Oklahoma City, OK, December 16, 2024 – It’s not often fans get two-time Remington Park top rider Stewart Elliott at 10-1 odds, but his horses don’t seem to care if they are longshots like Red Mountain, who upset even-money favorite Flat Hanby in the $50,000 Jim Thorpe Stakes on Friday night. The race, at one mile, is for Oklahoma-bred 3-year-olds.
Sent off at the long odds, Red Mountain and Elliott comfortably laid in wait down the backstretch in fourth position and took over in mid-stretch of the one-mile race over a fast track. He held on for a one-length victory over Flat Hanby and paid $23.40 to win, $6 to place and $3.40 to show. The 3-year-old Oklahoma-bred gelding by Sky Mesa, out of the Deputy Slew mare Deputy’s Whirl earned $30,000 for owner-trainer-breeder Steve Martin of Morrison, Okla. It was the first victory in the Jim Thorpe for Elliott and Martin.
Flat Hanby, a multiple stakes winner, had his work cut out for him, coming from sixth in this seven-horse field and he did whittle away at his deficit with every step to the finish, but could never get closer than one length. He just barely got up for second, beating third-place runner Mind Bolt (2-1) by a nose. The rest of the order of finish was Mortify (8-1) fourth, Okie Smoke (7-2) fifth, Whiskey With You (33-1) sixth and Send Off (71-1) last.
Red Mountain covered the mile on a fast track in 1:40.39. He cut into early fractions of :25.48 for the first quarter-mile, :49.47 for the half-mile, 1:14.05 for three-quarters of a mile and 1:26.95 for seven-eighths of a mile. Mind Bolt faded after leading in mid-stretch.
It was the first stakes win of Red Mountain’s career after winning by three lengths against Oklahoma-bred $30,000 claiming non-winners of three career races on Nov. 22. Jockey Jose Alvarez was aboard for that win by chose to ride Mind Bolt in the Jim Thorpe, giving Elliott the takeover mount on Red Mountain.
Red Mountain improved his record to 14 starts, four wins, one second and two thirds with a bankroll of $99,902.
The Jim Thorpe Stakes is named after the native Oklahoman and Olympic gold-medalist from the early 1900s who also played professional football, baseball and basketball was considered the greatest athlete of the 20th century.
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Remington Park has provided more than $370 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 year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. The 2025 American Quarter Horse Season will begin on March 6. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
