For Immediate Release – Oklahoma City, OK – September 12, 2024 – Nominations have come out for the $50,000 Remington Park Turf Sprint scheduled for Friday, Sept. 20, and trainer Austin Gustafson says Dark Afternoon will defend his stakes title.
Eyebrows were raised when the 4-year-old gelded Oklahoma-bred son of Black Bear, out of the Came Home mare Afternoon Liaison, was a soundly defeated ninth by 16-3/4 lengths on the dirt in his summer/fall debut at Remington Park on Aug. 23.
“He came back this past Friday and ran a great race (on the grass),” said Gustafson. “I think he has decided he is turf only. Yes, he will run in the upcoming Remington Park Turf Sprint.”
Dark Afternoon’s last race was Sept. 6 at Remington Park when he sprinted five furlongs on the lawn and just missed by three-quarters of a length in fifth against a stakes caliber field. It was a $40,000 allowance race against open company. Four-time jockey title-winning David Cabrera was in the saddle for Gustafson and owner Black Hawk Stable (James Rogers of Elk City, Okla.). Dark Afternoon raced in the $50,000 Oklahoma Stallion Handicap about the same time last year to prep for the RP.
The defending champion from last year’s $50,000 Red Earth Stakes at Remington Park, Tap the Dot, has been entered for this season’s renewal on Friday, Sept. 20. Tap the Dot is trained by all-time racing wins leader Steve Asmussen.
The race is for accredited Oklahoma-breds at 7-1/2 furlongs on the turf for 3-year-olds-and-up.
The Red Earth Stakes last year is also the last time this 6-year-old Oklahoma-bred son of Moro Tap, out of the Langfuhr mare Dot Product, made it to the winner’s circle. He did it that night for owner Asmussenequine.com under the fine handling of leading rider Stewart Elliott. He positioned Tap the Dot in mid-pack down the backstretch in the 10-horse field and got past runner-up Number One Dude and third-place Rowdy Rascal in a run for the wire. Tap the Dot wound up winning by 1-1/2 lengths at 5-1 odds.
That win came on Sept. 22, 2023 and Tap the Dot was not sent out again last fall at Remington Park. Since leaving here for Texas after the Red Earth Stakes, he finished third twice on the lawn at Sam Houston Race Park in an open allowance and also against allowance-optional $50,000 claimers. He tried the dirt once in Houston, but that was a dismal sixth. He then was vanned up to Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas for a race on May 26 this year greensward. He didn’t improve much with the return to his favorite surface, running fifth, beaten eight lengths. Asmussen has given him a respite since that try. Tap the Dot’s race record is 19 starts, six wins, five seconds and three thirds for $247,560.
Tap the Dot is the second-choice in the morning-line odds for the Red Earth at 5-2 odds, just behind Number One Dude who is favored at 2-1. Number One Dude was fourth in the opening night Governor’s Cup on Aug. 16, and second recently in a main track allowance. Elliott will have the ride on Tap the Dot, as he has for the horse’s entire career.
The field for the Red Earth Stakes, (race 9 on Sept. 20), by program and post-position order, with trainer, jockey and morning-line odds:
- Early: Donnie Von Hemel, Richard Eramia, 5-1
- Number One Dude: Scott Young, Leandro Goncalves, 2-1 (morning-line favorite)
- Inca Empire: Oscar Flores, Isaac Castillo, 12-1
- Good Swimmer: Mindy Willis, Alfredo Triana, Jr., 8-1
- Mind Bolt: Bret Calhoun, Jose Alvarez, 10-1
- Country Caper: Francisco Bravo, Obed Sanchez, 8-1
- Tap the Dot: Steve Asmussen, Stewart Elliott, 5-2
- Rowdy Rascal: Boyd Caster, Freddy Manrrique, 8-1
Other Oklahoma-bred turf stakes on Sept. 20 include the Remington Park Turf Sprint (race 4) and the Bob Barry Memorial (race 7).
$50,000 Remington Park Turf Sprint, 5 furlongs, 3-year-olds and up:
1. Den’s Dynasty: Boyd Caster, Floyd Wethey, Jr., 15-1
2. Breakable Code: Joe Offolter, Richard Eramia, 6-1
3. Mister Wayside: Steve Martin, Belen Quinonez, 8-1
4. Dark Afternoon: Austin Gustafson, David Cabrera, 8-5 (morning-line favorite)
5. Twentyone N Change: Miguel Silva, Jose Alvarez, 9-5
6. Tap N Play: Shon Dunlap, Obed Sanchez, 15-1
7. Just Chillin: J.R. Caldwell, Rene Diaz, 5-1
$50,000 Bob Barry Memorial, 7-1/2 furlongs, Fillies & Mares, 3-year-olds and up:
1. Drenched: Jaylan Clary, Iram Diego, 5-1
2. Because: Victor Hanson, Alfredo Triana, Jr., 20-1
3. Talkin Cadee: Scott Young, Floyd Wethey, Jr., 8-1
4. Tom’s Girl: Mark Buehrer, Miguel Perez, 15-1
5. Catale Winemixer: Randy Swango, Freddy Manrrique, 15-1
6. C W Charm: Juan Padilla, Luis Quinonez, 6-1
7. Run Slewpy Run: Jayde Gelner, Stewart Elliott, 2-1
8. Doudoudouwanadance: Scott Young, Leandro Goncalves, 9-5 (morning-line favorite)
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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.
