GIGANTE WAS ALL OUT TO BEAT LONGSHOT IN FEATURED REMINGTON PARK ALLOWANCE AFTER WINNING REMINGTON GREEN IN SEPTEMBER

Gigante was a one-length winner in the $75,000 Remington Green last time out, so it appeared the Steve Asmussen runner might cruise in the featured allowance race at Remington Park on Thursday night.

The betting public thought so, too, as they sent him off at 1-5 odds. Gigante, a 5-year-old Virginia-bred son of Not This Time, out of the Empire Maker mare Summertime Green, was dropping sharply in class, but had to battle 27-1 longshot News at Nine the entire distance of 7-1/2 furlongs to win by a head. The victory by Gigante gave the Asmussen father/son combo of Steve and Erik each their third win on Thursday night.

Gigante won for the seventh time in 18 races greensward and moved past the $1 million mark on the turf with the trip to the winner’s circle. He won $26,196 for owners L and N Racing (Michael and Lee Levinson) and Clark Brewster of Tulsa, Okla., and that put the winner’s bankroll on the grass at $1,016,328. His lifetime record on all surfaces improved to 28 starts, 10 wins, three seconds and two thirds for total earnings of $1,366,228. L and N and Brewster purchased this horse for $600,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Late January Digital Sale for horses of racing age in 2025.

Erik had his work cut out for him as he had to collar News at Nine in the stretch after that horse had taken the lead by a full length at the top of the stretch. Gigante rallied four wide in the far turn, chasing News at Nine, who was ridden by Lip Chip Jockey of the Week Alfredo Triana, Jr. The two horses bumped together in late stretch when they made their final bids for the wire. Gigante won the head bob, giving the Asmussens another huge night here.

The Erik Asmussen riding triple allowed him to pass Floyd Wethey, Jr., into fourth place in the jockeys’ standings with 28 wins this meet to Wethey’s 27. Steve Asmussen is well ahead of all conditioners here and on his way to his 20th training title at Remington Park with 46 trips to the winner’s circle. His nearest competitor is Robertino Diodoro in second place with 24 wins.

Gigante paid $2.60 to win, $2.20 to place and $2.10 to show. News at Nine returned $12 to place and $7 to show. Checking in third another two lengths behind was the late-closing Ocelot (4-1). Running time for Gigante was 1:29.57 after chasing the pacesetter, News at Nine, the final quarter of a mile. The longshot set every early fraction before the wire. The first quarter-mile was run in :23.83, the half-mile in :47.26 and the three-quarters of a mile in 1:11.64.

Gigante was bred by Ann Mudge Backer and Smitten Farm.

Remington Park racing continues Friday and Saturday, Nov. 7 & 8, with the first post nightly of 6pm-Central.

Remington Park has provided more than $396 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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