BANTERRA RALLIES FOR TURF SPRINT FEATURE AT REMINGTON PARK, ELLIOTT TRIPLES AGAIN

The $44,000 allowance feature on Saturday at Remington Park showcased females sprinting five furlongs over the firm turf course. Banterra was strong in her rally around the lone turn to gain her initial turf victory.

Owned by Chuck Hovitz of Sunnyvale, Texas and trained by Steve Asmussen, Banterra was ridden by Stewart Elliott who picked up his third victory of the evening. The race for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and older, was the first attempt for Banterra since running a huge second in the $125,000 Chicken Fried Stakes at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas on June 28. Miss Code West, Remington Park’s Horse of the Meeting in 2023 and 2024 won that stakes race, holding Banterra off in that five-furlong turf stakes by just a half-length.

Saturday, Banterra moved away from a stakes event to an open allowance for females and showed her class. Elliott let the 5-year-old mare by Practical Joke from the Twirling Candy mare Sweet Queen sit off the quick pace set by Phunk, six lengths back before the field moved to the turn. At that point, Elliott let Banterra make her move as she rallied just off the rail to engage Phunk with a quarter-mile to go.

In the stretch, Banterra found more and pulled away from Phunk, crossing the finish one-length clear in :56.80. Tx Women for Arts was another 3-3/4 lengths back in third.

The heavy wagering favorite at 1-5 odds, Banterra paid $2.60 to win, $2.20 to place and $2.10 to show. The win was the fifth from 18 career starts for Banterra to go with three seconds and three thirds. The win was the first over turf for Banterra in her fourth attempt, to go with one second and one third over the lawn.

The winner’s share of $26,400 boosted her lifetime bankroll to $251,449.

Banterra was bred in New York by Rhapsody Farm.

Two Nights of Racing, Two Triple for Elliott
Jockey Stewart Elliott is laying down the early gauntlet in the race to be leading rider, posting his second riding triple in as many race nights in this young Remington Park season.

Elliott picked up the hat trick by winning the Saturday opener with Nucleus ($4.20 to win), Bill ($19.40) in race six and then Banterra ($2.60) in the feature.

The triple gives Elliott six wins to lead the colony by three over Ramon Vazquez, David Cabrera and Floyd Wethey, Jr., all with three scores. Elliott won the riding title in 2023 and 2024 at Remington Park and is starting a strong bid for a third consecutive trophy here.

Remington Park racing resumes Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 14-16, with the first race nightly at 6pm-Central.

Remington Park has provided more than $387 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 Oklahoma Derby takes place Sunday, Sept. 28. The Thoroughbred Season continues through Dec. 20. 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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