For Immediate Release
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
OKLAHOMA DERBY FIELD SHAPING UP, POST DRAW ON THURSDAY
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby post-position draw is Thursday morning in the Remington Park racing office. The field for the 1-1/8 miles event on Sunday, Sept. 29 is shaping up with most expected to compete already on the grounds.
Departing: winner of three derbies already (Grade 3 Illinois at Hawthorne; Grade 2 West Virginia at Mountaineer; Grade 2 Super Derby), is expected to arrive at the Remington Park stakes barn sometime on Saturday afternoon. Trainer Al Stall, Jr. has indicated the Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider-owned gelding will leave Louisiana Downs in Bossier City early on Saturday. Departing has been stabled at Louisiana Downs following his most recent win in the Grade 2, $500,000 Super Derby on Sept. 7.
Cameo Appearance: third in the Super Derby, seven lengths behind Departing, is expected in the Oklahoma Derby from the barn of trainer Wayne Catalano. The Super Derby was the first attempt for the colt by Majestic Prince, over a natural surface main track. Prior to the Super Derby, the Gary & Mary West-owned colt had competed only over synthetic surfaces at both Del Mar and Arlington Park. Cameo Appearance is not yet in the Remington Park stable area. He has been conditioning at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., moving five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 breezing on Sept. 20.
Braveman: arrived Wednesday for trainer Roger Anderson. A colt by Unbridled’s Song, Braveman was second in the Grade 3, Ohio Derby at Thistledown in North Randall, Ohio in late July. The Ohio Derby was Braveman’s only attempt over a natural surface main track as all his starts have been over synthetic main tracks (Keeneland and Presque Isle Downs) with the exception of his last attempt at Ellis Park (fifth in an allowance) over the turf.
Broadway Empire: is stabled in the Remington Park stakes barn. The winner of the Grade 3, Canadian Derby at Northlands Park in Edmonton, Alberta brings a two-race winning streak into the Oklahoma Derby. A gelding by Empire Maker, Broadway Empire shipped from Turf Paradise in Phoenix where he has worked sharply since his Canadian Derby triumph.
Carve: working well for his Oklahoma Derby start with a half-mile breeze in :50.19 over the Remington Park surface on Monday morning. Carve has posted workouts every week in Oklahoma City in preparation for his first start since running fifth in the $100,000 Prelude Stakes at Louisiana Downs. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Carve will become the Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame trainer’s 18th starter in the Oklahoma Derby, which will tie him with fellow Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame trainer Donnie Von Hemel for the most Oklahoma Derby starters in history. Asmussen has yet to win the race, posting three second-place finishes in 2002 (Easyfromthegitgo), 2005 (Real Dandy) and 2007 (Reporting For Duty).
Holiday Mischief: posted a sharp half-mile breeze in : 48.95 on Monday morning at Remington Park for trainer Joe Offolter, who owns the gelding in partnership with Carter Thoroughbreds. Holiday Mischief won the Prelude Stakes by a head at Louisiana Downs on Aug. 3 before running seventh and last in the Super Derby.
He Has Bling: fourth in his most recent start, 5-1/4 lengths behind Black Bear on Aug. 23. Black Bear is expected in the $150,000 Remington Park Sprint Cup on Sunday. He Has Bling has posted all three of his career victories this year, including a win in the restricted Texas Stallion Stakes in May at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas. Owned by Hall’s Family Trust of Fort Worth, Texas, He Has Bling has one third-place finish in four career attempts at Remington Park.
Texas Bling: amazed most witnesses in the $300,000 Springboard Mile at Remington Park in December 2012, winning at odds of 128-1. The colt, also owned by Hall’s Family Trust and trained by Danele Durham, is training up to an Oklahoma Derby start. Idle since an eighth place run in the Grade 1, $1,000,000 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park in April, Texas Bling worked five furlongs on Saturday at Remington Park, posting a bullet move in :58.69 handily.
In the Springboard, Texas Bling won the biggest race of his career by 1-1/2 lengths over Will Take Charge. Since that day in December last year, Will Take Charge has started in all of the Triple Crown races, finding his best stride late in the year. In his last two starts he has won the Grade 1, $1,000,000 Travers Stakes at Saratoga last month and the Grade 2, $1,000,000 Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 21 at Parx Racing in Philadelphia.
The Oklahoma Derby leads a six-race stakes schedule on Sunday, Sept. 29 which also includes: the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks, the $150,000 Remington Park Sprint Cup, the $100,000 Remington Green Stakes, the $75,000 Kip Deville Stakes and the $50,000 Ladies on the Lawn Stakes. Overall, the entire race card on Sunday will be worth over $1,000,000 in purse money. The biggest day of the season gets underway at 1:30p.m.
Remington Park will offer a $25,000-minimum guaranteed wagering pool on the Primetime Pick 4 wager on Oklahoma Derby Sunday. The Primetime Pick 4 will include the Oklahoma Derby and other stakes and will be presented over the final four races on the program Sunday.
There is no live racing on Wednesday night, Sept. 25. Instead, racing will be conducted Thursday thru Sunday, Sept. 26-29. The first race is at 7pm nightly except for the special Sunday afternoon program when the Oklahoma Derby card starts at 1:30pm.
Open daily at 10:30am for casino gaming and simulcast racing, Remington Park also features the Bricktown Brewery on the casino floor. Admission, general parking and valet parking are always free at Remington Park, home of the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby, to be run for the 25th time on September 29, 2013.
Tracked by over 42,000 fans on Facebook and 4,300 Twitter followers, Remington Park 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.
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For more information, please contact:
Dale Day
405-425-3215
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