CONFESSING GIVES TRAINER STEVE ASMUSSEN A TRAINING TRIPLE ON OKLAHOMA DERBY DAY, WINNING RICKS MEMORIAL FOR NINTH TIME

Jockey Stewart Elliott rode Confessing with confidence as the 6-5 wagering favorite in the $60,000 Ricks Memorial Stakes on Sunday at Remington Park. She responded with a third win on the day for trainer Steve Asmussen, and his ninth in this race overall.

As the prohibitive favorite, the 4-year-old filly by Scat Daddy, out of the Royal Academy mare Accusation, easily cruised past six other fillies in front of her to get home in the 1-1/16th miles turf race by three-quarters of a length over Quick Quick Quick (8-1 odds). That filly was a winner in her open allowance prep on the turf here on Sept. 3, but couldn’t quite hold off this Confessing. Running third was Corluna (15-1), a neck behind Quick Quick Quick. The remaining order in the field of 10 for the Ricks was Soaring Now, Zamzam, Streak of Luck, Blessed Again, Decorated Ace, Love On Tides and Curlin’s Journey.

Confessing paid $4.40, $3.20 and $2.80 across the board. She earned $36,000 for her owners Phoenix Thoroughbred III, LTD of Lexington, Ky. She now boasts a career bankroll of $205,230. She was purchased at the Ocala (Fla.) Breeders Sale in 2018 for $875,000.

Asmussen has owned this race, winning nine times of the 23 it’s been run. It was the third year in a row he has held the trophy in the Ricks Memorial, winning last year with Area and the year before with Adore. His other winners in the Ricks were Pleasantly Blessed (2011, 2009), My Three Sisters (2008, 2007), Paz Ciudadana (2005) and Swearingen (1999).

On Sunday, Confessing covered the distance over firm turf in 1:42.01. Quick Quick Quick set the pace before giving way late in the stretch, cutting fractions of :23.28 for the quarter-mile, :47.49 after a half-mile, 1:11.93 for six furlongs and 1:36.01 for a mile. It was Elliott’s first win in the Ricks as it was also for Phoenix Thoroughbred III, LTD. Confessing was bred in Kentucky by Hunter Valley Farm.

The Ricks Memorial is named in honor of the late Ran Ricks, Jr. who was the first owner with horses on the grounds at Remington Park. He was a multiple leading owner during the first eight years in track history before passing in late 1996.

Remington Park racing continues into a new month with a Thursday-Saturday schedule on Oct 1-3. The first race nightly is at 7:07pm-Central.

Tracked by more than 164,000 fans on Facebook and 10,500 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $248 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 is open daily for casino gaming and simulcast horse racing. The 2020 Thoroughbred Season is scheduled to run through Dec. 20. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.

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