VETERAN RIDER LUIS QUINONEZ OVERCOMES EARLY PROBLEMS TO GET MISTER OMAHA TO WINNER’S CIRCLE IN DON McNEILL STAKES

It proved to be a fortunate move for one Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Famer to put another on Mister Omaha. The decision led to a victory in the $50,000 Don McNeill Stakes on Friday night at Remington Park.

Trainer Joe Offolter, who enjoys a spot in the Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame, chose his fellow Hall of Famer, jockey Luis Quinonez, to ride Mister Omaha and that’s a tough combination to beat. Especially when there is trouble. A younger jockey might have panicked when Mister Omaha was dead last coming at the start with an awkward beginning, but Quinonez took it as a challenge.

“I never expected him to do that; he slipped (on the sloppy track) out of the gate,” said Quinonez, Remington Park’s No. 2 all-time winningest rider in history. “Now we know he can do both – win on the front and coming from behind. He learned a lot from this race.”

Quinonez has ridden in all four starts for this 2-year-old Oklahoma-bred colt by Omaha Beach, from the Into Mischief mare Cosmic Code. Overcoming the kind of trouble Mister Omaha did at the start is one of the reasons Offolter and owner-breeder Bryan Hawk (Shawnee, Okla.) like having him up on their horses.

“That’s why we have the ‘Ice Man’ on him,” said Offolter. “Luis Q fits him perfectly.”

It was the third win in a row for Mister Omaha, who now has two black-type scores under his belt against Oklahoma-breds. He also won the $76,000 Oklahoma Classics Juvenile on Oct. 18 at Remington Park, sprinting virtually gate-to-wire in that one at six furlongs over a fast track. Mother Nature threw a monkey wrench into that plan for Mister Omaha in this race it seemed. Still, he came from the back of the pack eight lengths behind in the early going and made up every inch of ground and more over a sloppy track, going a mile.

Hawk won two stakes Friday night with his Oklahoma-breds and has a chokehold on leading owner of the meet in the standings now with 18 wins on the season, five better than second-place Dick Cappellucci.

Mister Omaha cut into early fractions of :24.73 for the first quarter-mile, :48.65 for the half-mile, 1:13.67 for three-quarters of a mile and 1:26.29 for seven-eighths of a mile before stopping the timer in 1:39.41 for the mile race. Chi Town Road was out front early by three lengths after a half-mile before fading.

Mister Omaha was sent off at 6-5 odds, paying $4.40 to win, $4 to place and $2.10 to show. He made up eight lengths early, but eventually won by five lengths. When he made his move wide, he made every other competitor look like they were standing still.

All in Okie (37-1) checked in second and paid an incredible $31.40 to place and a disappointing $3.80 to show. He was 4-3/4 lengths ahead of third-place finisher Periscope, who was sent off as the 3-5 betting favorite and paid $2.10 to show. He took the lead after six furlongs in the race, but got swallowed up by the winner in the stretch. The rest of the order of finish was Chi Town Road (39-1) fourth and Cold Fact (8-1) fifth.

Mister Omaha earned $30,000 for the trip to the winner’s circle and now stands at four starts, three wins and one second for a bankroll of $102,409. It was the first win for all the connections in this stakes race.

As for this Oklahoma-bred possibly taking on open company in the season-ending $300,000 Springboard Mile, both Hawk and Offolter were undecided about his next move.

The Don McNeill Stakes is named after the late owner and breeder who campaigned such greats at Clever Trevor, Mr Ross and Caleb’s Posse. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2012.

Remington Park racing continues Saturday 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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