For Immediate Release
Friday, August 3, 2012
STRONG STAKES FEATURED DURING REMINGTON PARK OPENING WEEKEND, CAPS & CASH AWAIT FANS
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Opening Weekend of the 2012 Remington Park Thoroughbred Season is just a week away with the first race cards on Friday, August 10 & Saturday, August 11. The Saturday night program will feature the $200,000 Governor’s Cup Stakes and the $100,000 David M. Vance Sprint Stakes.
Owned by Josephine Abercrombie’s Pin Oak Stable of Versailles, Ky., Alternation has been in heavy training to prepare for the 1-1/8 miles Governor’s Cup. Under the guidance of trainer Donnie Von Hemel, the 4-year-old Alternation has worked three times since returning to Remington Park in July. His most recent drill, six furlongs in 1:12.83 on July 29, was his longest of the trio.
Alternation rattled off four straight stakes wins to start 2012, sweeping the $100,000 Essex Handicap, the Grade 3, $125,000 Razorback Handicap and the Grade 2, $400,000 Oaklawn Handicap this spring at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark. After that trifecta of success, he shipped to Baltimore where he won the Grade 3, $300,000 Pimlico Special on the eve of the Preakness Stakes.
The winning streak for Alternation ended in mid-June when he finished fifth in the Grade 1, $400,000 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. behind Ron The Greek.
Alternation was the runner-up in the 2011 Oklahoma Derby, he could be joined in the Governor’s Cup by other alumni from that event. Prayer For Relief was the even-money favorite in the Oklahoma Derby, finishing third. A winner of three consecutive graded derbies last summer, the millionaire was recently sent to the barn of Steve Asmussen, the defending leading trainer at Remington Park. Prayer For Relief is expected on the grounds to begin training for the Governor’s Cup soon.
Redeemed, winner of last year’s Oklahoma Derby, has also been nominated for the Governor’s Cup. Most recently, Redeemed won the Grade 3 Greenwood Cup Handicap at Parx in Philadelphia, going 1-1/2 miles. The score automatically placed Redeemed into the Breeders’ Cup Marathon in November. Owned by Jay Em Ess Stable of Santa Monica, Calif., Redeemed may participate in the Governor’s Cup if travel arrangements from New York to Oklahoma City can be made in the coming days.
The Governor’s Cup is the concluding race in the first Global Gaming Triple, wrapping a series of races that started with the Grade 3 Texas Mile and the Grade 3 Lone Star Park Handicap in Grand Prairie, Texas. Owned by Robert Orth & Wesley Hawley, Get In Da House was third in the Texas Mile and second in the Lone Star Park Handicap. He is in line to receive $20,000 in bonus money if he competes in the Governor’s Cup.
Others from the 58 nominated to the Governor’s Cup expected to compete: Dreaminofthewin, a winner of three career races at Remington Park and 10th in last year’s Oklahoma Derby; and Stachys, fifth in the Oaklawn Handicap this year behind Alternation and third in the 2010 Oklahoma Derby.
VANCE SPRINT
A group of 25 nominated for the $100,000 David M. Vance Sprint Stakes at six furlongs. Wiredfortwotwenty, unraced since winning the $125,000 Iowa Sprint Handicap at Prairie Meadows by two lengths in June, is expected for the first major sprint race of the season. Trained by Bart Hone, Wiredfortwotwenty will be making his first Remington Park attempt.
Humble Smarty, winner of the Vance Sprint in its inaugural running a year ago, is anticipated to defend his title. Owned and trained by Brett Creighton, Humble Smarty has won six career races at Remington Park and is looking for his first triumph since taking this race last September.
Alsvid, fifth behind Hansen in the Grade 3 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows in June, may return to six furlongs for the Vance Sprint. Winner of the $75,000 Kip Deville stakes at Remington Park as a 2-year-old last year, Alsvid has never been beaten at six furlongs.
Entries for both the Governor’s Cup and David M. Vance Sprint Stakes will be taken in the Remington Park racing office on Wednesday, Aug. 8.
CAPS+CASH
Opening Weekend will provide the first 1,500 fans through the racing entrance each night with a souvenir cap on Caps & Cash weekend!
The stylish cap will be distributed each night to the first 1,500 fans entering the racing entrance beginning at 5pm. The cap looks sharp and has the power to reward you for wearing it as well.
Return to Remington Park on any Wednesday race night during the season while wearing the cap and we’ll give you $5 in Racing Free Play! Simply visit Club Remington to obtain your Caps & Cash Racing Free Play voucher while wearing the cap on a Wednesday race night this season.
Wednesday night racing begins Aug. 22. You must be 18 or over to receive the Caps & Cash Racing Free Play. Visit Club Remington for complete details.
OPENING WEEKEND SELECT 7
Enter the Select 7 contest drawing in the racing entrance on Friday, Aug. 10 and Saturday, Aug. 11, beginning at 5pm. If your name is selected, you will have the opportunity to make a selection for Cash before races 3 thru 9 by choosing a logo on the Coors Light Super Screen. Each logo hides a various cash dollar amount that the participating contestant will win. The total Cash amount that could be won each night is $2,000!
An additional $2,000 can be won on both nights of Opening Weekend in the Remington Park Casino, simply by playing the games while using your Club Remington card.
You must be 18 or over to enter and play Select 7. Please see Club Remington for complete details. Guests must be present to win.
Remington Park’s first race on Friday, Aug. 10 and Saturday, Aug. 11 is at 6:30pm. The Casino will be open until 3am both nights.
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 18,000 fans on Facebook and 3,000 Twitter followers, 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, 405-326-7496 (m)
