Oklahoma City, OK, October 19, 2024 – The 32nd renewal of the Oklahoma Classics, contested every fall at Remington Park since 1993, is in the books. The night for Oklahoma-breds featured expected victories by heavy favorites and a couple of minor surprises.
The 2-year-old winners may have taken important steps towards the final night of the season at Remington Park. Juvenile winner Mister Omaha was solid in his score for owner Bryan Hawk of Shawnee, Okla. and trainer Joe Offolter, winning a second consecutive race and possibly routing future plans to the $300,000 Springboard Mile on Dec. 13.
Lassie victor Elegant Echo gave freshman sire Echo Town his first stakes winner when she remained undefeated in her second career attempt. Owned by the Edward B. Melzer Revocable Trust of Edmond, Okla. and trained by Alan Williams, Elegant Echo may now be under consideration for the $75,000 Toby Keith Stakes at one mile on Dec. 13.
Plans for these 2-year-olds will unfold in the coming weeks.
Heavy favorites Doudoudouwanadance and Miss Code West won their events, the Classics Distaff Turf and the Classics Distaff Handicap, respectively.
Inca Empire provided all-time Remington Park leading owner Danny Caldwell of Poteau, Okla. with his third triumph in the Classics Cup. He previously won the race in 2012 with Fifth Day and in 2020 with Dont Tell Noobody. All three Cup winners were claims by Caldwell in the weeks/months leading up to the running of the Classics Cup.
Eakly won the OKC Turf Classic for the second straight year, becoming the only horse to repeat in the same Classics race this edition. The Eakly score gave trainer Donnie Von Hemel his 32nd all-time triumph in the Oklahoma Classics.
Hernandez Still Six Away from Milestone
Jockey Harry Hernandez was shutout from the winner’s circle on Oklahoma Classics Night. He still needs six wins to reach 1,000 victories in the United States.
Hernandez has five mounts on tonight’s program with After Five (8-1 morning-line odds) in race two, Legal Empress (4-1) in race five, Fun as All Git Out (10-1) in race six, Home Road (8-1) in race seven and Cora’s Legacy (8-1) in the ninth and final race on Saturday.
Hernandez has been riding in the USA since arriving from his native Puerto Rico in 2015.
There are nine race on the 36th race night of the season, beginning at 6:30pm tonight. Races one, five and nine are over the turf. The track is fast, the turf is firm.
Remington Park racing continues Saturday, Oct. 19 with the first race at 6:30pm-Central.
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Remington Park has provided more than $363 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 when the $300,000 Springboard Mile tops the final night of the season. The major 2-year-old stakes race of the season, the Springboard awards valuable 2025 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
