AWESOME RUTA GETS BACK TO WINNER’S CIRCLE AT REMINGTON PARK AFTER AROUND-THE-NATION TRAVELS

Awesome Ruta’s next appearance might be horse racing’s version of a contestant on the reality television show The Amazing Race, where people race around the world before returning home to win big money.

The 4-year-old colt did his best imitation of that, winding up at Remington Park in the winner’s circle Friday night after traveling to racetracks in Delaware, New Jersey, Virginia, Arkansas and Maryland before landing on the mat as the winners of the game. In this case, in the winner’s circle, where Awesome Ruta ended up after his first win since Monmouth Park in New Jersey on July 5, 2024.

A Kentucky-bred son of Mendelssohn, out of the Awesome Again mare Awesome Prayer, since that 2024 score, Awesome Ruta had been to Colonial Downs in Virginia; Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.; back to Monmouth; then back to Colonial; then on to Laurel in Maryland, and then to Delaware before moving on to a new barn and new trainer in Oklahoma City on Nov. 8 this year.

Trainer Scott Young took over the training of Awesome Ruta from Dan Ward, who conditioned him to a third-place finish in a $40,000 allowance race for non-winners of three lifetime here last month at 1 mile-70 yards. On Friday night, Young handled the task, dropping him in class to claiming $20,000 non-winners of three. Awesome Ruta cruised to an easy win going seven furlongs.

Young went into the race, winning at a 13 percent clip with horses in his barn for the first time. That number will increase with frequency if he adds horses like Awesome Ruta to his list of trainees. Awesome Ruta might have not won since 2024 as he traveled around the country, but he was always competitive. Willie Nelson’s song “On the Road Again,” might as well have played on his travel trailer as much as this vagabond horse moved around. In his last eight races since that win in New Jersey, he had finished in the money (first, second or third) in seven of those eight tries.

Now he is a winner again for owner Tri-Star Racing and Cimarron TTT Farms of Camden, Ark., earning $14,136 for his efforts. Jockey Stewart Elliott was in the saddle for Young, recording his 42nd victory of the meet.

Awesome Ruta improved his record to 20 starts, three wins, four seconds and seven thirds for a bankroll of $194,019. He was bred in Kentucky by Brian Levings, who is a breeder-owner based in Edmond, Okla. Awesome Ruta was purchased twice at auction. He was first bought by agent Becky Thomas for $77,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ October Yearling Sale of 2022. He was then put back up for sale in the Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale of 2-year-olds in training and was sold to Rich Robertson for $30,000.

On Friday night, Awesome Ruta showed he was worth the sales prices, winning by 1-3/4 lengths at 2-5 odds. Elliott sat back in second place in the seven-furlong race, just off the shoulder of front-runner Ore Mine (23-1), who eventually faded to fourth. When he dropped back, Awesome Ruta took over with a four-length lead at the top of the stretch. Runner-up Justice Department (9-1) made a late run at the winner, but ran out of real estate.

The early fractions in the race were :22.87 for the first quarter-mile, :45.78 for the half-mile, and 1:11.04 for three-quarters of a mile before Awesome Ruta stopped the timer for seven furlongs in 1:24.53 over the fast track. He paid $2.80 to win, $2.10 to place and $2.10 to show across the board.

Remington Park racing continues Saturday, Dec 13 with first post time at 6 p.m.-Central.

Remington Park has provided more than $402 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District, Remington Park presents year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. The 2025 Springboard Mile, a 2026 Kentucky Derby qualifying points race, takes place Saturday, Dec. 20, the final night of the Thoroughbred Season. Guests must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or to enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.

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