REMINGTON PARK GOVERNOR’S CUP EXPECTED TO FEATURE PAST WINNERS AND GRADED STAKES VETERANS

The $175,000 Governor’s Cup headlines the opening night program for Remington Park racing on Aug. 20. Entries will be taken for the race tomorrow, Friday, Aug. 13 with a talented field gathering for the race at 1-1/8 miles.

The last two winners of the Governor’s Cup, Mocito Rojo (2019) and Hunka Burning Love (2020) are both expected to attempt their second career wins in the race. Trained by Shane Wilson, Mocito Rojo boasts 20 career wins, the most of any nominated to the race. A 7-year-old horse by Mutadda from the Orientate mare Blushing Royale, Mocito Rojo would make a rare venture outside of his Louisiana base to compete in the Governor’s Cup. He has a two-race win streak on the line with both scores in allowance company this spring at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La.

Hunka Burning Love last competed at Remington Park in winning the Jeffrey Hawk Memorial in December. That score gave him a sweep of both of the main track, open company, route stakes races here last fall. Trained by Karl Broberg, Hunka Burning Love is seeking his first win since a handicap event at Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla. in May. A 7-year-old gelding by Into Mischief from the Thunder Gulch mare Touch Of Fire, Hunka Burning Love has won three of four career starts locally, with 17 career wins overall.

Steve Asmussen, the new all-time leading trainer by wins in racing, is planning to enter a pair for the Governor’s Cup with Tenfold and Tapit Wise representing the barn. The leading nominee by career earnings with $1,179,745, Tenfold would make his first start at Remington Park. The 6-year-old horse by Curlin from the Tapit mare Temptress would travel from Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky., where he breezed a bullet five furlongs in 1:00.0 on Wednesday, Aug. 11. He was third in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita in 2020. Most recently, Tenfold was fourth in the Grade 3 Cornhusker Handicap at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa on July 2.

Tapit Wise has been on the grounds at Remington Park for a number of weeks, working five furlongs in 1:01.60 handily over a fast surface on Aug. 7. A 5-year-old gelding by Tapit from the Tactical Cat mare Wickedly Wise, he is seeking his first win since scoring in two consecutive allowance races this spring at Sam Houston Race Park (March 25) and Lone Star Park (May 9).

Popularity, a veteran 7-year-old from the barn of trainer Joe Offolter, will make his return to the Governor’s Cup for the first time since running second to Mocito Rojo in 2019. A 7-year-old horse by Distorted Humor from the Kris S. mare Sweet Lips, Popularity was most recently second to Guided Missile in an allowance event at Prairie Meadows in July.

Guided Missile will seek his third straight win, attempting to add the Governor’s Cup to a pair of recent allowance triumphs at Prairie Meadows. Trained by Boyd Caster, he is a 4-year-old colt by Tapit from the Tiznow mare Pussyfoot. Guided Missile will make his Remington Park debut on Aug. 20.

Also expected in the Governor’s Cup from the Caster barn is Box Seat who was fifth behind Guided Missile in his July 10 allowance win at Prairie Meadows. A 5-year-old gelding by Flashback from the Broken Vow mare Miss Personality, Box Seat won two straight races at Will Rogers Downs this spring, an allowance sprint and then a handicap event at 1-1/16 miles. He was also second to Mo Mosa in the Bosselman Gus Fonner Stakes at Fonner Park in April.

This will be the 30th Governor’s Cup at Remington Park, contested at 1-1/8 miles since 2011. The race was originally called the Remington Cup from 1988-1994.

Tracked by more than 167,000 fans on Facebook and 10,400 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $269 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 features live and simulcast horse racing, and the casino is always open! The 2021 Thoroughbred Season begins Aug. 20. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.

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