JOCKEY STEWART ELLIOTT MOVES ONE WIN CLOSER TO 6,000-MILESTONE WITH ESSENTIAL COFFEE SCORING ON OPENING NIGHT AT REMINGTON PARK

For Immediate Release
Friday, August 21, 2026

Jockey Stewart Elliott took another step up the ladder toward the milestone of 6,000 victories in his career, winning for the 5,993rd time on Friday, Aug. 21, opening night for the Remington Park Thoroughbred Season.

Elliott used a late-as-possible run with Essential Coffee, bursting from the back of the pack down the stretch and splitting horses to get up for the win for trainer Steve Asmussen in the eighth race, for 3-year-old fillies.

The Elliott march to 6,000 has become something of a battle with jockey Javier Castellano, currently riding at Saratoga. Castellano, a national hall of fame jockey, has made it to the winner’s circle 5,995 times. Both jockeys are trying to become the 22nd North American jockey to reach the mark in their riding careers. Elliott is a regular rider for the Asmussen barn at Remington Park.

Russell Baze is the all-time leading rider by wins with 12,842 in his career, mostly on the West Coast. The last jockey to hit the 6,000 mark was Deshawn Parker, who is also currently riding at Remington Park. Parker has 6,381 victories and sits in 17th place all-time. Elliott and Castellano are chasing John Longden in 21st, who retired at 6,032. Filling out the top 10 are Laffit Pincay, Jr. (9,530); Bill Shoemaker (8,833); Pat Day (8,803); Perry Ouzts (7,539); David Gall (7,396); Chris McCarron (7,141); Edgar Prado (7,119); Angel Cordero, Jr. (7,057) and Mario Pino (7,001).

Parker is only three wins shy of catching Eddie Delahoussaye in 16th at 6,384. Parker won the final race on the card Friday night, cruising home from off the pace in the only turf race of the night aboard Let’s Go Mark. The win came for trainer Danny Pish.

On Saturday night, Elliott has six mounts, riding five for Asmussen, the all-time winningest trainer in North American horse racing history, and one for Mindy Willis. He rides in the first, third, fifth, ninth, 10th and 11th on the 11-race card that begins at 7:15pm-Central.

Elliott’s sole victory on Friday was by 1-1/4 lengths in a six-furlongs sprint in the largest field of the night with 12 horses. Essential Coffee, a daughter of Nyquist, from the Malibu Moon mare Winding Way, covered the distance in 1:12.76 over the fast track. The filly is owned by J. Kirk and Judy Robison of El Paso, Texas. She improved her record to nine starts, two wins, one second and one third. Essential Coffee earned $22,938 from the $39,000 allowance purse and has banked a total of $134,170. She was bred by her owners.

Essential Coffee was followed past the finish line by runner-up Harvey’s Finnish (33-1) and Lady Belle (40-1). Even with a solid 3-2 favorite winning, the 50-cent trifecta returned $546.60 and the 10-cent superfecta with Private Debbie (10-1) fourth was worth $1,487.66. That was one of three wagers on the night that paid more than $1,000 to their backers. Both Pick 5s, early and late, returned more than $1,000.

The second night of the Remington Park season on Saturday begins at 7:15pm-Central.

Remington Park has provided more than $422 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. The 2026 Oklahoma Derby is set for Sunday, Sept. 27 at Remington Park. Remington Park presents year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. Guests must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or to enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.

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