STEVE ASMUSSEN GETS CHARGE FROM RECHARGE WINNING REMINGTON PARK ALLOWANCE IN RETURN FROM LAYOFF

The top trainer in wins all-time in North American racing, Steve Asmussen, was on hand Wednesday night at Remington Park to watch 3-year-old filly Recharge on her comeback road. She did not disappoint, winning an open allowance feature by 2-3/4 lengths.

Recharge, a Kentucky home-bred filly for owner Winchell Thoroughbreds of Las Vegas, Nev., was on the comeback trail Wednesday evening after more than six months off. She last competed in a couple of tough outings in the Grade 2, $750,000 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park in March, then the Grade 2, $300,000 Black Eyed Susan at Pimlico in Baltimore in May.

Asmussen was more than interested in seeing how this daughter of Gun Runner, out of the Tapit mare Remit, would respond. She had run eighth in the Black Eyed Susan on May 17, beaten 13-1/2 lengths as the 7-2 third betting favorite, but she stumbled coming out of the gate and then was bumped, compromising her chances. Prior to that, she finished fifth in the Fantasy, losing by 8-3/4 lengths. Recharge had a pretty good excuse in that race as well, she was facing a top candidate for national Horse of the Year in Thorpedo Anna, who didn’t lose a race to fillies or mares this year, including a score the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Recharge has been her own worst enemy, getting in trouble and not doing things right. However, when she is right, she has shown a lot of talent for a filly that weighed in at 994 pounds Wednesday at Remington Park.

“She is really not a good doer,” Asmussen said of Recharge, “if you know what I mean.”

Asmussen liked what he saw of Recharge at Remington where she is undefeated in two starts. She broke her maiden status in her career debut here on Dec. 14 last year.

“She really needed this for her confidence,” Asmussen said.

Asmussen’s son 26-year-old son Keith rode Recharge on Wednesday for the first time and he was impressed.

“She waited so comfortably to make her move,” Keith said. “It was an excellent opportunity for her to show us her maturity and she did that.”

Recharge broke from the gate in the one-mile race out front, leading by a full length after a quarter-mile and Asmussen was wrapped up on her just letting her gallop around on her own talent, not moving a muscle on her. She had built a two-length lead at the top of the stretch and never really was challenged from there. The winning time on the infield display for the mile over the fast track was 1:41.86. Recharge led every step of the way.

Talkin Cadee (10-1) checked in second in this allowance feature, one length in front of third-place finisher Geometrique (5-1 second favorite).

Recharge went off as the heavy 1-9 favorite and returned $2.20 to win and $2.10 to place and show. She earned $24,000 from the $40,000 purse and improved lifetime to four wins in six starts for a career bankroll of $239,748.

What is next for Recharge? Asmussen is keeping the options open for this chestnut filly.

“If they’d write a three-other-than allowance at Oaklawn, she could run in that and sometimes they do,” said Asmussen, on his way to his 19th training title at Remington Park. “That doesn’t mean we won’t point her to a stakes race there, though. She is the Sunland Park Oaks winner.”

The Mistletoe Stakes, at one mile, on Dec. 14 at Oaklawn is a possibility but might be too soon for Recharge to continue her rise. A few weeks later, the $150,000 Pippin Stakes on Jan. 11 is available, for fillies and mares, 4-year-olds-and-older, going 1-1/16th miles.

Only six race dates remain in the 2024 Remington Park season. Action continues this week, Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 5-7, with the first race nightly at 6:30pm-Central.

Remington Park has provided more than $370 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 casino gaming. The 2024 Thoroughbred Season continues through Dec. 13 when the $300,000 Springboard Mile tops the final night of the season. The major 2-year-old stakes race of the season, the Springboard awards valuable 2025 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. 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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