PERFECT MAGIC FIGHTS OFF COMPETITION IN STRETCH FOR SATURDAY FEATURE AT REMINGTON PARK FOR ASMUSSEN JOCKEY, TRAINER COMBO

The father-son combo of jockey Erik and trainer Steve Asmussen won back-to-back races on the card Saturday night at Remington Park. The second triumph for the Asmussens took place in the featured allowance with Perfect Magic as one continues to fly up the standings while the other dominates.

The featured allowance victory gave Erik 37 wins for the meet, moving him past Floyd Wethey, Jr. (35 wins), into sole possession of fourth place. Erik is only two wins away from David Cabrera (39) in second place. The ascent in the standings is more spectacular given that Erik didn’t even show up until Oklahoma Derby weekend in September, the seventh week of the season.

Steve’s two trips to the winner’s circle Saturday gave him 56 wins on the meet, compared to second-place Robertino Diodoro’s 26.

Perfect Magic’s stablemate, Electrifying Lady, won the seventh race, the only other allowance race on the night for the Asmussens and owner Windancer Farm (Larry Conner) of Versailles, Ky.

Perfect Magic is owned by Mike McCarty of Austin, Texas. This 3-year-old Kentucky-bred colt by Maclean’s Music, from the Yes It’s True mare You Asked, was bred by Colts Neck Stables. The colt was an easy winner by 3-1/4 lengths as the 1-2 odds-on favorite and paid $3 to win, $2.10 to place and $2.10 to show. His winning time for the 6-1/2 furlong race over a main fast track was 1:15.68.

Erik kept Perfect Magic in second, three lengths back of front-running War Mule (4-1) for the first quarter-mile in :22.18 before the winner took over. He hit the half-mile in front at :45.03 and stretched the lead to two lengths after three-quarters of a mile in 1:09.15. He finished well ahead of the runner-up in the race, Mumayaz (6-1), who was another half-length ahead of Plausible Denile (6-1) in third.

Perfect Magic earned $23,268 from the $39,000 allowance purse and improved lifetime to 10-2-2-2 with a bankroll of $170,786. McCarty bought the colt for $300,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale of 2023.

VAZQUEZ PASSES REMINGTON PARK LEGEND FOR 5TH ALL-TIME LOCALLY
Leading jockey at Remington Park, Ramon Vaquez, hadn’t won a race all week until the fifth race Saturday night. He then won the sixth race to go back-to-back. Those scores moved him past Pat Steinberg for fifth place on the all-time Remington Park wins list.

Vazquez tied Steinberg with his 727th win all-time when he booted home Regal Rumor ($6.20) in the fifth race for trainer Austin Gustafson and owner Forge Ahead Stables (Kevin Kuta) of Ashland, Neb. The tie for fifth all-time didn’t last long as Choice Not Chance ($3) drew away by 1-1/2 lengths in the sixth race to push Vazquez past the late, great Steinberg. Gustafson also trains this 3-year-old gelding and Forge Ahead Stables is also the owner.

Steinberg died at 31 years of age in 1993 in an automobile accident. He dominated the early years of Remington Park, winning nine consecutive riding titles from 1989-93. That was back when Remington Park raced thoroughbreds in the spring and the fall. Steinberg has a statue in his honor in the paddock gardens at Remington Park, commemorating his accolades.

Steinberg was a multiple graded stakes-winning jockey and rode some top stakes winners at Remington Park in his time, including 1991 Remington Park Derby winner Queen’s Gray Bee, along with No More Hard Times, Peaked and Darrell among many others.

Like Steinberg, Vazquez is a multiple graded stakes-winning jockey, having ridden such stars as Lone Rock, Santa Anita Derby winner Practical Move and West Virginia Derby winner Mr. Wireless. Vazquez is running away with the jockeys’ race this meet, increasing his win total to 66, ahead of second-place David Cabrera who has 39.

Remington Park racing continues Friday and Saturday, Nov. 28 & 29 with the first race nightly at 6pm-Central. There is no live racing on Thanksgiving.

Remington Park has provided more than $399 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. The 2025 Springboard Mile, a 2026 Kentucky Derby qualifying points race, takes place Saturday, Dec. 20, the final night of the Thoroughbred Season. 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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