For Immediate Release
Saturday, August 30, 2014
IBAKA MOVES WINNING STREAK TO FIVE IN REMINGTON RETURN
OKLAHOMA CITY – Ibaka continues his winning ways, returning to Remington Park Saturday night to face Oklahoma-bred 3-year-olds in a $44,625 allowance event. He came from just off the pace to just pass front-running Alpha And Omega in the final strides to win by a half-length.
Owned and bred by Doug Wall of Norman, Okla. and trained by Bret Calhoun, Ibaka was guided by Lindey Wade. The gelding has won all five of his starts in 2014, scoring at Delta Downs in Louisiana in January before a pair of stakes wins at Sam Houston Race Park in February and March, then another stakes triumph in May at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas.
Ibaka had to work over the final quarter-mile of the 6-1/2 furlongs, grinding down the half-length lead of Alpha And Omega in the stretch before just getting up before the line. Ibaka handled the measure in 1:16.43 over the fast track. Alpha And Omega was 1-1/2 lengths ahead of third-place finisher Fesstune.
The wagering favorite at 1-2 odds, Ibaka paid $3 to win, $2.40 to place and $2.10 to show. Alpha And Omega returned $5.40 to place and $3.20 to show. Fesstune paid $3 to show.
The sixth career win from eight starts for Ibaka was his second at Remington Park. A son of Uncle Abbie from the With Approval mare Synersis, Ibaka made $25,659 for his Saturday victory to move his lifetime earnings to $187,695.
Jockey Cliff Berry won three races Saturday night. His triple came aboard Avebury ($4.40 to win) in the second race, Cebu ($5.80) in the fifth and Miss Nightlinger ($2.20) in the seventh. The riding triple gives Berry 11 wins for the season and moved him back to the top of the jockey standings. Ramon Vazquez and Jareth Loveberry are tied for second with 10 wins each.
Remington Park’s Thoroughbred Season continues with a special holiday program on Labor Day Monday, Sept. 1. The first race is at 1:30pm. All times are central.
Remington Park is open daily at 10:30am for simulcast racing and casino gaming, featuring the Bricktown Brewery on the casino floor. Admission, general parking and valet parking are always free at Remington Park, the home of the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby on Sunday, Sept. 28.
Tracked by over 66,000 fans on Facebook and 5,500 Twitter followers, Remington Park 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.
-30-
Photo Credit: Dustin Orona Photography
For more information, please contact:
Dale Day
405-425-3215
dale.day@remingtonpark.com
