JACKMAN’S RIDE LEADS THROUGHOUT TO WIN INAUGURAL $250,000 GREAT WEST TURF SPRINT
Jackman’s Ride carried the local flag of Remington Park in Sunday’s inaugural $250,000 Great West Turf Sprint Stakes and when he was finished in the five furlongs race, he proudly planted that flag in the winner’s circle.
Jackman’s Ride may be an 8-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding, but he didn’t appear he has lost a single step in covering the distance in gate-to-wire fashion with jockey Rene Diaz in the irons. Despite the fact the son of Maclean’s Music, out of the Lil E. Tee mare Heart Tee, had won 10 times at this short distance coming into the race, the betting public practically ignored him at the windows at 13-1 odds. Make it 11 wins at the distance now in 27 tries. Those who chose to back him with their wagers were rewarded with $28.60 to win, $13.60 to place and $8 to show.
This was a race for the serious veterans in the 12-horse field. Jackman’s Ride, trained by J.R. Caldwell, was tied for the oldest at 8, along with Bad Beat Brian, who rallied enough to run third. Breaking up the black-and-white movie and denture party in second was Eakly at 5 years old and at 10-1 odds. That made for a nice $2 exacta payoff of $220. Bad Beat Brian (44-1) made it an even tastier 50-cent trifecta. That returned $765.60 to the lucky winners who had that (4-5-1) combination.
“I don’t know if I’m any good at anything,” Caldwell said when told he was good at getting this old horse ready. “The horses just make me look good.”
This is one of the top claims owners Wanda and Steve Dupy of Enid, Okla., have made.
“He has won 12 times for us since we claimed him at Sam Houston Race Park (February 2023) for $15,000,” Steve said.
Diaz said he loves to get on Jackman’s Ride.
“He’s not hard to ride,” Diaz said. “Mr. Caldwell just tells me, ‘Go as fast as you can as far as you can.”
On Sunday, Jackman’s Ride went fast in :55.52 over the firm course, and was in front for the entirety of the five furlongs. He set interior fractions of :21.29 for the first quarter-mile and :43.76 for the half-mile. He won by a length over Eakly, who was a neck in front of Bad Beat Brian. The rest of the order of finish was a dead-heat for fourth with Dark Afternoon (7-2) and Usually Wrong (6-5 wagering favorite), followed by Incanto (IRE, 9-1) sixth, High Front (17-1) seventh, Mister Mmmmm (12-1) eighth, Big Chopper (103-1) ninth, Ruggs (204-1) 10th, Let’s Go Mark (27-1) 11th and Mo Stash (7-1) 12th.
Jackman’s Ride earned $150,000 for his walk to the winner’s circle, exactly 10 times what the Dupys claimed him for in Texas. He improved his record to 41 starts, 14 wins, eight seconds and five thirds for $511,633 in his bankroll. He was bred by Jim Plemmons.
Remington Park racing moves into October with a four-date race week, Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 2-5. The first race nightly is at 6pm. Sunday racing on Oct. 5 begins at 2pm. All times are Central.
Remington Park has provided more than $390 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 Oklahoma Classics Night of stakes racing for top Oklahoma-breds is Friday, Oct. 17. The Thoroughbred Season continues through Dec. 20. 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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