ZE’BUL CATCHES PRESIDENTIAL LATE TO WIN JEFFREY A. HAWK MEMORIAL AT REMINGTON PARK
Ze’bul won his third race in his last four starts, making a determined late rush to catch 20-1 longshot Presidential just before the finish in the $75,000 Jeffrey A. Hawk Memorial on Saturday at Remington Park.
Jockey Floyd Wethey, Jr., knew exactly when to push the right buttons on Ze’bul to get the 5-year-old Kentucky-bred by Collected, out of the Empire Maker mare Bahama Bound, home first. He never had the lead until the last few jumps in the one mile, 70-yard race. The margin of victory for Ze’bul was three-quarters of a length over Presidential, who surprisingly was sent off at long odds despite residing in the barn of top trainer Steve Asmussen.
Ze’bul broke seventh in the field of seven, well back of the early leaders. The field scratched down to seven with the defections of Willy D’s and Heroic Move.
“I really wanted to be within a couple of lengths of the early leaders but Ze’bul had another plan,” said Wethey. He trailed by 6-1/2 lengths after the first quarter-mile.
Ze’bul was sent off at 3-1 odds and paid $8.20 to win, $4 to place, and $3.20 to show. He was the second betting choice by the public, behind only the 2-1 favorite, Track Phantom, who finished fourth after setting the early pace. C W Prize (9-1) checked in third, two lengths back of Presidential and one length ahead of Track Phantom. The rest of the order of finish was Victory for Vets (4-1) fifth, Spoiler (7-1) sixth and U.S. Army (7-2) seventh.
The running time for the winner was 1:43.21 on the fast track. Ze’bul cut into interior fractions of :24.28 for the first quarter-mile, :48.88 for the half-mile, 1:13.41 for six furlongs and 1:38.97 after a mile.
“I really thought he was going to be a better sprinter,” said his trainer Dick Cappellucci. “But then he put up his career high speed figure in a route race (the $100,000 Zia Championship Stakes).”
Ze’bul ran second in that New Mexico stakes, beaten four lengths by Heroic Move, who figured to be one of the favorites, if not the favorite, in the Hawk before he scratched. The gelded Ze’bul won all three of his starts at Remington Park this season, the previous two to this stakes victory coming against allowance horses.
Ze’bul was bred by Dell Ridge Farm and was purchased at auction for $130,000. That buy came in the Keeneland September Yearling Sale of 2021. He earned $45,000 from the Jeffrey A. Hawk victory and improved his career record to 27 starts, six wins, five seconds and three thirds for a bankroll of $225,563.
It was an emotional victory for Cappellucci, who slapped high-fives in the winner’s circle, after his interview, with everyone and anyone who would raise their hand.
The Jeffrey A. Hawk Memorial is a race named in honor of the brother of leading Remington Park owner and breeder Bryan Hawk. Jeffrey passed away from complications after surgery in 2017.
Remington Park has provided more than $402 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. Guests must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or to enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
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