For Immediate Release
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
SKIP A SMILE DRIVES THROUGH TRAFFIC FOR SHARP TURF SCORE
OKLAHOMA CITY – A solid $40,000 turf allowance on Wednesday at Remington Park featured many stakes runners getting an out before their next big-money attempt. Skip A Smile, a multiple stakes winner here a year ago, used the race as a possible tune-up for the Remington Green later this month. The effort resulted in a rousing victory after moving through traffic in the stretch.
Owned by Rose Mary Chandler of Cibolo, Texas and trained by Steve Asmussen, Skip A Smile was ridden by Jamie Theriot. The 5-year-old gelding stayed near the back of the seven-horse field for much of the one mile over the firm sod. In the final turn, Theriot had Skip A Smile on the move just off the rail.
At the top of the stretch, they encountered traffic with four runners ahead of them presenting a challenge. However, Theriot was able to guide Skip A Smile between runners and then down to opening at the rail, before sailing away to a 2-3/4 lengths score. Pace-setting Humble Smarty dug in for a hard-fought second with Lion Hall third.
Skip A Smile covered the mile in 1:35.04 and was 2-1 in the wagering. He paid $6 to win, $4 to place and $2.60 to show. Humble Smarty returned $10 to place and $5 to show. Lion Hall paid $3.80 to show. Beachcombing was the beaten 9-5 wagering favorite, finishing fourth.
A Texas-bred gelding by 1998 Horse of the Year Skip Away from the Strawberry Road (Aus) mare Strawberry Smile, Skip A Smile won his eighth career race from 22 attempts. The Wednesday allowance triumph was his fourth Remington Park victory and was worth $23,898 to push his lifetime win to $372,249.
Skip A Smile could be seen next here in the $125,000 Remington Green Stakes on Sept. 30. He finished second in the race last year after winning both the Governor’s Cup and the DeBartolo Memorial. Skip A Smile rebounded Wednesday after a disappointing sixth when trying to defend his DeBartolo Memorial title in late August.
Remington Park racing continues Thursday thru Saturday with the action starting nightly at 6:30pm. The $50,000 Remington Park Turf Sprint on Friday night is the featured stakes race this week.
Open daily at 10am for casino gaming and simulcast racing, Remington Park features the Bricktown Brewery on the casino floor. Admission, general parking and valet parking are always free at Remington Park.
Remington Park, with over 20,000 fans on Facebook and 3,000 Twitter followers, is Oklahoma City’s only Racetrack & Casino and is 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
For more information, contact:
Dale Day
Dale.day@remingtonpark.com
405-425-3215, 405-326-7496 (m)
