CYNDI LOPER JUST WANTS TO HAVE FUN, REMAINING UNDEFEATED, SCORING OKLAHOMA CLASSICS LASSIE

Cyndi Loper stayed unbeaten after two starts, winning the $76,000 Oklahoma Classics Lassie, presented by Senor Buscador, by daylight Friday at Remington Park. The event was a six-furlongs sprint on a main fast track for 2-year-old Oklahoma-bred fillies.

The juvenile daughter of Atreides, out of the Maclean’s Music mare Spring Steen, broke her maiden at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, by four lengths at five furlongs on June 29. Friday night, in her first stakes event, Cyndi Loper was even more impressive under jockey Floyd Wethey, Jr., drawing away by 4-3/4 lengths in her first try against winners.

Trainer Francisco Bravo trains the filly for owner Pamela Grossman of Fredericksburg, Texas. Bravo said there was a good reason Cyndi Loper had not raced at Remington Park prior to Friday night.

“There just weren’t enough (2-year-old fillies) winners here to fill a race for allowance non-winners of two, so I just kept training her up to this race,” said Bravo. “I’ve always liked this filly. As far as her name goes, it goes back to the Grossmans. They always come up with some fun names.”

Like the horse’s namesake, Hall of Fame singer Cyndi Lauper, this is a filly who just wants to have fun.

“She has been really good in the mornings,” said Wethey. “I just tried to stay out of her way tonight and she got the job done. She’s like an old soul, very kind and does her job. We won easy enough tonight.”

It was the first win for both Bravo and Grossman in the Lassie, but Wethey found the winner’s circle for the second time in this race as he won aboard Miss Code West in 2023. The Lassie propelled Miss Code West to her first Remington Park Horse of the Meet that year. She also won the award in 2024.

Cyndi Loper had her doubters despite winning her first career race by open lengths. She was sent off at 5-1 odds and paid $13.80 to win, $5.20 to place and $4.40 to show. The even-money favorite, Lanaluah, closed some ground from seventh to second, but Cyndi Loper had gotten the jump on her and it was just too much ground to make up. Another four lengths back in third was 16-1 longshot Momacya.

Winning time for Cyndi Loper was 1:11.01 and she made nearly every pole a winning one. She set the early pace, going the first quarter-mile in :21.74, after which she dropped back to second behind Flat Out Kelce who covered a half-mile in :45.15. After that, it was all Cyndi Loper who never was challenged in :57.75 for five-eighths of a mile.

Cyndi Loper was bred in Oklahoma by Eureka Thoroughbred Farm. She earned $45,000 for her second win is as many attempts. Her initial race and win at Remington Park boosts her career earnings to $64,560.

The victory was the first overall Oklahoma Classics win for Bravo and the seventh for Wethey.

The rest of the order of finish was Inca Code (7-1) fourth, Gift of Grace (72-1) fifth, From the Top Rope (20-1) sixth, Miss Popularity (126-1) seventh, Flat Out Kelce (64-1) eighth, Girldontgoawaymad (48-1) ninth, Lil Miss Brisket (8-1) 10th and Outtaherway (7-2) 11th.

The top three finishers in the race, Cyndi Loper, Lanaluah and Momacya, earned their owners a free 2026 breeding season to Senor Buscador who stands at Lane’s End in Kentucky. The winner of the 2020 Springboard Mile at Remington Park, Senor Buscador retired earlier this year with more than $12 million in earnings, thanks in large part to winning the 2024 Saudi Cup, the world’s richest race.

Remington Park racing continues Saturday, Oct. 18 at 6pm-Central.

Remington Park has provided more than $390 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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