For Immediate Release
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
CANADIAN-BASED RUNNERS POISED FOR SUNDAY’S OKLAHOMA DERBY, RACE HAS MANY WITH INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
OKLAHOMA CITY - The 2010 edition of the Oklahoma Derby has drawn 3-year-old runners from all over North America. Contenders have traveled from the east coast, from Kentucky, from Louisiana and this year for the first time ever, from Canada.
Jim Meyaard of Starline Stables captained the long haul over 30 hours from Northlands Park in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada to Remington Park in Oklahoma City in late September. His contenders No Hesitation and Professor Pollard are the reason for the trek as they ready for the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby this Sunday, Oct. 10.
Meyaard has confidence in both of his runners, especially No Hesitation, the winner of the Grade 3, $300,000 Canadian Derby in August. A gray California-bred colt by Siberian Summer, No Hesitation has rattled off five consecutive scores at distances from six furlongs to 1-3/8 miles.
“This colt, he’s on a winning roll and we’ve got the winning jockey on here this weekend in Cliff Berry,” Meyaard noted. “This colt never has a bad day. He shows up every time, that’s what makes him different from a lot of horses.”
No Hesitation posted a bullet five-furlong drill on Sunday at Remington Park in :59.38 seconds over a fast track. He is slated to gallop on Wednesday morning.
With six wins from eight career attempts overall, No Hesitation has earned $282,181 for owner Barbara Side.
Meyaard’s other Oklahoma Derby contender is the Alberta-bred Professor Pollard who posted a 10-3/4 length in stakes company on Sept. 18 at Northlands Park, at 1-1/16 miles. The gelding by Pollard’s Vision also competed in the Canadian Derby won by No Hesitation but fell during the race after clipping heels with a rival.
Professor Pollard worked a sharp half-mile on Saturday in :47.56 seconds. Remington-based jockey Quincy Hamilton is set to ride Professor Pollard on Sunday.
This year’s Oklahoma Derby has even more international appeal with Paris Vegas set to compete. After beginning his career with five races in France, two of them victorious, and another in Austria, Paris Vegas won an allowance test at Monmouth Park in early September.
Trained by Fabrice Chappet, the Kentucky-bred colt by Maria’s Mon has had a pair of starts in North America and now boasts three wins from eight attempts overall with earnings of $109,648.
Stachys, who won his career debut as a 2-year-old last year at Remington Park by 14-1/2 lengths, worked five furlongs on Monday morning here in 1:00.85. Owned by the Minnesota partnership of Al and Bill Ulwelling, Stachys is trained by Michael Biehler.
A Kentucky-bred colt by Candy Ride (Arg), Stachys last competed in the Canadian Derby at Northlands Park in Edmonton. He was involved in the incident of contact that included Professor Pollard, falling and not finishing the race. Prior to that August attempt, Stachys won the Manitoba Derby at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg. He has four wins from eight attempts with earnings of $92,396.
Pleasant Prince, winner of the Grade 3, $100,000 Ohio Derby this summer, drilled a bullet five-furlongs on Monday morning in 1:00.32 over a fast Remington Park surface. Owned by Kenneth & Sarah Ramsey and trained by Wesley Ward, Pleasant Prince nearly won the Florida Derby in March, finishing second by just a nose. He went on to test the Triple Crown waters, finishing 11th in this year’s Preakness Stakes behind Lookin at Lucky in May.
A Florida-bred colt by Indy King, Pleasant Prince has been at Remington Park since late September and now has a pair of workouts over the surface.
Distorted Economy, second in last month’s Grade 2, $500,000 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., traveled to Remington Park a few days after that event and is housed in the track’s stakes barn.
Owned by Robert Evans and trained by Hall of Famer Neil Drysdale, Distorted Economy worked five furlongs over the fast Remington Park main track this morning in 1:01.32. The Kentucky-bred colt by Distorted Humor has won one of his 10 career races with a trio of seconds and a pair of thirds for overall earnings of $176,340. He was beaten by Apart in the Super Derby after having the lead late in the stretch, settling for second 1-1/2 lengths behind the winner.
Holiday Buzz, locally based for Eclipse-award winning trainer Steve Asmussen, breezed five furlongs on Monday morning in 1:01.88. Owned by the Dallas partnership of Bob Zollars and Mark Wagner, Holiday Buzz ran a closing third to prep for the Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park on Sept. 18 in an allowance event.
A Kentucky-bred colt by Afleet Alex, Holiday Buzz has won two of nine lifetime starts with a pair of seconds and his third-place effort at Remington Park for overall earnings of $68,603.
Todd Pletcher, North America’s leading trainer in 2010 with over $18 million in earnings, including a Kentucky Derby win with Super Saver, has sent Monsignor as his representative for the Oklahoma Derby off a recent victory at Monmouth Park in New Jersey.
Monsignor is owned by Padua Stables and has won two of five career starts. The Forest Danger colt has earned $86,074.
The 22nd Oklahoma Derby is the main event this Sunday at Remington Park. A solid undercard also includes the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks, the $150,000 Remington Green Stakes, the $50,000 E.L. Gaylord Memorial Stakes and the $50,000 Flashy Lady Stakes among others. The first race on Oklahoma Derby Day is 1:30pm.
The Oklahoma Derby week of racing begins Wednesday night and continues at 6:30pm thru Saturday evening before concluding with the lone Sunday afternoon of racing for derby day.
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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For More Information, Contact:
Dale Day
405-425-3215
Dale.day@remingtonpark.com
