MISS CODE WEST CHANGES TACTICS, GOES GATE TO WIRE TO WIN OKLAHOMA CLASSICS LASSIE
Miss Code West completely changed her running ways but remained undefeated after two starts by taking the $76,000 Oklahoma Classics Lassie on Friday night at Remington Park.
The Classics Lassie is for 2-year-old Oklahoma-bred fillies.
In her first race, jockey Floyd Wethey, Jr., put Miss Code West in eighth down the backstretch, 5-1/2 lengths back before firing like a rocket down the stretch to pull away and win by 1-1/4 lengths. On Friday night, Miss Code West went straight to the front and never looked back to win gate-to-wire in the Classics Lassie by two lengths. It was the fourth Classics win for Wethey. Owners Jeffry and Julie Puryear and trainer Kevin Scholl scored their first win ever in the Classics Lassie.
“She’s very smart,” said Scholl. “She’s done everything the way she’s supposed to.”
The one thing she did that Scholl didn’t expect was go to the front immediately out of the gate.
“I was surprised,” he said. “Didn’t expect that at all. I’m grateful. God is good.”
Wethey was among those with raised eyebrows when Miss Code West showed that early speed.
“Kevin and I talked and decided to let her play the break, do what she wanted, and she took to the front,” said Wethey. “The outcome was still the same. She’s just a Cadillac.”
Letta’s Legacy (5-1) pushed the winning filly down the stretch but could never find the gear to get past her.
“No, I wasn’t worried,” said Wethey. “She just kept on staying.”
Miss Code West was sent off as the 8-5 betting favorite in the race and paid $5.40 to win, $3.40 to place and $3 to show. The 2-year-old daughter of Code West, out of the Kipling mare Inca Miss, earned $45,600 for her first stakes victory and pushed her winnings to $65,694. She was bred in Oklahoma by Bryan Hawk.
The filly made every pole a winning one, finishing the six furlongs in a time of 1:12.92 over the fast track. Miss Code West set interior fractions of :21.99 for the first quarter-mile, :45.60 for the half-mile, and ;58.67 for five furlongs.
Remington Park racing continues Saturday night with first post time of 7:07pm-Central.
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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