JOCKEY RICHARD ERAMIA WINS OKLAHOMA CLASSICS JUVENILE FOR SECOND YEAR IN ROW, THIS TIME ON NUMBER ONE DUDE
Jockey Richard Eramia had his picture taken in the winner’s circle for the second year in a row in the $100,000 Oklahoma Classics Juvenile on Friday night at Remington Park, and this year it was by happenstance.
Last year he was aboard Rowdy Yates to get his first Juvenile win on a night designated for the best Oklahoma-breds in training. Friday night, he picked up the mount on the 2-5 wagering favorite, One Favorite Dude, when Ezequiel Lara couldn’t physically go. Lara was hurt in a training incident a week ago and had not recovered in time for the Oklahoma Classics program. It was Eramia’s third victory in this race, having also brought home Picaso for victory in 2007.
Trainer Kari Craddock called on Eramia to replace Lara on Friday and he got Number One Dude to the wire first, but it wasn’t easy. Number One Dude, a 2-year-old gelding by American Lion, out of the Macho Uno mare Ebony Uno, had the lead after a half-mile of this six-furlong sprint and began fading to third down the stretch. Eramia got busy on the rail and regained the lead in the late going and persevered for the win by one length. Sweet Baker was second, another neck in front of third-place finisher J B’s Legacy.
Number One Dude, bred in Oklahoma by the owner Terry Westemeir of Broken Arrow, Okla., earned $60,000 for the victory and stayed undefeated after two starts. He broke his maiden at Remington Park on Sept. 18 by 7-1/2 lengths. On Friday, he was sent off as the prohibitive favorite and returned $2.80 to win, $2.10 to place and $2.10 to show. He has now earned $81,082. Not a bad start to his young career after two tries.
Number One Dude set the pace early with fractions of :22.21 for a quarter-mile, :45.48 for the half-mile, and :58.24 for five furlongs. It was Craddock’s seventh Classics win overall, tying her with Kenny Nolen, a mark she would increase to eight wins in the very next race on the night. The next trainer in standings sight for her is Steve Hobby with 10 overall Classics wins.
Remington Park racing continues Saturday night with nine races underway at 7:07pm-Central.
Tracked by more than 164,000 fans on Facebook and 10,500 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $250 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 features the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, simulcast from Keeneland, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 6 & 7. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
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