KEEPMEINMIND, SECOND TO ESSENTIAL QUALITY IN JIM DANDY STAKES, AND ARKANSAS DERBY WINNER SUPER STOCK BOTH NOMINATED FOR OKLAHOMA DERBY

Keepmeinmind, a 3-year-old that lost by a neck to Essential Quality in the Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga this summer, has been nominated to the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby, scheduled for Sept. 26 at Remington Park.

Trainer Robertino Diodoro nominated Keepmeinmind to the Oklahoma Derby for owners Cypress Creek Equine, Arnold Bennewith and Spendthrift Farm. Leading trainer in the country, Steve Asmussen, has nominated four 3-year-olds to the 1-1/8th mile race. Among Asmussen’s four is Super Stock, winner of the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby and the $200,000 Ellis Park Derby. Dallas Stewart also nominated four. Stewart made a name for himself with second-place finisher Golden Soul in the Kentucky Derby to Orb. He had already built a reputation coming up under National Racing Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas. Lukas put him in charge of such legendary horses as Lady’s Secret, Thunder Gulch, Tabasco Cat, Serena’s Song and Timber Country.

Asmussen is currently No. 1 in the country for earnings with his horses pocketing $22,314,211 so far this year. Brad Cox, who is second-leading trainer on that list with $21,377,903 in earnings, nominated two horses to the Oklahoma Derby.

Here’s a closer look at some of the top noms for the Derby, one of two Remington Park cornerstone races during the thoroughbred meeting (bred in Kentucky unless otherwise noted):

Keepmeinmind, a son of Laoban, out of the Victory Gallop mare Inclination, oddly enough is still eligible for non-winners of two career race allowance events despite nearly beating arguably the top 3-year-old in the country, Essential Quality in the Jim Dandy. Essential Quality has won eight of nine races lifetime, losing only once, as the 5-2 favorite in the Kentucky Derby in May. Keepmeinmind came back after the Jim Dandy and ran a respectable fourth in the top 3-year-old summer race, the Grade 1 Travers Stakes, a $1.25 million race at Saratoga in upstate New York. This colt broke his maiden in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs as a 2-year-old. Record – 11 starts, one win, three seconds and two thirds for $739,987 in his bankroll.

Super Stock, winner of Arkansas Derby and Ellis Park Derby this year, is a son of Dialed In, out of the Closing Argument mare Super Girlie, is the top prospect from Asmussen for owners Erv Woolsey and Keith Asmussen. He won at Oaklawn Park in its top race on April 10 and then went off form before getting back to the winner’s circle in the Ellis Park Derby on Aug. 15. Record – 12 starts, three wins, two seconds and two thirds for $957,677.

Fulsome, a colt by the top sire in the country, Into Mischief, out of the Distorted Humor mare Flourish, could be sent to the Derby by Cox for Juddmonte Farms. He has won four of his last five starts, including the Grade 3, $300,000 Smarty Jones Stakes at Parx in Philadelphia. He also won the Grade 3, $150,000 Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs. Record – nine starts, five wins, one second and one third for $582,024 in earnings.

Mr. Wireless, a gelding by Dialed In, out of the Arch mare Voussoir, is from trainer Bret Calhoun’s barn and runs for owner JIL Stable. He has won four of his last five starts, including two Grade 3 races – the $500,000 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park and the $300,000 Indiana Derby at Indiana Grand. Record – six starts, four wins, one second and no thirds for $670,150 in earnings.

King Fury, a colt by Curlin, out of the Flatter mare Taris, resides in trainer Kenny McPeek’s barn. He is owned by Three Chimneys Farm and Fern Circle Stables. He has a win in the Grade 3, $200,000 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland in April and then ran second in the Grade 3, $500,000 Ohio Derby in June. Record – nine starts, three wins and one second for $412,739 in earnings.

Will’s Secret, a Stewart filly that has earned some big bucks in 2021. This daughter of Will Take Charge, out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Girls Secret, began the year by winning the $200,000 Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn for owner Willis Horton Racing. She followed that with a victory in the Grade 3, $300,000 Honeybee Stakes, also in Arkansas. She also has run in the biggest race of the year for 3-year-old fillies in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks. She finished third behind the top 3-year-old filly in the country – Malathaat. It was the second third-place finish for her behind that monster, also losing in the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes. Record – 10 starts, three wins and four thirds for $536,300 in earnings.

The Oklahoma Derby headlines a big stakes afternoon on the only Sunday scheduled during the Remington Park season. Also on the agenda:
Grade 3, $200,000 Remington Park Oaks
$150,000 David M. Vance Stakes
$100,000 Remington Green Stakes
$75,000 Ricks Memorial Stakes
$75,000 Kip Deville Stakes
$50,000 Flashy Lady Stakes
$50,000 E. L. Gaylord Memorial Stakes

Racing continues Wednesday-Saturday, Sept. 15-18, with the first race nightly at 7:07pm-Central.

Tracked by more than 167,000 fans on Facebook and 10,400 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $269 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 live and simulcast horse racing, and the casino is always open! The Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby and Grade 3 Remington Park Oaks will take place on Sunday, Sept. 26. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.

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