FIREBALL BIRDIE GIVES LEADING RIDER ELLIOTT A TUESDAY TRIPLE, DOUBLE FOR TRAINER STEVE ASMUSSEN
It took Fireball Birdie five starts at Remington Park this meet, but he finally made it to the winner’s circle Tuesday, giving leading jockey Stewart Elliott a riding triple on the day. This win came in the featured allowance race at one mile.
Fireball Birdie, a 3-year-old Kentucky-bred colt by Uncle Mo, out of the Seeking the Gold mare Song of the Lark, is owned by the partnership of L and N Racing and MyRacehorse. Fireball Birdie had tried allowance company in four tries previously at this meet with no luck. Tuesday was his night, however, as he drew away to a 1-3/4 length win in a first-level allowance race.
Fireball Birdie was sent off as the 2-1 second favorite in the one-mile race on the main track and won the wire-to-wire battle with Time Muse (23-1) as they went 1-2 around the track the whole race. Time Muse held on for second, 1-3/4 lengths ahead of third-place finisher Lear (8-1). The 6-5 betting favorite, Seven Flat, could do no better than fourth.
Time Muse had set the early pace, hitting the first quarter-mile in :23.80, followed by :48.14 for the half-mile and the three-quarter-mile in 1:14.44. The pair pulled away from their foes and went nose-to-nose until just outside a furlong remaining when Elliott was able to get the most from Fireball Birdie. He hit seven furlongs in 1:25.77 and won in 1:38.23 over the fast track.
Fireball Birdie paid $6.40 to win, $3.60 to place and $3.20 to show, earning $20,898 from the $35,000 purse. He improved lifetime to 10 starts, two wins and three seconds for $69,804 earned. He was bought at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2022 for $300,000. Fireball Birdie was bred by Newstead Corp.
Fireball Birdie also gave leading trainer Steve Asmussen his second win of the day as he stretched out his margin in Remington Park’s meet standings. Elliott leads the jockeys’ standings with 75 wins, while Asmussen has 48 victories. Their margins are already so large that signs for leading trainer and jockey have been ordered. Elliott is 32 wins ahead of second-place Harry Hernandez at 44 wins. Asmussen leads second-place Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame trainer Joe Offolter, who has 22 wins.
The hat-trick for Elliott is his 10th this season at Remington Park, after 54 race dates.
Remington Park racing continues Friday and Saturday, Nov. 22 & 23, with the first race both nights at 6:30pm-Central.
Remington Park has provided more than $363 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 when the $300,000 Springboard Mile tops the final night of the season. The major 2-year-old stakes race of the season, the Springboard awards valuable 2025 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. 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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