For Immediate Release
Thursday, October 18, 2012
PERFECTLY TIMED RUN GAINS 2ND STRAIGHT FOR ROCKET TWENTYONE
OKLAHOMA CITY – Rocket Twentyone made it two consecutive victories this season, scoring in Thursday’s $31,500 allowance/optional claiming turf sprint feature. The 3-year-old filly waited behind her five rivals until they reached the stretch then rolled to win by a half-length.
Owned by Frank Fletcher Racing Operations, Inc. of Little Rock, Ark. and trained by Tom Howard, Rocket Twentyone was ridden to victory by Lindey Wade. Showing good patience in a race full of speed, Wade let his filly sit behind the frantic pace being set as the other five in the field of six battled for the front. Lucky Daz prevailed from the scrum for the lead, taking the group into the stretch on top when Rocket Twentyone began her move.
Still a length behind with less than a furlong to go, Rocket Twentyone worked to the outside of Lucky Daz, with Wheeling Wini moving along with her, the pair passed the pace-setter in the final yards. Rocket Twentyone had a little more at the end to surge on to win with Wheeling Wini the runner-up. Lucky Daz held third.
Rocket Twentyone covered the five furlongs over firm turf in :58.36 as the 9-5 wagering favorite, paying $5.80 to win, $3 to place and $3 to show. Wheeling Wini paid $5.20 to place and $3.40 to show. Lucky Daz returned $2.80 to show.
The win was the fourth from 10 career starts for Rocket Twentyone, winner of the Grade 3 $100,000 Arlington-Washington Lassie as a 2-year-old in 2011. The second win in as many tries at Remington Park was worth $18,849 to run her career earnings to $122,615. Rocket Twentyone was bred in Ontario, Canada and is a daughter of Indian Charlie from the Blare of Trumpets mare Symphonic Lady.
Jockey Alex Birzer won three races on the evening. The triple took place in race one with Real Appeal Deal ($7.80 to win), Gentle Ocean ($10) in race six and Canadian Prayer ($3.80) in the ninth and final race. The Thursday hat trick gives Birzer 25 wins for the season, moving him into a tie for fourth-place in the standings.
Cliff Berry continues to lead the jockey colony with 36 wins on the season. He picked up a score with Hum Zee ($4.40) in the second race. The victory moved him within eight of his 4,000th career Thoroughbred score. Berry enters Friday racing with 3,992 career triumphs.
The 2012 Remington Park Thoroughbred Season continues Friday and Saturday night with the first race at 6:30pm. The 20th Oklahoma Classics, featuring an entire 10-race program for eligible Oklahoma-breds in divisional stakes competition, takes place on Friday night. The total horsemen’s purses for the Classics are expected to reach $1,000,000.
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 24,000 fans on Facebook and 3,000 Twitter followers, 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, contact:
Dale Day
Dale.day@remingtonpark.com
405-425-3215, 405-326-7496 (m)
