It’s a busier than normal Sunday, at least as far as stakes racing goes, and one of the reasons is that it is Oklahoma Derby day at Remington Park. It’s the biggest day of the year for the Sport of Kings in Oklahoma, with a 12-race program featuring eight stakes races; we have plays in three of them, and we are expecting fast dirt and firm turf. With that out of the way, let’s go.
Remington Park, Race 8, 7:33 pm ET
Grade 3 Remington Park Oaks, 1 1/16 miles, Dirt, 3-Year-Old Fillies
A field of seven sophomore fillies lines up for the Remington Park Oaks. We like 3-Amendment Nineteen, who earned good speed figures in races in New York, for trainer Linda Rice, but who was purchased privately, by Juddmonte Farms, about a month ago, and today makes her first start for new trainer Brad Cox. This daughter of top stallion Constitution probably does not need to improve to win, but we see her doing just that in this spot, which makes her strictly the one to beat. We will bet her to win at 7/2. The bet: Remington Park, Race 8, $40 to win on 3-Amendment Nineteen.
Remington Park, Race 9, 8:04 pm ET
$75,000 Ricks Memorial Stakes, 1 1/16 miles, Turf, Fillies & Mares 3 & Up
The Ricks Memorial drew a field of nine. We find it hard to get past favored 3-Curlin’s Journey, who comes off a brief layoff here, with his last race a win in a similar stakes race at Lone Star Park on June 27. We think the rest will do him some good, as he’d been running pretty steadily all year, and the rest will result in a good effort today. This means he’s headed to the winner’s circle, because he’s shown in the past that his best form is superior to what the other horses in this race are capable of. Look for him to sit mid-pack early, and to take the prize with a big move down the stretch. We will bet him to win at 8/5. The bet: Remington Park, Race 9, $40 to win on 3-Curlin’s Journey.
Remington Park, Race 11, 9:11 pm ET
Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby, 1 ⅛ miles, Dirt, 3-Year-Olds
Eight 3-year-old colts line up for the Oklahoma Derby. It is an evenly matched field, and a good race. We like 7-Mr. Wireless, who goes for his third consecutive win, having taken the West Virginia and Indiana Derbies in his last two starts. He has earned good speed figures in those wins, but what gives him the edge here, we think, is his running style: he has good speed, which is an asset at Remington Park, where the main track tends to be speed-favoring; but he also has good late-pace figures, which means he finishes his races strongly. That combination -- speed plus the ability to finish well -- is lethal, and we think it’s going to put Mr. Wireless in the winner’s circle this evening. Look for him to stalk the leaders early, move to the front at the top of the stretch, and hold off the closers late. We will bet him to win at 7/2. The bet: Remington Park, Race 11, $50 to win on 7-Mr. Wireless.
That’s all for today. Until the next time, enjoy the racing, be safe, and, as always, good luck at the windows.