$137,800 Oklahoma Classics Turf presented by the OTA, TRAO and RPDC
STRATEGIC LEADER WINS OKLAHOMA CLASSICS TURF FOR 3RD STRAIGHT YEAR
Strategic Leader engraved his name on the trophy for the $137,800 Oklahoma Classics Turf, presented by the Oklahoma Thoroughbred Association, the Thoroughbred Association of Oklahoma and Remington Park Dissemination Company, for a third consecutive year Friday night at Remington Park.
The 7-year-old gelding posted his three-year Turf hat trick at odds of 5-2 under jockey Benny Landeros.
Owned by H and S Farms (Jim Hinds and Charlie Stockholm) of Tulsa, Okla. and trained by Roger Engel, Strategic Leader showed his ability to adapt as he altered his normal running style in order to have a better chance at success. Normally a late-running closer who has to battle through or around traffic in the final half-mile, Strategic Leader opted to move for the lead much earlier than normal, due to a slow pace being established by In Case of Fire.
In Case of Fire set a quarter-mile fraction of :24.66 seconds followed by a half-mile in :49.90 and six furlongs in 1:14.06.
Landeros, recognizing a slower front-runner, pushed his mount early, asking him to move forward much earlier than he normally does. Strategic Leader began his advance midway through the backstretch and was in position to pounce on In Case of Fire by the time the duo had a quarter-mile left in the one-mile event.
“He has had trouble his last two starts going extremely wide, but Benny rode him perfectly tonight,” said Engel.
An Oklahoma-bred by Strategic Mission from the Mr. Leader mare Clogger, Strategic Leader took over at the top of the turf lane and pulled away to win by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:38.57 over the yielding course. Okietate rallied from the back for second as In Case of Fire held on for third. Centerfield was fourth.
Strategic Leader paid $7.60 to win, $4.20 to place and $3.40 to show. Okietate returned $4.80 to place and $4 to show. In Case of Fire paid $6 to show. The exacta (11-1) returned $36.80 with the trifecta (11-1-3) paying $308.80 and the superfecta (11-1-3-5) good for $1,454,20.
Strategic Leader’s owners have believed in their runner strongly enough to supplement him again into the Turf for a fee of $11,500. He was not nominated to the races when he was born so he has been supplemented in all three years that he has won the Turf.
The win was the 10th from 37 career starts for Strategic Leader and his ninth at Remington Park. He earned $82,680 for this year’s Turf, pushing his lifetime bankroll to $358,460.
Engel’s win with Strategic Leader is his seventh Oklahoma Classics tally. He is now third in the all-time standings behind Donnie Von Hemel (19 wins) and Steve Hobby (10).
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Photo Credit: Dustin Orona Photography
