For Immediate Release
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Saturday, December 11, 2010
GRANT JACK WINS SPRINGBOARD MILE AS REMINGTON SEASON WRAPS
OKLAHOMA CITY – The richest 2-year-old race of the successful 2010 Remington Park Thoroughbred Season produced an upset winner and huge exotic payoffs as Grant Jack came through in the $250,000 Springboard Mile at 14-1 odds.
Owned by the Dallas partnership of Wayne Sander and Larry Hirsch and trained by Bret Calhoun, Grant Jack stalked the pace set by Brickyard Fast who was pressured by Aces N Kings throughout the entire race. Grant Jack made a determined move late in the stretch, going outside of the battling duo to get up for a one-length win in 1:37.98 over the fast track.
Brickyard Fast set the quarterly fractions going :23.32 for the opening quarter-mile, :47.10 for the half-mile and 1:11.84 at six-furlongs.
Cliff Berry, just one night removed from a seven-win evening that set a new local standard for excellence on a single race card, had the mount on Grant Jack. The 2-year-old colt was second in his attempt last month in the Clever Trevor Stakes, finishing 5-1/2 lengths behind Caleb’s Posse who was the beaten 4-5 wagering favorite in the Springboard, finishing seventh.
Grant Jack obviously improved in the Springboard, handling his first mile attempt over a main track. “The last race he left the starting gate flat-footed,” noted Berry who was aboard for both of Grant Jack’s stakes races at Remington Park. “I had a handful of horse along the backside tonight. He really dug in down the stretch when he needed it.”
Grant Jack paid $30.80 to win, $17.40 to place and $10.40 to show in winning the Springboard, his first stakes score. Brickyard Fast held strong for second and paid $62.40 to place and $29.60 to show. Aces N Kings was a head behind the runner-up for third and returned $6.80 to show. Trubs was another two lengths back for fourth.
The exacta (Nos. 9-4) paid $872.40 with the quinella (4-9) paying $2,068. The trifecta (9-4-6) paid $10,948.80 with the 10-cent superfecta (9-4-6-10) paying $5,214.66.
A Kentucky-bred colt by Harlan’s Holiday from the St. Jovite mare Dream Away, Grant Jack won his second career race from six attempts and his first race at Remington Park. The $150,000 winner’s share of the Springboard boosts his overall earnings to $199,425.
The $50,000 End of the Trail Stakes for 3-year-old Oklahoma-breds was the top undercard event on the final night of the season, going to Sooner Red. Owned and trained by Brent Davidson of Grant, Okla. and ridden by Benny Landeros, Sooner Red won by a length over One Up. The top two finishers both rallied from well off the pace to pass the filly Vertical Vision late in the stretch of the seven-furlongs after she took control of the pace with over a half-mile to go in the race.
Sooner Red handled the distance in 1:24.47.
Away at 24-1 odds, Sooner Red paid $50.20 to win, $18 to place and $4 to show. One Up paid $11.80 to place and $2.20 to show. Vertical Vision held third and paid $2.20 to show as the beaten 1-2 wagering favorite.
A 3-year-old gelding by Ecton Park from the Atticus mare Toysintheatticus, Sooner Red won his fourth career race and his third at Remington Park, all this season. He earned $30,000 to push his career bankroll to $94,182.
The 2010 Remington Park Thoroughbred Season came to a close with Cliff Berry of Jones, Okla. winning his 13th Pat Steinberg Memorial Award as the leading jockey, his first local title since 2007. Berry’s 76 wins were 18 ahead of runner-up Ramsey Zimmerman who posted 58 for second. Aaron Gryder was third in the standings with 51 wins.
The leading jockey award is named after Pat Steinberg who passed away after the 1993 Spring Thoroughbred Season at Remington Park. He was the all-time riding leader in Oklahoma City at the time of his passing.
Steve Asmussen was the leading trainer at Remington Park for the fourth consecutive season, winning 47 races. The Arlington, Texas resident won his sixth Chuck Taliaferro Memorial Award with the local title. Bret Calhoun finished with 40 wins for second while Christ Hartman was third with 30.
The Taliaferro is named in honor of Chuck Taliaferro who passed in 1994 after many years as a leading trainer at Remington Park.
The Ran Ricks, Jr. Memorial Award for leading owner went to three owners with 11 wins as a three-way tie at the top of the standings took place for the first time ever. Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch of Dallas, winners of the Springboard Mile with Grant Jack, won their share of the championship by capturing the top 2-year-old race. Poindexter Thoroughbreds of Springfield, Mo. had a large lead throughout the season and held on to get a piece of the crown. Danny Caldwell of Poteau, Okla. received the final piece of the three-way title.
Of the trio only Caldwell has won a Ricks Award, gaining his second, while the others won for the first time. The Ricks Award is named after the first owner to stable a horse at Remington Park and one of the most influential horsemen to promote the passing of pari-mutuel racing in Oklahoma in the 1980s.
Final statistical numbers for the 2010 Thoroughbred Season will be released on Monday, Dec. 13.
Live racing returns to Remington Park on March 4, 2011 when the nation’s top American Quarter Horse season gets underway.
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
