COLONEL YORKE IMPRESSES IN STALLION HANIDCAP AT REMINGTON PARK
The second victory of the young Remington Park season for Colonel Yorke was dominantly impressive. The 3-year-old gelding rolled wide around the turn before powering home to win the $30,000 Oklahoma Stallion Handicap for Colts & Geldings by a widening 9-3/4 lengths on Friday night.
The restricted race, for progeny of registered Oklahoma Stallions, was at seven furlongs. Colonel Yorke came from off the pace on Aug. 8 to score along the rail over the turf course at 7-1/2 furlongs. He shortened in distance and moved back to the main track Friday, handling both challenges with ease.
“He runs good all the time but he really ran great tonight,” said jockey Stewart Elliott. “Outside post, wide… it didn’t matter. They sprinted away pretty good. I just nudged on him and he let me know that he was ready when I was. He just kept picking up when I needed him to and it was no problem.”
Trainer Mindy Willis was somewhat amazed at her charge, who has won three consecutive races and seems to be ready for every test.
“He’s just spectacular for us,” Willis said. “When he got to the grass and got to go long, the rest is history. He likes the dirt too… that never happens! They have to step up every time they win and he’s done it.”
Colonel Yorke left the gate in good order and was allowed to settle under Elliott in eighth in the field of 10 with just over five furlongs left in the race, about eight lengths back. Night Passage led the field through the first quarter-mile in :22.30 before giving way to Cold Fact who hit the half-mile mark in :45.31. At that point Colone Yorke had started to rally and was only four lengths from the leader.
Elliott was wide throughout and angled his flying mount to the five-path midway through the lone turn. The extra distance was not an issue as Colonel Yorke blew past the leaders into the stretch and began to pull away, handling six furlongs in 1:10.51. He crossed the finish in 1:23.37 over the fast track in one of the better seven-furlong efforts at Remington Park recently.
A Texas-bred gelding by Excaper from the Honour and Glory mare Ella’s Glory, Colonel Yorke was bred by his owner, Richard Chandler of Dallas. The win in the handicap was his sixth from 16 attempts, to go with four seconds and three thirds. The winner’s share of the purse pushes the career money for Colonel Yorke to $181,432.
Away as the heavy 1-2 betting favorite, Colonel Yorke paid $3 to win, $2.60 to place and $2.10 to show. Tzedakah pressed the early pace and stayed for second to pay $8.20 to place and $6 to show. Cajun Stoops was 10 lengths behind the winner in third and paid $2.60 to show.
The remaining order in the field of 10 was Cherokee Sunrise (4th), Cold Fact (5th), Night Passage (6th), Hillbilly Up (7th), Gunny Highway (8th), Tucker Flats (9th) and One Big Haas (10th).
Remington Park racing continues Saturday, Aug. 30 with the first race 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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