Remington Park article by Richard Linihan
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – August 18, 2026 — It’s rare to see prominent national trainer Michael Maker with an Oklahoma-bred runner in his barn, but when he does have one with talent, you can count on him being a factor on Oklahoma Classics Night here.
For only the fourth time in history, Maker won a Classics race when Drain the Shot, a maiden in only his second career race, took down the $76,000 Oklahoma Classics Juvenile. Drain the Shot, by Drain the Clock, out of the Star Guitar mare Moment to Dream, drew away handily in the six furlongs race for 2-year-old Oklahoma-bred colts and geldings to win by 1-1/2 lengths.
Maker made a name for himself nationally when he campaigned Hansen to the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile win and was named American Champion 2-year-old Colt.
Drain the Shot had only one other race before this stakes victory and that was a sixth-place finish in a maiden race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., on Sept. 16. The colt was ready to pounce the second time out. With jockey Ramon Vazquez fresh off his 4,000th career win last week, the winner responded to each command from the six-time jockey title winner at Remington Park. It was Vazquez’s fifth Oklahoma Classics victory and first in the Juvenile. Maker’s other three Oklahoma Classics wins came in the Distaff Turf from 2016-2018 with Gianna’s Dream.
Vazquez set Drain the Shot down in fourth for the first quarter-mile, but took over after a half-mile and never relinquished the lead. Secret Liaison (8-1) was the early front-runner in :22.41, but then the winner hit the half-mile in front in :45.95, five-eighths in :58.37 and then finished the race in 1:11.25 over a fast track.
Drain the Shot went off at 5-1 odds and paid $12.40 to win, $5.80 to place and $4.60 to show. Mister Okie (5-1) checked in second, 1-3/4 lengths ahead of third runner Okie Dokie M (39-1). The rest of the order of finish was Twice Last Year (9-2) fourth, Tulsa Cowboy (10-1) fifth, By My Boss (4-5 favorite) sixth and Secret Liaison seventh. Clear the Clock was an early scratch in the race.
Drain the Shot was bred by Amy Bayle and is owned by David Staudacher of Louisville. Maker bought the colt at the Fasig-Tipton Mid-Atlantic Two-Year-Olds-in-Training Sale this year for $52,000. The colt earned $45,600 from this purse and improved to two starts, one win and earnings of $46,710.
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Remington Park has provided more than $426 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. The 2026 edition of the Oklahoma Classics, the top night of stakes racing for Oklahoma-breds, is set for Friday, Oct. 16 at Remington Park. Remington Park presents year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. Guests must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or to enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
