DON’TASK DON’TTELL WINS HIS FOURTH RACE IN ROW ON GRASS AT REMINGTON PARK, JOCKEY LEANDRO GONCALVES SECURES 100TH WIN HERE
A couple of weathered veterans were in the spotlight Thursday night as Jockey Leandro Goncalves reached the 100-win mark at Remington Park and 9-year-old gelding Don’task Don’ttell won his fourth race in a row on the grass here.
Trainer Steve Asmussen moved into sole possession of first place in the trainer standings with Don’task Don’ttell’s win in the second race and jockey Stewart Elliott padded his lead in the jockeys’ race by a six-win margin, getting the victory. He won twice Thursday, once for Asmussen and once for trainer J.R. Caldwell, making his second trip to the winner’s circle in the saddle of Ima Bling Cat in the fifth.
Don’task Don’ttell has been on a roll greensward at Remington for Asmussen, who also owns the veteran gelded son of To Honor and Serve, out of the Horse Chestnut (SAF) mare Askbut I Won’ttell. Neither are getting older; they are just getting better. Last year, Don’task Don’ttell won all three starts at Remington among $20,000 claimers or optional $25,000 claimers, all on the turf. He started his streak here with a win at a mile by three-quarters of a length on Oct. 12, followed by much easier trips to the winner’s circle on Oct. 27 and Nov. 22, going a mile and 1-1/16th miles. He won those final two races by 3-1/4 lengths each time. Elliott has been aboard for all four of the consecutive wins. It was also the gelding’s second in a row, coming into Thursday night’s race off a win at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., by three lengths on the grass there among $15,000 claimers.
The gelding was even more impressive Thursday, drawing away by seven full lengths as the heavy favorite. He paid $3.60 to win, $3 to place and $2.80 to show while covering the mile on the firm turf in 1:38.27. Elliott had him just off the pace in third and then second before taking over, exploding in the stretch for the easy win. He cut into interior fractions of :24.22 the first quarter mile, :49.10 for the half, 1:14.37 for three-quarters and 1:26.26 for seven furlongs.
Don’task Don’ttell, who finished behind Ernie Banker in the Champion Claimer race last year here, finished ahead of runner-up Catholic Guilt (10-1), who won a photo for second with Johan Zoffani (11-1) by a neck. He earned $10,545 for the win and improved his record to 49 starts, 16 wins, eight seconds and five thirds for $420,271 in earnings. The winner was bred Illinois by Team Block.
100 at Remington for Goncalves
Goncalves reached his local milestone in the third race when he romped home a winner aboard Math Mystery as the 7-5 favorite in a $10,000 claiming event for fillies and mares that had not won four races lifetime. It was for runners 3-years and older at seven furlongs. The 6-year-old mare by Algorithms, out of the Rod and Staff mare Staffette, won by 1-1/4 lengths for trainer Kari Craddock and owner Jim Plemmons of Versailles, Ky. Math Mystery paid $4.80 to win, $3 to place and $3.20 to show. The mare earned $9,849 to improve to 10 starts, four wins and one third for a bankroll of $43,314.
After six days of racing, the standings are as follows for jockeys:
Elliott 12 wins; tie 2) Goncalves, Richard Eramia and Floyd Wethey, Jr., at six apiece, and tie 4) Freddy Manrrique and David Cabrera four each.
Trainer standings:
Asmussen, seven wins; 2) Karl Broberg, six; 3) J.R. Caldwell, five; tie 4) Craddock and Austin Gustafson, four each.
Owners’ standings:
End Zone Athletics, six; tie 2) Steve Dupy and Randy Chelf; Circle Bar H (Tim Harris; Farmers Fillies Racing; Jeffry and Julie Puryear, and Asmussen.
Live racing continues this week as we move into September with Friday and Saturday racing at 7:07 p.m. CDT nightly.
Remington Park has provided more than $328 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 home to the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby and the Grade 3 Remington Park Oaks on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023. Remington Park presents simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. Parking and admission are always free. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
-30-