For Immediate Release – Oklahoma City, OK – August 17, 2024 – When Unload fought off one last effort by Without A Trace in the final furlong to win the $100,000 Governor’s Cup on Friday night at Remington Park, the victorygave trainer Steve Asmussen a share of another all-time local mark.
The win was the seventh for Asmussen in the Governor’s Cup, placing him into a tie with Donnie Von Hemel for most conditioning wins in the 1-1/8 miles event for older horses.Asmussen had not won the race since Hence triumphed in 2018. Von Hemel’s most recent Governor’s Cup win came with the multiple graded stakes winner Alternation in 2012.
Daily Double Cappellucci
Owner/Trainer Dick Cappellucci of El Paso, Texas quickly put down a gauntlet as the Remington Park season started, scoring the first two races on Friday night.
Stewart Elliott brought home Equilove ($3.40 to win) as the 3/5 betting favorite in the opener before Harry Hernandez put Next Revolt ($3.80) into the winner’s circle at 4/5 odds in race two.
Cappellucci’s perfect Remington Park season ended in the 10th race of the night, when his trainee, Mine That Star, threatened but settled for third in the Governor’s Cup after stalking winner Unload for the first six furlongs of the stakes.
Wethey Triple
Jockey Floyd Wethey, Jr. put up the first riding triple of the season on Friday night, enjoying a solid night overall.
Wethey had eight mounts on Opening Night, winning three then finishing second on three others. His scores came with Ship the Money ($9) in race five, She’sskysthelimit ($3.60) in race eight and Big Kitty ($6.40) in race nine.
Burgos Bomber
Jockey Samuel Burgos rallied I’m Alive down the stretch to win the third race of the season and key the first big payoff of the meet as well.
Riding for owner Mike Castor and owner/trainer Marti Rodriguez, Burgos managed to get I’m Alive to close and win the 5-1/2 furlong sprint for Oklahoma-breds, at massive odds of 57-1. I’m Alive, a 4-year-old gelding by Magna Graduate from the Vindication mare Feels Good paid $117.20 to win, $57.40 to place and $18.40 to show.
Burgos made the most of his opening night as I’m Alive was his only mount on the program. He and I’m Alive finished a head in front of another late-runner, Smarty Ball.
The $2 exacta, with Smarty Ball (11-7) paid $1,070.40. The 50-cent trifecta to Smarty Ball and Brown Reserve (11-7-2) paid $1,424.75. The dime superfecta with War Hawk in thefourth position (11-7-2-12) paid $5,749.31.
One ticket holder correctly deciphered the puzzle of I’m Alive and others in races two through five, taking down the pool in the Premier Pick 4, scoring $12,169.
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Remington Park has provided more than $357 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 presents simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. The 2024 Thoroughbred Season continues through Dec. 13. The Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby takes place on Sunday, Sept. 29. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
