JOCKEY DANIEL TORRES SCORES RIDING TRIPLE, TAKING FEATURED ALLOWANCE RACE ABOARD BIG LEW LOVE

No jockey has been hotter this week at Remington Park than Daniel Torres, who scored a riding triple on Friday night after bringing home an 18-1 longshot on Thursday. He won the featured allowance race around the hook in the irons of Big Lew Love tonight for that third win.

Torres’ week started Thursday night when he surprised with the longshot first-time starter Bernindaylite for trainer Fernando Manriquez in the second. On Friday night, Torres was a winner in the first race with a maiden Paint named Firstapolliticaljese (3-1) for trainer-owner Luz Chavira. Then in the third with another maiden, this one an American Quarter Horse, Executive Train (5-2) for trainer Fernando Manriquez. Torres then concluded his night to win an open allowance race at 870 yards aboard Big Lew Love.

Remington Park’s 12-time title-holding trainer Eddie Willis, sent Big Lew Love around a turn for the first time in his career on Friday night, after he had won at 550 yards under jockey Jimmy Brooks in his last start April 19. Brooks doesn’t normally ride in 870-yard races, so Willis was wise enough to install Torres for the duties.

It was quite the task for Big Lew Love to defeat a few horses that had already proven themselves at the distance – Rock Ya Later (7-5 wagering favorite), Katch This Eagle (3-1) and Kool Man Kenny (7-2). Those three opponents had combined to win eight times at 870 yards. Didn’t matter to the winner, a 4-year-old horse by Big Lew, out of the First Down Dash mare Lotta Love for Robyn. It doesn’t hurt that your owner, Reliance Ranches, lead the owners’ standings this meet. Everything from that ranch has been winning like a good thing. It was their ninth trip to the winner’s circle this season. They lead the owner standings by one win over Dunn Ranch of Wynnewood, Okla., 9-8.

Torres took Big Lew Love straight to the lead and the only question was whether the newbie hook horse would make that left-hand turn. He did it like a pro under the guidance of Torres and outlasted his pursuers by a half-length. Big Lew Love won in a time of :45.568 for the 870 yards for a speed index of 93 over the fast track. He was sent off as the 4-1 fourth choice in the betting in the field of seven horses. R U Freal was an early scratch from the race.

Big Lew Love paid $10 to win, $5.80 to place and $3.40 to show. It was his third win at Remington Park in eight Oklahoma City starts. At this track, he is 8-3-1-1 for $60,615 earned here.

Big Lew Love earned $21,042 for the victory from the $35,000 purse and improved his career mark to 18 starts, three wins, two seconds and one third for a bankroll of $70,053. He is a home-bred for Reliance Ranches of Guthrie, Okla.

Checking in second in the race was the huge 46-1 longshot Oro Cartel, who had never won in six tries around a turn, but when you put leading rider Roman Cruz into the saddle, magical things happen. That one paid $42 to place and $10.60 to show. Rock Ya Later, who had won two of his last four, could only manage to close to third, another half-length behind. Katch this Eagle was fourth and Kool Man Kenny fifth.

Remington Park racing continues Saturday with a special post time of Noon as the action precedes the simulcast of the Preakness Stakes. Mystik Dan will attempt to win the Preakness, the second leg of the Triple Crown, after he won the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago. The Preakness Stakes simulcast is set for 6pm. All times are Central.
Remington Park has provided more than $349 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 Remington Park 2024 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season continues through June 1 with the biggest racing program of the season. The Champions Night boasts total purses in excess of $2,000,000, led by the $1,000,000 Heritage Place Futurity. Parking and admission are always free. 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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