HOLY STORM HOLDS OFF TWO OTHERS IN THREE-HORSE PHOTO TO WIN FEATURED 870-YARD RACE AT REMINGTON PARK

Three hard-knocking turn horses hooked up in the stretch of the featured 870-yard race Friday night at Remington Park and when the smoke cleared, Holy Storm came out on top in a tight photo for first, second and third.

After the race, the jockeys were looking at each other to see if they knew the outcome. It was that much of a blanket finish. Mister Cabo (2-1 odds) set the pace and just when it seemed like he would go gate to wire, jockey Justine Klaiber got just a little more out of Holy Storm. That hook specialist, in his 35th lifetime start at 870 yards, stuck his neck out at the finish line and he was in front of Mister Cabo by a neck. Mister Cabo was another neck ahead of third-place finisher Cold Brewster (7-1).

Holy Storm, a 7-year-old gelded son of Red Storm Cat, out of the Polished Brass (TB) mare Holy White Socks (TB), won for the seventh time in his career in those 35 hook tries. He was sent off as the 7-5 favorite by the betting public and paid $4.80 to win, $4 to place and $2.40 to show. Klaiber won the race for trainer Patrick Swan and owner Daniel Kjorsvik of St. Louis Park, Minn. The gelding won $8,838 from the $18,475 purse and improved his career record to 54 starts, nine wins, 12 seconds and nine thirds for $200,813 in his bankroll.

Running time for the winner was :45.959 for a speed index of 89 over a fast track.

It was Holy Storm’s fifth win at Remington Park in 19 races here and he has earned $79,848 at Remington Park. In fact, the last time he had made a trip to the winner’s circle was last year in Oklahoma City. Holy Storm came out of a fourth-place run in the $50,000 Pauls Valley Stakes at 870 on March 31, 2022 and dropped back into an optional $35,000 claiming race a couple weeks later on April 15. He won that race by three-quarters of a length under jockey Roman Cruz and a little more than a year later, he was having his picture taken for a win again at Remington Park. Five of his nine wins have come here.

Holy Storm was bred in Minnesota by his owner.

Racing continues Saturday on Kentucky Derby Day with a first post time of noon. Races will alternate with those at Churchill Downs in Louisville. The Kentucky Derby will run as the 12th race on the Churchill card.

Tracked by more than 175,000 fans on Facebook and 10,700 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $320 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 features the 2023 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa season through June 3. Remington Park presents simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.