MISS CODE WEST STAYS UNDEFEATED IN WINNING THE TRAPEZE STAKES AT REMINGTON PARK
Miss Code West came into Friday’s $75,000 Trapeze Stakes at Remington Park, undefeated in three previous races, two of them stakes events against Oklahoma-breds. She handled her first stakes test against open-company rivals by pulling away to an impressive 6-3/4 lengths win.
The Trapeze is Remington Park’s top open company stakes event for 2-year-old fillies.
Owned by Jeffry Puryear and Julie Puryear of Denton, Texas, Miss Code West is trained by Kevin Scholl and was ridden once again by Floyd Wethey, Jr. The talented 2-year-old filly was sent to the lead from the start and had company up front through the first six furlongs of the one-mile Trapeze from Tx Women for Arts who tried to keep the pressure on the Oklahoma-bred.
Once she left the second turn, Miss Code West showed a kick that was unmatched, drawing off down the stretch to score easily as Wethey throttled her run down over the final strides. She crossed the finish in 1:39.13 over the muddy track.
“She’s just coming into herself,” noted trainer Scholl. “She came to me last spring, I liked her looks and all but the first time she ran, I didn’t know what to expect. I was hoping she could win (tonight).”
Hope will be growing to unbridled confidence the way Miss Code West has developed. She broke her maiden on Oct. 5 at five furlongs, winning by 1-1/4 lengths. Her next start was a win in the Oklahoma Classics Lassie by two lengths. She made her first start at one mile a winning one in the Slide Show Stakes on Nov. 10, winning by 5-1/4. She extended that margin in her first effort outside of the state-bred ranks in the Trapeze.
A daughter of Code West from the Kipling mare Inca Miss, Scholl has become a believer in the bloodlines of Miss Code West. “I’m pretty fond of Code West right now.”
Miss Code West led throughout the Trapeze, handling a quarter-mile in :23.81; the half-mile in :48.31 and three quarters of a mile in 1:13.48.
Tx Women for Arts, the wagering favorite at even-money, held on to second as Miss Code West drew away. Magnolia Avenue (27-1) made a rally around the second turn to move into second but finished 9-1/4 lengths behind the winner. The remaining order had Gypsan (34-1) in fourth, Singsational (10-1) fifth, Krik Tak (38-1) sixth, Midnight Lady (70-1) seventh and Laurie’s Secret (7-1) eighth and last.
Miss Code West made $45,000 for her Trapeze victory to up her total earnings to $140,694. She was bred in Oklahoma by Bryan Hawk and purchased at the 2022 Texas Thoroughbred Association Yearling Sale for $12,000.
Scholl didn’t know about immediate future plans for the soon to be 3-year-old Miss Code West, noting discussions would take place with her owners. “I’m sure he’ll call. I’d like to give her some rest. If we take her anywhere it will probably be Oaklawn.”
This is the first victory in the Trapeze Stakes for all of the connections of Miss Code West.
Remington Park racing puts a bow on the 2023 Thoroughbred Season with a 12-race program underway on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 2:30pm-Central.
Remington Park has provided more than $340 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. 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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