MISTER OMAHA HANGS ON BY NECK FOR WIN IN JIM THORPE STAKES AS 1-9 HEAVY FAVORITE AT REMINGTON PARK

Mister Omaha continued to stamp his ticket at Remington Park as one of the top Oklahoma-breds racing here with his win as the 1-9 heavy favorite in the $50,000 Jim Thorpe Stakes on Saturday night.

It appeared the 3-year-old colt by Omaha Beach, out of the Into Mischief mare Cosmic Code, would cruise to an easy win as jockey Luis Quinonez had him in front by five lengths down the backstretch and held that daylight lead to the top of the stretch. It was at that point that closer Classy Empire (14-1) began to pick up ground on the leader.

With each stride, jockey Weston Hamilton and Classy Empire cut into the lead and was going to give Mister Omaha a run for his money. As they came to the finish together, after the huge lead had melted away like a snowman on a sunny day, Quinonez watched patiently as Classy Empire cut into Mister Omaha’s lead. The second all-time winningest rider at Remington Park sat chilly on the winner, glancing at the Super Screen in the infield and over his shoulder a couple of times in deep stretch, but never touched Mister Omaha near the wire. Quinonez timed it perfectly for the win by a neck, with ice in his veins.

After all, Quinonez knows how to win the Jim Thorpe Stakes, an event for 3-year-old Oklahoma-breds. This was the third victory in the event as he was aboard Z Rockstar in 2012 for Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame trainer Donnie Von Hemel. He also won with Hallelujah Hit for another Hall of Famer, trainer C.R. Trout in 2017. It was the first victory in the Jim Thorpe for Mister Omaha’s owner Bryan Hawk of Shawnee, Okla., and yet another Hall of Famer, trainer Joe Offolter.

Quinonez went straight to the lead with Mister Omaha in the one-mile race and was so far in front it seemed he would repeat the effort he showed here in the $175,000 Oklahoma Classics Cup. That October night Mister Omaha destroyed his foes to wins by 9-3/4 lengths. That would not happen, however in the Jim Thorpe.

Mister Omaha and Classy Empire finished 17-1/2 lengths in front of third-place finisher Work Zone (44-1). Huge amounts of money were bet to show on Mister Omaha, causing a $2.10 payoff on him and Classy Empire. Work Zone, however, had such a small amount of money on him to show that he returned $10.40 to his backers.

This was Mister Omaha’s seventh win in 14 lifetime tries and his fifth win in eight races on Remington Park’s main track. He earned $30,000 for Hawk, who won his second top owner title in the past two years, and he has called this horse “probably the best horse in the barn,” and that barn includes a few top horses at Remington Park. This was Hawk’s 26th win of the meet as he ran away with top owner title.

Mister Omaha improved his record to 14 starts, seven wins, one second and a pair of thirds for career for earnings of $385,993. He is a home-bred for his owner.

Mister Omaha hit every pole in front, setting interior fractions of :23.65 for the first quarter-mile, :47.25 for the half-mile, 1:11.72 for six furlongs and 1:24.48 for seven furlongs. His final time was 1:37.89 on the fast track. That was so impressive compared to the stakes winner in the previous race – the Useeit. Imamidnightspecial won that race at the same distance in 1:40.74.

Mister Omaha paid $2.10 to win, place and show. Classy Empire returned $3 to place and $2.10 to show.

The rest of the order of finish past the top three was Sutter Bug (43-1) in fourth, Code Nate (10-1) fifth and Out to Party (19-1) sixth.

The Jim Thorpe Stakes is named after the Sac and Fox native who was considered the greatest athlete of the 20th century, after winning multiple Olympic gold medals and also playing professional football, baseball and basketball.

Remington Park has provided more than $402 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 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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