LA FANTASTICA WINS DECISIVELY AGAINST THREE-TIME REMINGTON PARK HORSE OF MEET MISS CODE WEST

For Immediate Release
Saturday, August 22, 2026

One might think when a three-time Remington Park Horse of the Meet, Miss Code West, loses a race on her home course, it would be an upset, but La Fantastica won the allowance feature Saturday night as the 3-5 wagering favorite.

Miss Code West, who was voted Horse of the Meet in 2023-2025 to tie Welder’s record of three in a row, broke slowly from the gate in the 10th race feature. La Fantastica and veteran rider Stewart Elliott took advantage and never let the champion Oklahoma-bred back in the race. La Fantastica, trained by the Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, a 20-time top conditioner at Remington Park, drew away from the field in the stretch to win easily by 4-1/4 lengths in the one-mile open allowance on the turf course.

It was Elliott’s 5,994th career victory as he continued his march toward 6,000. He and Saratoga jockey Javier Castellano are chasing the milestone together. Castellano is only two wins away at 5,998 after winning once Saturday in upstate New York.

It was only Miss Code West’s second time to lose a race on the grass in six starts greensward. She finished fourth Saturday in a tight finish with 53-1 longshot Our Davina nosing her out for third. Sky Rocker (8-1) checked in second behind La Fantastica.

La Fantastica, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Volatile, out of the Pioneerof the Nile mare Sophia Mia, won her fourth race in her last five starts, all four of those victories coming at one mile on the lawn. Those wins came here, at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, and at Sam Houston Race Park (twice).

La Fantastica, owned by Benjamin Gase of Dallas, Texas, earned $26,136 from the $44,000 purse and improved her lifetime record to 17 starts, four wins, four seconds and two thirds for a bankroll of $219,965. She was bred by Caperlane Farm and was purchased for $140,000 from the Keeneland September Yearling Sale of 2023. She also boosted her record on the turf to four wins from eight starts. Her only loss in those last five starts was a runner-up finish in the Wasted Tears Stakes at Lone Star on June 27, losing by 1-3/4 lengths to Sweet Rebecca.

Miss Code West, a 5-year-old Oklahoma-bred mare by Code West, out of the Kipling mare Inca Miss, is owned by Jeffry and Julie Puryear of Denton, Texas, and is trained by Kevin Scholl. She was ridden by regular rider Floyd Wethey, Jr. Since this was an allowance loss, Miss Code West’s streak of winning seven stakes races in a row continues. Her last loss in black-type company came in the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks on Sept. 29, 2024.

La Fantastica paid $3.40 to win, $2.60 to place and $2.40 to show. She covered the distance on the turf in 1:35.53.

It was also a big night for returning top rider Ramon Vazquez, who made it to the winner’s circle three times. He has won the Remington Park riding title six times, well behind Cliff Berry’s record of 15 titles. On Saturday, Vazquez was victorious in three races, winning the seventh race aboard the favorite, Mare’s Music ($2.80 to win), for trainer Austin Gustafson; the ninth race in the saddle of favorite, Doublecents ($4.20), for trainer Brett Creighton, and the 11th and final race of the night in the irons of favorite, Youramystyle ($4.20), for trainer Abel Ramirez-Rodriguez. Those three wins put him into a tie for the lead after opening weekend with Jose Alvarez.

Remington Park racing continues next week with a Thursday-Saturday schedule, Aug. 27-29. The first race nightly is at 6:30pm-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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