SURVEILLANCE ROMPS HOME THE VANCE STAKES AT REMINGTON PARK
Trainer Michael Maker won the E.L. Gaylord Memorial earlier Sunday with Woodstock. He then added the biggest race of the day for sprinters – the $100,000 David M. Vance Stakes – with Surveillance, ridden by Jose Ortiz.
It also was Ortiz’s second win of the day as he earlier captured the $75,000 Remington Green aboard Gigante in the first stakes on the Oklahoma Derby Day undercard.
In the Vance, Surveillance, a hard-knocking gray Kentucky-bred son of Constitution, out of the Mizzen Mast mare Majorelle, was the 6-5 wagering favorite and paid $4.40 to win, $2.80 to place and $2.10 to show to his backers. He won by 1-1/4 lengths over 19-1 longshot Mikel W, who held the lead most of the race until Surveillance and Ortiz collared him about 70 yards out.
“I had plenty of horse left; I wasn’t worried about the horse on the easy lead,” Ortiz said. “I knew it was him and me and I was just waiting to make my move at the right time. I could see I had him.”
Surveillance is owned by Flying P Stable (Jason Provenzano) of Levittown, N.Y. and was bred by Kendall E. Hansen, M.D. Racing. The swift gray earned $60,000 for his owners and improved to 50 starts, 12 wins, 10 seconds and nine thirds for a thick bankroll of $1,218,807. Surveillance was sold twice at auction, once for $40,000 at the Keeneland Association November 2017 Breeding Stock Sale and then $25,000 in the Keeneland Association September Yearling Sale in 2018.
Running time for the winner in the Vance was 1:09.96 for the six furlongs over a fast main track. Ortiz had him in mid-pack most of the way before running down the full-of-heart longshot Mikel W at the wire. Another length behind in third was Ryvit (9-1). They were followed by Big Effect (5-2) fourth, Breakable Code (10-1) fifth, Second I D (7-2) sixth, Stage Left (51-1) seventh and Blue Light (16-1) eighth.
Surveillance cut into Mikel W’s early fractions of :21.87 for the first quarter-mile, :44.46 for the half-mile, and :56.83 for five eighths of a mile.
The David Vance Sprint is named after Remington Park’s founding president and general manager, who oversaw the conception, construction and operation of the facility until 1995. Vance was on hand to present the trophy to the connections in the winner’s circle.
Remington Park racing moves into October with a four-date race week, Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 2-5. The first race nightly is at 6pm. Sunday racing on Oct. 5 begins at 2pm. All times are Central.
Remington Park has provided more than $390 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 Oklahoma Classics Night of stakes racing for top Oklahoma-breds is Friday, Oct. 17. The Thoroughbred Season continues through Dec. 20. 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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