EAKLY CRUSHES COMPETITION IN CLIFF BERRY TURF SPRINT HANDICAP

For Immediate Release
Friday, September 11, 2026

Someone had to win the $50,000 Cliff Berry Turf Sprint Handicap on Friday at Remington Park after three-time defending champ Dark Afternoon was not entered, so it wasn’t surprising that the horse that ran second behind him last year, Eakly, was the one to pick up that baton.

Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Famer Donnie K. Von Hemel trains Eakly and named jockey David Cabrera to ride for the first time. Although it was an antsy blind date between jockey and gelding before the race, things shook out for them in the end as the winner drew away by three lengths for an easy victory.

“I cut him loose from the pony (before the race) to give him a little warmup back in the (7-furlong) chute and then I couldn’t get him to come back to the turf course to go in the gate,” said Cabrera. “I have to give the outrider all the credit for getting him to the gate for me.”

A lot of people would have been extremely disappointed had he not loaded the gate as the son of Caleb’s Posse, out of the Lonhro (AUS) mare Vian, was sitting at 1-9 odds on the toteboard.

When starter Pup Gerwitz popped them from the gate, Eakly broke fourth behind a speed duel in the five-furlongs turf race that set it up for his perfect late kick down the lane. He hit the top of the stretch with a 1-1/2 length lead and just extended it to the wire to three.

“Once the gates opened, I just had to sit back,” said Cabrera, who notched his third win of the night when Eakly crossed first. “Turning for home, I let him come up to outside and, man, he is such a nice horse. I talked to Donnie this morning and he said to just give him a good warmup and let him tell you where he wants to sit. Hopefully, I’ll be on him on Oklahoma Classics Night.”

The race is named for Remington Park’s all-time leading rider, Berry, who had 2,125 wins in Oklahoma City and rode here from 1988-2015 when he retired. As he kicked back in his rocking chair at home, Berry could look back on three Oklahoma Derby wins, 26 Oklahoma Classics stakes victories, the leading rider title here 15 times and $67-million-plus in horse winnings. He also still holds the record at Remington Park with seven thoroughbred victories in one night. He was on hand to present the trophy in the winner’s circle.

“It was an honor to ride in the Cliff Berry Stakes, right?” said Cabrera. “What a nice guy. I rode against him and he was so tough; I could never get by him. The other night I won five in one night and I thought that was great. I can’t even imagine what it feels like to win seven.”

Eakly won handily and paid $2.20 to win, $2.10 to place and $2.10 to show. Missin Hollywood (13-1) was the runner-up, a head in front of third-place finisher Connors Outlaw (11-1). The rest of the order of finish was Twentyone N Change (10-1) fourth, Guapo (31-1) fifth, Legacy Account (20-1) sixth and Mi Saturday (13-1) seventh. Devious Dennis scratched from the race before the night began.

Running time for the winner was :56.12 seconds on the firm going as Eakly, owned by Cheyenne Stables (Everett Dobson) of Oklahoma City, cut into early fractions of :21.44 for the first quarter-mile and:44.41 for the half-mile set by Legacy Account and Twentyone N Change. Eakly was bred by Candy Meadows. He earned $30,000 from the purse and improved lifetime to 28 starts, seven wins, 10 seconds and five thirds for a total bankroll of $479,819.

It was the fourth win in the series for Von Hemel as he won the first three in a row in 2005-2007 with April’s Lucky Boy and twice with Marq French. It was also the fourth time Cabrera had won the race, making trips to the winner’s circle in 2018 and 2020 with Welder and in 2024 aboard Dark Afternoon. It was the first victory in the Cliff Berry for owner Cheyenne Stables.

Over the years this race has been known as the Osage Hills Stakes (2005-2008) and the Remington Park Turf Sprint (2009-2024).

Remington Park racing continues Saturday, Sept. 12 with 10 races underway at 6:30pm-Central.

Remington Park has provided more than $426 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. The 2026 Oklahoma Derby is set for Sunday, Sept. 27 at Remington Park. Remington Park presents year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. 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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