BALSA GIVES JOCKEY LINDEY WADE RIDING DOUBLE, TAKING FEATURED ALLOWANCE RACE

Balsa proved much the best in the allowance turf feature on Wednesday night at Remington Park, giving jockey Lindey Wade a riding double on the program.

At five furlongs on the turf, it’s almost impossible to win when anything goes wrong. Almost. Balsa, a 4-year-old gelded Kentucky-bred son of Street Boss, out of the Elusive Quality mare Arbol, lunged at the start of the race, giving everyone a head start and yet it didn’t matter in the least.

Balsa was 6-1/2 lengths back of the leaders in the early going down the backstretch. He caught up with the field in the turn for home and by the time they were a furlong from the finish, he was in the lead, pulling away.

Balsa was sent off at 9-5 odds, the same as pacesetter Twentyone N Change who was the actual wagering favorite with a few more dollars bet on him. The fiery fractions of :21.67 for the first quarter mile and :44.64 for the half-mile set up the rally by Balsa, who hit the wire in a swift :56.15 for the impressive 3-3/4 lengths victory over the firm course.

Balsa’s trip to the winner’s circle in the feature race came for owner Keene Thoroughbreds (Danny Keene) of Greenville, Texas, and trainer Ronnie Cravens III.

Balsa paid $5.60 to win, $3.60 to place and $2.40 to show across the board. Turquoise Blue (8-1) closed from sixth at the start, almost in lockstep with the winner, getting up for second, just getting past Twentyone N Change by a nose at the wire. Balsa earned $21,447 for his owner from the $36,000 purse and improved his lifetime running lines to 18 starts, five wins, one second and three thirds for $126,356 in earnings. He was bred by Godolphin.

Wade also won earlier in the card aboard Shaggy Edge ($13.80 to win) in the sixth race on the card for owner Suter Stables and trainer Jody Pruitt.

Remington Park racing continues Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 17-19, with first post of 6:30pm-Central. The 32nd Oklahoma Classics are featured on Friday evening with a program of stakes events for top Oklahoma-breds worth more than $1 million.

Remington Park has provided more than $363 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 simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. The 2024 Thoroughbred Season continues through Dec. 13. The Oklahoma Classics Night of stakes racing for top Oklahoma-breds takes place on Friday, Oct. 18. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.

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