For Immediate Release
Saturday, August 28, 2010
EVENING REWARD RETURNS ON 8 DAYS TO WIN RED EARTH STAKES IN UPSET
Evening Reward pressured the pace throughout the stakes event for Oklahoma-breds under jockey Scott Young and showed the will to win once making the front in the stretch. He obviously had plenty of stamina built up despite racing just over a week earlier as he took the lead over from initial pace-setter Tizarko going into the last turn with just over a quarter-mile to run. The bay owned by George Kennedy of El Reno, Okla. would need everything he had at that point in order to triumph.
The talented 5-year-old mare Skedee moved up to challenge Evening Reward in the stretch and even took a half-length lead in the final furlong. However, Evening Reward battled back and fought nose-to-nose with Skedee, prevailing by a bobbing-nose in a photo-finish at the line, covering the ground in 1:28.36 over firm turf.
Ti Township, winner of the Red Earth last year, was three lengths behind the top pair to finish third. Motion Approved was just a nose behind Ti Township for fourth.
Joe McAnally trains Evening Reward and had his charge ready for the Red Earth attempt, despite running eight days ago.
“I thought the others in the race would be using it to get prepared for the Oklahoma Classics coming up later in the season,” he noted. “I wanted to win the Red Earth so we prepped for this stakes last week and won it tonight.”
The fifth-choice in the wagering at 9-1 odds, Evening Reward paid $21.40 to win, $7.20 to place and $3.60 to show. Skedee was the beaten even-money favorite and paid $3.40 to place and $2.60 to show. Ti Township returned $3.40 to show.
The trifecta (Nos. 9-10-8) for the Red Earth Stakes paid $182.80 while the superfecta (Nos. 9-10-8-1) paid $3,044.20.
The win was the ninth from 47 career starts for Evening Reward, a son of Chief’s Reward from the Semi Northern mare Northern Evening. He won for the sixth time at
The Red Earth Stakes score with Evening Reward was also the first win of the season for jockey Young.
Jockeys Alex Birzer and Ramsey Zimmerman each posted riding triples on Saturday with Birzer’s helping him to move into a three-way tie stop the rider standings.
Birzer scored with Grapes to Wine ($7.40 to win) in the third race, Noxie’s Concern ($26.40) in the fifth race and Concerned Okie ($6.80) in the seventh. He now has six wins on the season to share the jockey lead after seven race dates with Cliff Berry and Bryan McNeil.
Zimmerman’s hat trick came aboard Stadt Meister ($5.60) in the opener, Trippi Dippedy Dot ($13) in the fourth race and Mizzen Dixie ($7.60) in the ninth and final event. He now has five wins for the season.
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For More Information, Contact:
Dale Day
405-425-3215
