HEAVENVILLE WAS HEAVENLY FOR ASMUSSENS, GIVING STEVE TRAINING TRIPLE WHILE GIVING ERIK RIDING DOUBLE IN REMINGTON PARK THURSDAY FEATURE

Heavenville couldn’t quite make it at the one mile, 70-yard distance last time out in a first-level allowance race at Remington Park, so the Steve Asmussen barn shortened him up to one mile Thursday night. The 3-year-old colt then made every pole a winning one.

Heavenville gave Asmussen his third training win on the night and his son Erik a riding double. Asmussen’s other win came with Stewart Elliott in the irons aboard McMusic in the fifth race. Erik won earlier in the night in the saddle of Seven Taylors in the second race.

Erik showed the uncanny ability to pace Heavenville on the lead over a sloppy track and still have plenty of horse in the stretch after he had one closer after another making a move on him. The Kentucky-bred son of Instagrand, out of the Street Sense mare Treasure in Heaven, was keen on the lead, but Asmussen got him to relax early, hitting the first pole in a leisurely :23.97 for the first quarter-mile. Things began to heat up the rest of the way, but Erik had saved enough horse for the stretch run. Heavenville went :47.26 for the half-mile and 1:11.41 for three-quarters of a mile. His final and winning time for the mile was 1:37.18 as he held off the closers and drew away to a 2-1/4-length victory.

Heavenville, owned by William and Corinne Heiligbrodt and OXO Equine LLC of Houston, Texas, won for the third time in his career of 13 starts and earned $23,202 for his owners in the featured $39,000 allowance race. It improved his lifetime record to 13-3-2-3 for a bankroll of $218,267. He was bred by the Heiligbrodts.

Heavenville was sent off as the 6-5 wagering favorite in a field of eight and paid $4.60 to win, $2.60 to place and $2.20 to show. La Houligan gained for second while Sound of Victory, also trained by Asmussen, was along for third, 4-3/4 lengths behind the victor.

The big night for the Asmussens pushed them both up in their respective standings. Steve moved ever so close to his unprecedented 20th training title at Remington Park, now with 53 wins. That is 27 victories ahead of Robertino Diodoro in second place with 26 trips to the winner’s circle. To give you an idea of how dominant Steve’s barn has been this meet, Diodoro is eight wins ahead of third-place Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Famer Joe Offolter in third with 18.

Erik moved into a tie for fourth place in the jockeys’ standings as he is now deadlocked with Floyd Wethey, Jr. at 34 victories this season. They are only headed by Ramon Vazquez in first with 64 wins after being blanked Thursday. David Cabrera is second with 38 and while Stewart Elliott is third with 37.

Remington Park racing continues Friday and Saturday, Nov. 21 & 22, with first post time of 6 p.m.-Central.

Remington Park has provided more than $399 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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