JAXON TRAVELER WINS SATURDAY TO GIVE STEVE ASMUSSEN HIS SECOND REIMINGTON PARK FEATURE WIN IN AS MANY NIGHTS

Steve Asmussen, the eighteen-time training titleholder at Remington Park, has dominated the feature races here the first two nights of the season. Saturday, Jaxon Traveler picked up the victory in a stakes-caliber open allowance race.

It was the second night in a row that last year’s leading rider Stewart Elliott has gotten the job done for Asmussen, winning the $100,000 Governor’s Cup last night with Unload. Elliott had a three wins Saturday night.

It was the 10th time Jaxon Traveler has made a trip to the winner’s circle and the 6-year-old horse by Munnings (Speightstown), out of the After Market mare Listen Boy, held on for the victory against a classy bunch. Jaxon Traveler’s last race prior to this might have been even more impressive as he was the runner-up by three-quarters of a length in the $100,000 Iowa Sprint Stakes at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Ia., to a sprinter that is raising some eyebrows in the Midwest – Necker Island. That horse is a possibility for the $100,000 David M. Vance Sprint on Sunday, Sept. 29 at Remington Park, according to his connections. He is trained by Chris Hartman, whose brother Alex, has a string of horses at Remington Park.

The Vance could very well be a rematch of the Iowa Sprint when Jaxon Traveler gave Necker Island all he wanted. Necker Island, a 4-year-old Hard Spun horse, out of the Mr. Greeley mare Jenny’s Rocket has won 10-of-42 starts lifetime for $1,172,633 in earnings. Jaxon Traveler earned $23,949 from the $40,000 allowance purse Saturday night and improved his record to 32-10-8-5, inching ever closer to the $1 million bankroll. He now has earned $957,798 for owner West Point Thoroughbreds of Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Jaxon Traveler was bred in Maryland by Dr. and Mrs. Leonard Pineau.

The five-furlongs race was hand-time in a swift :57.9.

Jaxon Traveler, the 8-5 second wagering favorite, eventually pulled away from this bunch to win by two full lengths. He finished ahead of runner-up and post-time even-money favorite Tape to Tape who has been a winner in 10-of-35 starts and has earned more than $400,000 in his career. Tape to Tape ran 3-1/4 lengths ahead of third-place finisher American Xperiment, (15-1 longest shot in the field) another from Asmussen’s barn.

Jaxon Traveler paid $5.20 to win, $2.80 to place, and $2.20 to show. Elliott’s other two winners came in the fourth race with Northvale Road ($11.40 winner) for trainer J.R. Caldwell, and the 10th race of the night with Stayed in for Half ($18.80 winner), also for Asmussen.

Jockey Sofia Barandela also had a big night with a riding double, winning aboard Fella’s Sister ($13.20 winner) in the second for trainer Mindy Willis, and Empire’s Best ($33 winner) in the fifth race for Caldwell.

Media Mogul, a half-brother to last year’s Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes winner Arcangelo, also showed his bloodlines run true tonight, winning the eighth race among allowance company for his second win in 10 tries. He also has five seconds and two thirds to bank a total of $146,694.

Media Mogul, a 5-year-old horse by Empire Maker (Unbridled), out of the Tapit mare Modeling, has the same dam as Arcangelo, who earned $1.7 million, going four-for-six in his career, also winning the Peter Pan Stakes. Media Mogul is trained by Boyd “Jobe” Caster for owner Judy Pryor and was ridden to victory by Floyd Wethey, Jr.

Remington Park racing continues next week, Aug. 22-24 with a Thursday-Saturday schedule. The first post time nightly is 6:30 p.m.-Central.

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 Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby takes place on Sunday, Sept. 29. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.

-30-