For Immediate Release
Monday, September 6, 2010
Monday, September 6, 2010
PURSUE A DREAM GOES ALL THE WAY ON THE FRONT TO WIN THE DEBARTOLO BREEDERS’ CUP AT REMINGTON PARK
OKLAHOMA CITY – Pursue A Dream took advantage of his rail post position, going to the front of the field a few strides from the start of Labor Day’s $125,000 Edward J. DeBartolo Memorial Breeders’ Cup at Remington Park. He took the lead and was never headed by any of his eight rivals, leading every step in winning the 1-1/8 miles turf event.
Owned by Emerald Bay Stables of Minneapolis, Minn. and trained by Michael Biehler of Jones, Okla., jockey Bobby Walker, Jr. guided Pursue A Dream through easy fractions of :24.49 for the opening quarter-mile, :49.37 for the half mile, 1:13.49 after three quarters of a mile and 1:37.29 for the mile. The veteran rider had plenty left in the stretch to fend off a late challenge by Heza Wild Guy to win by a half-length.
Quite A Handful was another half-length behind the top pair in third while the filly Peach Brew made a wide rally into fourth.
While Pursue A Dream went to a lead he would never give up, it wasn’t exactly what Walker wanted to do concerning his strategy going into the DeBartolo.
“I wanted to be close, not necessarily on the lead,” Walker said. “I rode him a little aggressively so I could at least have a position. I wound up on the lead and that’s how it worked out.”
Pursue A Dream was 6-1 in the wagering and paid $14 to win, $7.80 to place and $4.20 to show. Heza Wild Guy paid $9.60 to place and $4.40 to show in finishing in the money of the DeBartolo for the second straight year, after running third in 2009.
Quite A Handful was made the 9-5 wagering favorite, off his ninth-place performance in the Grade 1, $1 million Arlington Million last month. He paid $3.40 to show for his third-place effort.
Pursue A Dream is a 5-year-old gelding by Macho Uno from the Kitwood mare Kitty On the Track, bred in Kentucky by Adena Springs. He won for the seventh time in 37 career starts and for the fifth time at Remington Park. The DeBartolo winner’s share of $75,000 moves the lifetime bankroll for Pursue A Dream to $280,336.
This was the first win in the DeBartolo for all of the connections of Pursue A Dream. The race is named in honor of the late founder of Remington Park who passed in 1994.
$50,000 Ricks Memorial Stakes
The fillies and mares were featured in the main race on the DeBartolo undercard, the $50,000 Ricks Memorial Stakes, on the turf at one mile. Slide On Bye came on with a strong rally to pass rivals in the stretch, going on to a 2-1/4 lengths win.
Owned by Michael Grossman of Fredericksburg, Texas and trained by Francisco Bravo, Slide On Bye was ridden by Glen Murphy. The 5-year-old mare waited until late in the final turn to begin her run, moving outside of rivals for clear sailing into the stretch.
Hisse was the first to take the lead away from the pace-setting Cosmo Girl but she could not hold off the determined effort of Slide On Bye who covered the mile in 1:35.37 over the firm turf.
Hisse held on for second with Joy’s Paradise finishing another 1-3/4 lengths behind in third. Sweet Relish was fourth.
Away at 9-2 odds in the wagering, Slide On Bye paid $11.40 to win, $4.60 to place and $4 to show. Hisse, the defeated 9-5 wagering favorite, returned $3.40 to place and $2.80 to show. Joy’s Paradise paid $5.60 to show.
The win was the fifth from 21 attempts for Slide On Bye, a daughter of Smart Strike from the Sky Classic mare Classic Misty. The Ricks victory was her second win from 11 Remington Park career starts. She was bred in Kentucky by Eureka Thoroughbreds. The winner’s check in the Ricks of $30,000 boosts the career earnings for Slide On Bye to $133,058.
The Ricks is named in honor of the late Ran Ricks, Jr., a prominent thoroughbred owner and breeder who was heavily involved in bringing pari-mutuel racing to Oklahoma in the 1980s.
Remington Park is open daily at 10am for casino gaming and simulcast racing. The weekly racing schedule for the Thoroughbred Season continues this Wednesday thru Saturday with the first race each night at 6:30pm. The Thoroughbred season continues thru Dec. 11.
Remington Park is Oklahoma City’s only Racetrack & Casino, located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District. For more information, reservations and group bookings please call 405-424-1000, 866-456-9880 or visit remingtonpark.com.
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Photo Credit: Dustin Orona Photography
