DARK AFTERNOON HAD SOME DARK NEWS FOR COMPETITION, DEFENDS HIS TITLE IN REMINGTON PARK TURF SPRINT STAKES

Dark Afternoon wasn’t fazed a bit by his fifth-place finish in his summer turf debut at Remington Park on Sept. 6, coming off that effort to defend his title in the $50,000 Remington Park Turf Sprint on Friday night.

The race is for Oklahoma-breds, 3 and older, at five furlongs on the turf.

Granted, Dark Afternoon was only three-quarters of a length back in that fifth-place finish in an open allowance race on the lawn last time out, he obviously benefited from a start on the dirt and one on the turf leading into this stakes event. Trainer Austin Gustafson followed the same pattern with the 4-year-old Oklahoma-bred son of Black Bear, out of the Came Home mare Afternoon Liaison, getting a couple of races under his belt prior to the Turf Sprint.

James Rogers of Elk City, Okla., who owns this winner under the auspices of Black Hawk Stable, also owns the mother and bred Dark Afternoon. Jockey David Cabrera rode him perfectly in the short sprint greensward, letting the early speed set it up for his late kick.

“Last time (when he finished fifth), we had a little bit of an issue down on the inside,” Cabrera said. “I wasn’t going to take that chance tonight. When we turned for home, he had plenty left.”

Dark Afternoon drew away at the end of the race to win by 2-1/4 lengths in the Turf Sprint at co-favorite 9-5 odds. The other 9-5 favorite was Twentyone N Change, who set the early blistering pace before fading to third over the firm course. That horse went out in :21.38 for the first quarter-mile and :44.75 for the half-mile before Dark Afternoon stopped the timer for five furlongs in :56.77. Dark Afternoon won the race last year with jockey Jermaine Bridgmohan in the irons in :56.74.

Cabrera, who has dealt with major injuries the past two years, was emotional after winning this stakes race when it came to the connections of Rogers and Gustafson.

“Austin has given me such great support the past couple of years when I’ve been laid up with injuries,” said Cabrera, a four-time leading rider at Remington Park. “Austin has always been there for me, encouraging me to come back and Mr. Rogers is the same way. I can’t thank them enough.”

Rogers, who also owned Dark Afternoon’s sire (dad) Black Bear, said he sees a lot of the same traits in this winner.

“Black Bear did some good running for us,” he said. “This was unbelievable. We have a full sister to (Dark Afternoon) who won for us about three weeks ago, so this mare has been a really good producer.”

Rogers said Dark Afternoon would now point to the Oklahoma Classics to face Oklahoma-breds sprinting, but on the main track.

“Since there is no turf sprint in the Classics, we’ll have to take our chances, sprinting on the dirt,” he said. “We tried him going long on the dirt and he wasn’t interested in routing.”

Breakable Code (5-2) got up for second, finishing a neck in front of Twentyone N Change. Dark Afternoon paid $5.60 to win, $2.80 to place and $2.20 to show. The rest of the order of finish in this stakes had Just Chillin (5-1) checking in fourth, Mister Wayside (13-1) fifth, Den’s Dynasty (46-1) sixth and Tap N Play (68-1).

It was the second win in this stakes series for both Gustafson and Black Hawk Stable. Only Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame trainer Donnie Von Hemel and Kenny Nolen have more wins in the series at three apiece. Gustafson ties Teri Luneack, Scott Young and Aaron Box with two career victories in the Turf Sprint.

Luneack trained all-time winningest horse at Remington Park, Welder (16 wins here) to two trips to the winner’s circle, one on the turf and one on a sloppy main track after it was taken off the grass. Cabrera was on Welder for both of those wins and now has three victories in the series, tying the all-time winningest rider at Remington Park for tops in the Turf Sprint. Cliff Berry won this race in 2007 aboard Marq French for Von Hemel, in 2011 riding Antioch Diamond for Box and in 2014 in the saddle of Okie Ride for Nolen. Okie Ride has the record for most wins in the series, winning the race three years in a row from 2013-2015.

Dark Afternoon earned $30,000 for the win and improved his lifetime record to 15 starts, six wins, one second and two thirds for $177,671.

The rest of the order of finish in this stakes had Just Chillin (5-1) checking in fourth, Mister Wayside (13-1) fifth, Den’s Dynasty (46-1) sixth and Tap N Play (68-1).

Remington Park racing continues Saturday, Sept. 21 with a first post time at 6:30 p.m. CDT.

Remington Park has provided more than $357 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 Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby takes place on Sunday, Sept. 29. 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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