LEADING RIDER STEWART ELLIOTT BAGS HIS 300TH WIN AT REMINGTON PARK
After moving his tack to Remington Park in 2019, jockey Stewart Elliott won for the first time here On Aug. 23 that year. He brought home Fast Breakin Cash for owner-trainer C.R. Trout.
On Saturday night, in his fifth year of riding at Remington Park on a full-time basis, Elliott won his 300th race at Remington Park when he booted home Grace’s Hank in the fourth race for trainer Steve Asmussen. Asmussen, the 17-time top trainer at Remington Park and the winningest conditioner in North American history, uses Elliott as his first-call rider here.
Elliott has had his share of success on the national stage as well, winning the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in the saddle of near Triple Crown winner Smarty Jones. He had the lead in the stretch of the Belmont Stakes with Smarty but was caught in the late going by Birdstone, ending his dream of riding a Triple Crown horse. A few years after the 2004 Derby, Elliott went back to see Smarty Jones when he was at Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, Ky., before they moved him to Pennsylvania.
Elliott thinks Smarty Jones recognized him even though it had been a few years since the Kentucky Derby.
“I did think (he recognized me),” Elliott said. “He tried to bite me; the son of a gun.”
Since he arrived at Remington Park, he has been a top five rider here every year and is well on his way to his first leading rider title here. After Saturday’s races, Elliott led the jockey standings with 49 wins. He is 22 wins ahead of second-place Floyd Wethey, Jr., who has 27. The top five is completed by Richard Eramia in third, 23, and Lindy Wade and Harry Hernandez tied for fourth, 22.
Here’s a look at some of the highlights of Elliott’s amazing meet this fall at Remington Park:
Sept. 24 – Wins the Grade 3 $400,000 Oklahoma Derby aboard 44-1 longshot How Did He Do That for Asmussen. The second and third-place horses in the Derby, Red Route One and Tumbarumba, were just noses back of the winner at the finish line. It was the second time this year that How Did He Do That won a Derby at 40-1 or higher. He also took the Iowa Breeders’ Derby at 48-1. He dead-heated with One in Vermillion.
Sept. 24 – Not only did Elliott win the Oklahoma Derby, but also won the Remington Green Stakes on the same night with Sunlit Song for trainer Mindy Willis and the Ricks Memorial Stakes with Medalla Match.
Oct. 20 – Won the Oklahoma Classics Distaff Turf Stakes aboard Run Slewpy Run for trainer Jayde Gelner. It was the second stakes win of the meet for that mare and Elliott. They also took the Bob Barry Memorial Stakes on Sept. 22.
Sept. 22 – He was a double stakes winner on this night, taking the Bob Barry with Run Slewpy Run and also the Red Earth Stakes with Tap the Dot for Asmussen. Elliott won five races that night, also making it to the winner’s circle with Kiss Upon a Star, Midnight Money and Cielo’s Knight.
Aug. 24 – Elliott and Asmussen combined for four wins on one card on this night.
After Saturday night’s races, Elliott’s career riding record is 35,036 starts; 5,600 wins; 4,801 seconds, and 4,399 thirds for horses’ earnings of $122,351,517. In 2023, he has had 672 starters, winning with 149 winners, 115 seconds and 85 thirds for a bankroll of $4,228,556, according to Equibase statistics.
Live racing continues next week with a Wednesday-Saturday schedule on tap. First post time nightly is 7:07 CDT.
Remington Park has provided more than $331 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 home to the Springboard Mile, a Kentucky Derby points-qualifying race, on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023. Remington Park presents simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. Parking and admission are always free. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
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