MAZUMA PULLS UPSET IN FEATURED TURF RACE THURSDAY AT REMINGTON PARK
Mazuma and jockey Belen Quinonez raced against all odds to pull off the upset in Wednesday night’s featured turf race at Remington park, an Allowance-Optional Claiming $50,000 race at 9-1 odds.
Quinonez had gone 0-for-13 as a rider in turf races in 2024 and Mazuma had been beaten almost 10 lengths in his last race over the grass, but the two of them put it all together on this night and neither showed any fear, driving into a tight fit on the rail to win. Quinonez guided Mazuma between front-running pacesetter Toddchero and the rail in the late going of the 7-1/2 furlong race on the turf and had the best turn of foot at the end to draw away to the win.
Despite that poor performance on the lawn at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, on May 26 this year, running sixth, beaten 9-1/2 lengths, trainer Scott Young continued to show his faith in Mazuma in rolling greensward again. There was plenty of reason for Young not to give up on this 5-year-old gelded son of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Mazuma, out of the Galileo (IRE) mare Moth (IRE), had plenty of grass bloodlines and had previously won three times on the turf. Galileo banked $2.2 million-plus in his racing career and won some of the biggest races overseas on the grass, including the Epsom and Irish Derbies.
The last time Mazuma had made a trip to the winner’s circle in a turf race was almost a year ago on Oct. 21 at Remington Park when he won at 7-1/2 furlongs, same distance as tonight, as the even-money favorite against claiming $30,000 non-winners of three lifetime. It was that night last October that the new owner Family Stone Racing claimed him for $30,000. His three wins on the grass had come for Winchell Thoroughbreds, one of the nationally prominent owners of trainer Steve Asmussen, who had run him in that last turf win and his other two grass tries that proved to be victorious.
Mazuma’s other two wins greensward came on Aug. 13, 2023, at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., at one mile and breaking his maiden on March 26, 2023, at Fair Grounds in New Orleans.
Mazuma had won three races in a row earlier this year, at Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla., and Sam Houston Race Park in Texas, but none of those were on the grass. That was, perhaps, another reason he was ignored on this night.
Quinonez got him to the wire first by three-quarters of a length over the horse that had the lead virtually every step of the way except the final strides when it counted most – Toddchero (3-1). He held on for second, five lengths ahead of third-place winner Cottonwood, the 5-2 betting favorite for Asmussen.
Mazuma earned $21,447 from the $36,000 purse and improved lifetime to 20 starts, seven wins, two seconds and four thirds for $205,766 in earnings.
Toddchero had set early fractions of :24.64 for the first quarter-mile, :48.13 for the half-mile, and 1:12.69 for three-quarters of a mile before Mazuma stopped the timer in 1:30.95 over the firm going. He raced with a $50,000 claiming tag on his head as did several others in the race, but no one wanted to reach that deep into their pockets. Mazuma paid $20 to win, $8.40 to place and $5.60 to show. He was bred in Kentucky by Chelston and Wynatt Orpendale.
Remington Park racing continues Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 3-5, with the first race nightly at 6:30pm-Central.
Remington Park has provided more than $357 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 presents simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. The 2024 Thoroughbred Season continues through Dec. 13. The Oklahoma Classics Night of stakes racing for top Oklahoma-breds takes place on Friday, Oct. 18. 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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