-1) checked in third in the race, another seven lengths back of the runner-up. The 9-5 second favorite, Spirit of Spoatie, was another 5-1/4 lengths farther behind in fourth. Kwontro has now won four of his last five starts at the one mile distance on the dirt.
CASTER WINS 200TH LOCAL RACE
Trainer Boyd “Jobe” Caster won his 200th race at Remington Park when Smarty Ball made a last-to-first move to break his maiden status in a 5-1/2 furlong event for Oklahoma-breds on Thursday.
Owned by Caster, Smarty Ball was making his first career attempt, scoring as the 6-5 wagering favorite under veteran jockey Luis Quinonez. Smarty Ball is by Backstabber from the Dixieland Band mare Bantee and was bred in Oklahoma by M. Gerald Ball.
Caster, of Jones, Okla., posted his first Remington Park win in October 1993 with Rio Gambler.
Caster now has five wins during the current Remington Park season.
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Remington Park has provided more than $331 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 is home to the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby and the Grade 3 Remington Park Oaks on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023. Remington Park presents simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. Parking and admission are always free. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
