TRAINER KEN McPEEK WINS HIS SECOND TRAPEZE STAKES, THIS TIME WITH OLIVIAOFTHEDESERT
It was evident that Oliviaofthedesert might have some talent when she ran third to Coach in the overnight Rags to Riches Stakes at Churchill Downs in October, and she showed that kind of heart in winning the $60,000 Trapeze Stakes on Friday, Dec. 18 at Remington Park.
Coach went on to run third in the Grade 2, $200,000 Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill while Oliviaofthedesert moved on to Remington Park. She made trainer Ken McPeek a winner in the Trapeze, for 2-year-old fillies, for the second time, as he had won with Perfect Wife in 2016.
Remington Park leading jockey David Cabrera rode Oliviaofthedesert for the first time, gaining his first career score in the Trapeze Stakes. It was his fourth win of the night at Remington Park. They won for owner Susan Moulton of San Antonio, who pocketed $36,000 for the victory.
Oliviaofthdesert was the even-money betting favorite in the Trapeze but had to survive a three-horse photo with runners-up Tiz Splendid News (3-1) and Simply Sovereign (5-1) both finishing a head back in a dead-hit for second.
Cabrera broke 10th in the field of 10 with the favored Oliviaofthedesert, a 2-year-old daughter of Bernardini, out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Queenie’s Song. After pulling within four lengths of the leaders, in third, at the top of the lane, she closed like a bear and Cabrera pushed her through an opening at the rail late in the stretch to get up for the win.
Oliviaofthedesert paid $4.20 to win, $2.40 to place and $2.20 to show. She earned $36,000 for Moulton and improved her record to seven starts, three wins and two thirds for $181,822. She was bred in Kentucky by Timber Town Stable and Jane Winegardner.
Running time for the one mile was 1:39.39 seconds over a fast track. Early front-runner Tiz Splendid News set fractions of :23.94 for the opening quarter-mile, :47.89 for the half-mile, 1:12.93 for three-quarters and 1:25.91 for seven furlongs before getting caught at the wire by the winner.
Tracked by more than 164,000 fans on Facebook and 10,500 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $254 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 is open daily for casino gaming and simulcast horse racing. The 2020 Thoroughbred Season continues through Tuesday, Dec. 22. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
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