TAKE ME SERIOUS WAS SERIOUSLY EASY WINNER IN OKLAHOMA CLASSICS DISTAFF SPRINT AT REMINGTON PARK
Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame trainer Joe Offolter snagged two Oklahoma Classics wins on Friday night to move into the top six all-time in that category when Take Me Serious took down the $99,600 Oklahoma Classics Distaff Sprint Stakes.
Take Me Serious, racing for leading owner Bryan Hawk of Shawnee, Okla., was an easy winner in the six-furlong sprint, stopping the timer in 1:10.93 over the fast track and the margin of victory was 3-1/2 lengths as the 2-5 wagering favorite. Kachina (12-1) checked in second, a length in front of third-place finisher Angel Kiss (5-1). The rest of the order of finish included Xyngin Spitfire (5-1) fourth, Because (34-1) fifth and Ship of Dreams (7-1) sixth. The winner was also bred by Hawk.
Take Me Serious paid $2.80 to win and $2.10 to place and show. The 5-year-old mare by Munnings, out of the After Market mare Southern Equity, had just finished second, beaten three-quarters of a length by Nice Neighbor in an Oklahoma-bred allowance race last time out. Nice Neighbor was entered to run in this race, but was a pre-race scratch.
Take Me Serious improved her lifetime marks to 15 starts, six wins, four seconds and three thirds. She trailed only front-runner Ship of Dreams by a length going into the first quarter-mile of this sprint that went in :22.52. Take Me Serious then took over and set fractions of :45.66 for the half-mile and :57.94 for five-eighths before posting the second-fastest six furlongs of the night.
“She was right tonight,” said Eramia. “I really expected this kind of race from her.”
Offolter reiterated just how good this mare has become.
“If I have a favorite horse in the barn, I think it would be her,” he said.
Hawk’s name was called out more times in the Oklahoma Classics winner’s circle than the Smiths in a reading of a phone directory. He took time after the race to praise the people in his operation.
“People see me setting the standard here (at Remington Park),” Hawk said. “What they don’t realize is that there are about 30 people who make this happen. From breaking the horses as babies all the way to when they race. It’s not about me. I couldn’t be happier.”
Take Me Serious made $59,760 for the Classics Distaff Sprint triumph, to push her lifetime earnings to $238,022.
Offolter started the evening tied for 10th in those standings with five Classics victories. His two wins on Friday moved him past Wilson Brown, Steve Asmussen, Wade White, Joe Petalino and Joe Lucas. He is now tied for sixth with Kenny Nolen with seven wins apiece. The top five all-time Classics winners are Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Famer Donnie Von Hemel (32), C.R. Trout (16), the late Roger Engel (11) and Kari Craddock (9).
Jockey Richard Eramia was aboard for the win on Take Me Serious and picked up another later in the evening on Eakly in the OKC Turf Classic. He now has 14 overall Classic victories on this big night for Oklahoma-breds. That ties him for fourth place with Tim Doocy. They trail the top three of Cliff Berry (26), Luis Quinonez (23) and Don Pettinger (21).
Remington Park racing continues Saturday, Oct. 19 with the first race at 6:30pm-Central.
Remington Park has provided more than $363 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 simulcast racing daily and non-stop 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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