TRAINER STEVE ASMUSSEN GETS FIRST WIN IN DAVID M. VANCE STAKES AS SPRINTER JAXON TRAVELER PASSES $1 MILLION MARK IN EARNINGS

Jaxon Traveler became the latest millionaire at Remington Park when the sprinter out of trainer Steve Asmussen’s barn won the $100,000 David M. Vance Stakes on Sunday.

Oddly enough, it was Asmussen’s first win in this stakes race, that was created in 2011. Prior to the race Jaxon Traveler, a 6-year-old Maryland-bred horse by Munnings, out of the After Market mare Listen Boy, had earned $957,798. He pocketed $60,000 for the win in the Vance and now stands at $1,017,798 in his bankroll.

The swift dark bay races for West Point Thoroughbreds of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and they purchased him in the 2020 Ocala Breeders Spring Sale of 2-year-olds-in-training for $140,000 when he was pin-hooked. Jaxon Traveler originally sold for $80,000 in the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Leading rider Stewart Elliott was the winning jockey for Jaxon Traveler on Sunday, the second win of the meet for that combo paired together. Jaxon Traveler won an open allowance race on Aug. 17 at Remington Park by two lengths. His margin of victory on Sunday was 3-1/2 lengths as the 3-1 third wagering favorite in the race. He finished ahead of runner-up Run Classic (6-5 favorite), who was another neck ahead of U.S. Army (7-5 second favorite). The rest of the order of finish was Ranch Badge (29-1) fourth, Gunflash (21-1) fifth and Competitive Idea (14-1) sixth.

“He broke alert and pulled me easily to the front,” Elliott said. “He ran great. I know we came from off it in that last race, but he got pinched a bit at the five-eighths pole in that race. He can do it either way.”

Jaxon Traveler covered the six furlongs in 1:09.19 after setting all the interior fractions of :22.14 for the first quarter-mile, :44.92 for the half-mile, and :56.87 for five-eighths of a mile over the fast main track.

Jaxon Traveler paid $8.20 to win, $3.60 to place and $2.20 to show. Jaxon Traveler was already a stakes winner before this race, most recently winning black-type events at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.; at Sunland Park in El Paso, Texas, and at Zia Park in New Mexico. He visited the winner’s circle at Oaklawn for the Grade 3, $250,000 Whitmore Stakes on March 16, at Sunland for the $100,000 Bill Thomas Memorial Stakes on Feb. 18 and the $100,000 Zia Sprint Stakes on Nov. 28, 2023.

Jaxon Traveler was bred in Maryland by Dr. A. Leonard Pineau and his wife.

The Vance Stakes is named after Remington Park’s founding president and general manager who was on hand to present the trophy to the connections in the winner’s circle.

Remington Park racing continues Wednesday through Saturday, Oct. 2-5, with the first race nightly at 6:30pm-Central.

Remington Park has provided more than $357 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. The Oklahoma Classics Night of stakes racing for top Oklahoma-breds takes place on Friday, Oct. 18. 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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