JOCKEY DAVID CABRERA WIDENS REMINGTON PARK RIDING LEAD WITH THREE WINS, ASMUSSEN ALSO IMPROVES ATOP TRAINER STANDINGS
David Cabrera and Steve Asmussen widened their leads in the jockey and trainer standings on Friday night at Remington Park, and they are opening up by daylight again.
Meanwhile, the owner’s race is as tight as an angry fist. Asmussen moved into a three-way tie with Bryan Hawk of Shawnee, Okla., and all-time winningest owner here, Danny Caldwell of Poteau, Okla. Both Asmussen and Hawk won races Friday night, giving them six for the meet, tying them with Caldwell at the top. Cimarron TTT Farms and End Zone Athletics, Inc., are locked in at fourth with four wins apiece.
Asmussen’s Friday winner was Eutychia with Cabrera in the saddle in the first race. Hawk scored with Drifting West in the featured allowance race, the eighth. It was the 4-year-old gelding’s second win of the meet in as many tries. Drifting West raced in the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby last year and seems to have found his class level in 2020. He was ridden to victory by Vazquez.
Caldwell has won more races as an owner at Remington Park than any other in track history with 349.
Cabrera’s riding triple on Friday gave him 35 for the meet and a 12-win margin over second-place Vazquez. The latter won two Friday night and stands at 23 victories, one ahead of third-place Lane Luzzi at 22. Veteran rider Stewart Elliott is in fourth with 17 wins. Rounding out the top five is Richard Eramia at 13. Cabrera has easily won the last two riding titles at Remington Park.
Cabrera looked like he might ride the card, winning the first two races, taking both halves of the early Daily Double aboard Asmussen-trained steeds. Cabrera’s win in the second race came aboard first-time starter Modifier, who was very impressive, drawing off by 3-3/4 lengths in a 7-1/2 furlong tuff event.
Cabrera then had the lead in the stretch of the third race by three lengths aboard LG Sheza Randomcat before running second. The track’s perennial leading rider’s final win of the night came in the seventh race with Wolowitz at 6-1 odds.
Cabrera’s two wins on Asmussen runners gave the track’s all-time winningest trainer 22 wins for this meet, 11 ahead of second-place Bret Calhoun, who has made 11 trips to the winner’s circle. In third is Robertino Diodoro at 10 wins. Then, in a tie for fourth, Scott Young, Austin Gustafson and Joe Offolter with nine each.
Asmussen is going for his fourth consecutive training title here and 16th overall. Only Karl Broberg has kept Asmussen from winning the last 13 in a row. Still, the Arlington, Texas, resident has won 12 of the last 13. Broberg’s training title came in 2015.
Asmussen, who became only the second trainer in North American history to win 9,000 races, when he won with Troy Ounce on Sept. 18 at Remington Park, has increased his record number of wins at this Oklahoma City track to 1,073.
Remington Park racing continues Saturday night with nine races on tap, starting at 7:07pm-Central.
Tracked by more than 164,000 fans on Facebook and 10,500 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $248 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 is open daily for casino gaming and simulcast horse racing. The 2020 Thoroughbred Season continues through Dec. 20, including the million-dollar night of stakes racing for state-breds on Friday, Oct. 16, Oklahoma Classics Night. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
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