HOLLY DOLLY BREAKS THROUGH FOR FIRST STAKES VICTORY, TAKING FLASHY LADY HANDICAP

Holly Dolly had never tried stakes company before Sunday, but she found it to her liking, winning the $50,000 Flashy Lady Handicap with her strong closing kick at Remington Park under jockey Iram Diego on Oklahoma Derby Day.

The 4-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Brody’s Cause, from the Arch mare Pinch Me, let her opponents battle on the front end and then pounced as she turned for home, passing both and drawing away for the victory. Trainer Ray Ashford had slowly brought Holly Dolly through her conditions and she had run first or second in seven-of-eight tries, showing more and more promise with each win.

Holly Dolly beat an allowance field of non-winners of three last time out at Remington Park on Sept. 4 by 5-1/4 lengths. It was obvious to Ashford it was time to give her a chance to take down a black-type listed stakes. The filly said no problem.

When Diego stomped on the gas at the top of the stretch, Holly Dolly responded and passed her competition like a Ferrari passing a Volkswagen bug. The filly, owned by Tom Durant of Grapevine, Texas, flew away from them to win by 5-1/2 lengths. She earned $30,000 for the trip to the winner’s circle and improved to nine starts, four wins and four seconds for a bankroll of $120,034. The filly was originally purchased for $120,000 in the Fasig-Tipton Fall Yearling Sale in 2021 and Durant then bought her for $250,000 from the Fasig-Tipton MidAtlantic 2-year-olds-in-training sale in 2022.

Holly Dolly, off as the 9-5 betting favorite in the race, paid $5.60 to win, $3.60 to place and $2.80 to show.

Holly Dolly covered the six furlongs in a winning time of 1:10.20 over the fast track after she cut into early fractions set by Palacein (4-1) and Closing Act (3-1) of :22.22 for the first quarter-mile, :45.19 for the half-mile, and :57.55 for five-eighths of a mile. Closing Act held on for second, another half-length in front of third-place finisher Perfect Wish (8-1). The rest of the order of finish was Cajun Ninja (5-2) fourth, Faith Alone (13-1) fifth, Magnolia Avenue (39-1) sixth and Palacein seventh.

Remington Park racing continues next week, returning to the regular Wednesday-Saturday schedule, Oct. 2-5, with first post time of 6:30 p.m. CDT nightly.

Remington Park has provided more than $357 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. The Oklahoma Classics Night of stakes racing for top Oklahoma-breds takes place on Friday, Oct. 18. 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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