Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma (TRAO)

23 hours ago

𝐒𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐁𝐎𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐄 𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐖𝐒 𝐌𝐀𝐗𝐈𝐌𝐔𝐌 𝐃𝐎𝐙𝐄𝐍 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐃𝐄𝐂𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 𝟏𝟑 𝐀𝐓 𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊

Oklahoma City, OK, December 6, 2024 – The biggest 2-year-old stakes race of the Remington Park season, the $300,000 Springboard Mile, drew a maximum field of 12 for Friday night, Dec. 13.

The Springboard Mile program was drawn by the Remington Park racing office this morning. A dozen races, six of them stakes events, will wrap the live racing here for the year. The special early start for the Dec. 13 season-ender is 5pm-Central.

Speed King will try to live up to his name and status as the morning-line favorite at 7-2 odds. The Ron Moquett-trained colt was impressive in breaking his maiden status in his career debut, winning a six-furlong race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. by 2-1/4 lengths. Since that Nov. 1 score, Moquett has Speed King training at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., posting a sharp half-mile work on Nov. 29 in :48.80 over a fast track.

Owned by Triton Thoroughbreds of Fort Smith, Ark., Speed King will be ridden by Rafael Bejarano.

Undefeated Jolly Samurai is a close second in the morning-line odds at 4-1. The gelding owned by Jake Brown has won all three of his attempts at Remington Park this season, at 5-1/2 furlongs, six-furlongs and seven-furlongs. His last two attempts were stakes scores in the Kip Deville (Sept. 29) and the Clever Trevor (Oct. 25). Danny Pish trains this closer with Rene Diaz remaining the only rider to be named on him.

Mister Omaha, will attempt to become the first Oklahoma-bred to win the Springboard since Ted’s Folly in 2011. Racing for Remington Park’s season-leading owner Bryan Hawk and trainer Joe Offolter, Mister Omaha will again have Luis Quinonez aboard for the fifth attempt of the season.

Mister Omaha has defeated only Oklahoma-breds to this point in his career, winning his last three races, including the Oklahoma Classics Juvenile (Oct. 18) and the Don McNeill Stakes (Nov. 8). He is the third in the morning-line odds at 5-1.

Jolly Samurai and Mister Omaha share the lead for most wins in this year’s Springboard field with three.

Dr Ruben M will ship from California for the Springboard, after breaking his maiden (Oct. 14) at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. Trained by two-time Kentucky Derby winning-trainer Doug O’Neill, Dr Ruben M is at 6-1 in the morning-line and will be ridden by regular jockey Edwin Maldonado.

O’Neill won the Kentucky Derby in 2012 with I’ll Have Another and in 2016 with Nyquist.

The Springboard Mile is a qualifying points race for the 2025 Kentucky Derby.

The leading earner in the race is Coal Battle (10-1) with $127,625. Coal Battle recently won the $100,000 Jean Laffite Stakes (Nov. 8) at Delta Downs in Vinton, La. A winner of two races from four starts, the colt is trained by Lonnie Briley and will be ridden by Juan Vargas.

The Springboard Mile will be the 12th and final race on Dec. 13, with an approximate off time of 10:28pm. Here is the field by program and post-position order with trainer, jockey and morning-line odds:

1. Coal Battle: Lonnie Briley, Juan Vargas, 10-1
2. Blue Angel: Steve Asmussen, David Cabrera, 15-1
3. Speed King: Ron Moquett, Rafael Bejarano, 7-2 (morning-line favorite)
4. Dominant Spirit: Bret Calhoun, Jose Alvarez, 15-1
5. Brooklyn Alley Cat: Danny Pish, Iram Diego, 20-1
6. Essay: Bret Calhoun, Richard Eramia, 20-1
7. Jolly Samurai: Danny Pish, Rene Diaz, 4-1
8. Complex Music: Steve Asmussen, Stewart Elliott, 8-1
9. Dr Ruben M: Doug O’Neill, Edwin Maldonado, 6-1
10. Medicine Dog: Sarah Davidson, Floyd Wethey, Jr., 20-1
11. Mister Omaha: Joe Offolter, Luis Quinonez, 5-1
12. Keeno: Steve Asmussen, Jermaine Bridgmohan, 12-1

The Springboard Mile card features five other stakes just prior to the main event, including: the $50,000 Useeit Stakes, the $50,000 Jim Thorpe Stakes, the $75,000 Toby Keith Stakes, the $75,000 She’s All In Stakes and the $75,000 Jeffrey Hawk Memorial.

•••••

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 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.

Photo Caption: Jolly Samurai, shown winning the Kip Deville Stakes at Remington Park on Sept. 29, will attempt to keep his career record perfect as he makes his fourth start in the $300,000 Springboard Mile on Friday, Dec. 13.

📸: Dustin Orona Photography ... See MoreSee Less

Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma (TRAO)

24 hours ago

𝐓𝐖𝐎-𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐊𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐘 𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐁𝐘 𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐑 𝐃𝐎𝐔𝐆 𝐎’𝐍𝐄𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐒𝐄𝐄𝐊𝐒 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐒𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐁𝐎𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐄 𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐄

Oklahoma City, OK - December 5, 2024 -- Doug O’Neill has entered Dr Ruben M in the $300,000 Springboard Mile on Friday, Dec. 13, the final night of the Remington Park season.

O’Neill, who won the 2016 Derby with Nyquist and in 2012 with I’ll Have Another, also won five Breeders’ Cup races – 2015 Juvenile (Nyquist), 2013 Dirt Mile (Goldencents), 2007 Filly and Mare Sprint (Maryfield), 2006 Sprint (Thor’s Echo) and 2005 Juvenile (Stevie Wonderboy).

As is evident by his trips to the winner’s circle in the Run for the Roses, O’Neill has been a magician with 2-year-olds on the Kentucky Derby trail. The Springboard Mile, the cornerstone race for juveniles at this Oklahoma City track, carries 2025 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top five finishers.

O’Neill, a 56-year-old conditioner born in Dearborn, Mich., has earned his stripes in training on the West Coast. His father, Patrick, took him to the races when he was 10 years old at Santa Anita Park. He sends out Dr Ruben M for the Springboard, a maiden winner, who won by three-quarters of a length at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., on Oct. 14, at the one-mile distance of the Springboard. It was his fourth try to beat maidens. That was Dr Ruben M’s last race and he will have nearly two months off when he makes his attempt here. O’Neill has named veteran West Coast jockey Edwin Maldonado to ride his colt.

Dr Ruben M is a 2-year-old Kentucky-bred colt by Vino Rosso, out of the Majestic Warrior mare Xoxo. He has run no worse than second in three of his four races with a record of four starts, one win, and two seconds for $59,700 earned. He is owned by The Del Mar Group and was bred by Malibu Farm. O’Neill bought Dr Ruben M from the Keeneland September Yearling Sale last year for his ownership group. The price was $150,000.

Early on, O’Neill had pre-entered Dr Ruben M toward for Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar on Nov. 1, but did not move forward with that.

O’Neill also entered Fowler Blue in the Jeffrey A. Hawk Memorial Stakes for older horses going one-mile, 70 yards on closing night. Fowler Blue, a 5-year-old California-bred gelding by Curlin, out of the Unusual Heat mare Joni, has earned $204,368 in his career with wins in 4-of-24 starts for owner William A. Branch. Maldonado has also been named on Fowler Blue.

Fowler Blue will get into this field off a fresh win in his last start at Del Mar near San Diego when he won a $20,000 claiming race by a neck at one mile as the 5-2 favorite. His last workout at Del Mar covered five furlongs on Dec. 1 in a time of 1:00.2 handily.

𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐲 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐬
Remington Park’s No. 6 all-time winningest jockey, Benny Landeros, has had a bit of a setback in his recovery from an accident that occurred during morning workouts here on Saturday, Nov. 2.

Landeros was in the hospital from Nov. 2-6 and was diagnosed with some fractured ribs and a small fracture in his neck. Medical tests were performed on his spinal column to determine why he was having trouble moving his arms and having pain when he tried. Within a day, Landeros was up walking the hallways of the hospital with in a neck brace. He left the hospital on Nov. 6 and attended the races at Remington Park later that week.

Landeros’ wife Lisa gave an update on his condition on Wednesday, Dec. 4, saying, “Benny is doing better. He is getting around better, but it looks like after the first of the year, he is looking at surgery to fuse his C3 and C4 vertebrae. He has a spot on his spinal cord that is not protected if something were to happen again. They want to fuse those bones to help protect the cord from a severe injury.”

Landeros currently sits at 701 wins at Remington Park, 26 behind the late Pat Steinberg, in fifth with 727. Cliff Berry is the leader with 2,125 all-time victories here.

Landeros was working a horse around the turn when his mount tossed him to the ground.

Remington Park racing continues tonight with the 62nd program of the season starting at 6:30pm-Central. The track is fast.
•••••
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 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.

📸: Dustin Orona Photography ... See MoreSee Less

Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma (TRAO)

24 hours ago

𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐉𝐎𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐘 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐘 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐙 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐙𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐊𝐒𝐆𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐒 𝐖𝐈𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐁𝐀𝐁𝐘

Oklahoma City, OK - December 4, 2024 - Remington Park’s No. 2 jockey this meet, Harry Hernandez, had a Thanksgiving weekend like no other rider. He won a stakes race in New Mexico and then became a father for the second time in Arizona.

It was a happy Thanksgiving for Hernandez and his better half, Kayla, as they welcomed Harleigh Janice, a 6 lbs., 3 oz. baby girl, to the family. The daughter arrived only three days after Hernandez won the $125,000 Zia Park Championship aboard Heroic Move in Hobbs, N.M. Harleigh rounds out a family that also includes a 1-year-old son, Hayden.

As he was travelling to return to Remington Park in Oklahoma City for some mounts he was scheduled on for Nov. 29, he received a message from Kayla. She was going into labor.

“She told me around noon (Nov. 29) that her water broke, so I tried getting on a 3:40 p.m. flight that would land by 6 p.m.,” Hernandez said. “That flight was full so I wasn’t able to get a flight out till 6:40p.m. That flight made one stop and then I had to get another flight into Arizona. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it in time, but I got there and that was the most important thing, to get there and support (Kayla) like she has supported me.”

Hernandez said Harleigh was born at 10:51 p.m.

“Kayla named her and I gave her the middle name of Janice after my stepmom, who passed away from cancer two years ago,” he said.

Hernandez sits second in the Remington Park standings with 48 wins this meet, but Floyd Wethey, Jr., is nipping at his heels in third with 47. Not only did Hernandez win the Zia Park Championship on Heroic Move, but he also ran third aboard 30-1 longshot Wood Ceiling in the $100,000 Zia Park Juvenile Stakes.

Heroic Move is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred colt by Quality Road, out of the Smart Strike mare Family Tree. The dam’s name seemed quite appropriate for Hernandez’s weekend. He won that race for a conglomerate of eight owners and trainer Robertino Diodoro. Heroic Move, bred by Gary and Mary West, hit the wire in the 1-1/16 miles race a total of 2-3/4 lengths in front of the runner-up in a time of 1:42.03. Heroic Move was the 8-5 second wagering favorite. The colt improved his record to 19 starts, five wins, three seconds and three thirds for $675,781 earned.

Heroic Move was seventh in the 2023 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park, won by How Did He Do That. Heroic Move did win his next start after the derby, an allowance race here on Oct. 11, 2023.

Hernandez will enjoy his growing family for a couple of days then make his way to his next stop is Hot Springs, Ark., and Oaklawn Park which opens their season on Friday.

“I love this job,” he said, with a laugh. “I’ll have just enough time to stop in Oklahoma City, pick up my stuff, and head to Arkansas.”

𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐃𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐉𝐚𝐱𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐖𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐙𝐢𝐚
Two of Remington Park’s top horses, stakes winners Holly Dolly and Jaxon Traveler, added to their black-type resumes with scores at Zia Park on Nov. 26. Jaxon Traveler passed the $1 million mark in career earnings with his triumph.

Holly Dolly, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred filly and winner of the Flashy Lady Handicap at Remington Park, captured the $100,000 Zia Park Distaff Stakes while Jaxon Traveler, a 6-year-old Maryland-bred horse and winner of the David M. Vance Stakes here, took down the Zia Park Sprint Stakes.

Holly Dolly’s win in the Distaff came at the expense of 2022 Trapeze Stakes winner at Remington Park, Olivia Twist. Holly Dolly, owned by Tom Durant of Texas and trained by Ray Ashford, was ridden to a 1-3/4 lengths victory with jockey Iram Diego up. She was the 2-1 second betting favorite as Olivia Twist was sent off as the 3-5 heavy favorite. Holly Dolly, a winner of her last five starts, including four in a row at Remington Park, was bred by Kellie and Tim Holland and Ramon Rangel. She is by Brody’s Cause, out of the Arch mare Pinch Me.

Holly Dolly improved her career record to 11 starts with six wins and four seconds for $206,034.

Jaxon Traveler, by Munnings, out of the After Market mare Listen Boy, made everyone stand up and look, if not listen to Remington Park announcer Dale Day when he said, “That’s the fastest six furlongs of the meet,” when the horse won the Vance in 1:09.19. If you think the Remington Park track may have been a little fast that night, think again. Jaxon Traveler was a winner at the same distance at Zia under Ortiz in a time of 1:07.79 for owner West Point Thoroughbreds and the game’s all-time winningest trainer Steve Asmussen.

Jaxon Traveler won the Vance here by 3-1/2 lengths. He took the Zia Sprint by 4-3/4 lengths.

Jaxon Traveler pocketed $60,000 for the trip to the Zia Park winner’s circle and improved his record to 34 starts, 12 wins, eight seconds and five thirds for earnings of $1,077,798.

𝐅𝐚𝐧/𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬
The Remington Park 2024 season is down to the final seven race dates. In gratitude to the supportive horseplayers and fans, Remington Park is offering a free program (online) for each of the final race nights.

Players can download the free Equibase past performances program at remingtonpark.com. Go to the live racing page, then simply click on the “Live Racing Program” red button on the right side of the page.

Remington Park racing continues with date No. 61 on Wednesday, Dec. 4. The nine-race card, over a fast track, will begin at 6:30pm-Central.
••••
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 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.

📸: Dustin Orona Photography ... See MoreSee Less