JUST A IRISH LAD SKIMS RAIL FROM OFF PACE TO CATCH FRONT-RUNNING MISTER WAYSIDE IN FEATURED REMINGTON PARK

Just a Irish Lad made his fifth start on the main track at Remington Park the charm, taking the featured allowance race on Thursday night.

The 4-year-old gelded son of Paddy O’Prado, out of the Grand Slam mare I’m Cozy, skimmed the rail in closing fashion and collared the front-running Mister Wayside in deep stretch to win by 2-1/4 lengths in the 6-1/2 furlong sprint. Although the winner was taking his first trip to the winner’s circle after a race on the main track, he had won on Remington Park’s turf course this meet. On Sept. 29, he won a one-mile first-level allowance race over the grass.

Jockey Stewart Elliott might have had an inkling he was on the right horse as he rode Mister Wayside, the runner-up, to a second-place finish in his last start, but took the mount on Just a Irish Lad instead in the race tonight. The big gray gelding came flying up the rail late under Elliott after lingering in fifth most of the way. The public sent the winner off at 4-1 odds and he paid $10 to win, $3.80 to place, and $2.40 to show. Mister Wayside was the 6-5 second wagering favorite and Yankee Indian was bet down to 6-5 also and had a few more dollars bet on him to win, making him the favorite. Yankee Indian ran third, three lengths behind the winner.

Running time for the 6-1/2 furlongs was 1:17.90 over the fast track. Mister Wayside set interior fractions of :22.93 for the first quarter-mile, ;46.13 for the half, and 1:11.67 for three-quarters of a mile.

Just a Irish Lad, bred in Oklahoma by Al Horton, earned $25,813 from the purse of $44,468 and improved his record to 14 starts, four wins and three thirds for a lifetime bankroll of $92,226 for owner Dean Hughes of Carmen, Okla. Trainer Kenny Nolen conditions this one.

The final week of live racing continues on Friday and Saturday. First post time is 7:07 p.m. on Friday and 5 p.m. on the final night of the season on Saturday, featuring the $400,000 Springboard Mile.

Tracked by more than 172,000 fans on Facebook and 10,700 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $311 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 features the $400,000 Springboard Mile, our top 2-year-old race on the final night of the season on Saturday, December 17. Remington Park also presents simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.

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