JOCKEY BENNY LANDEROS HOME AFTER INCURRING INJURY LAST WEEKEND AT REMINGTON PARK
Remington Park’s No. 6 jockey on the all-time wins list at this track, Benny Landeros, left the hospital Wednesday, four days after the veteran rider went down in a training accident.
Landeros currently sits at 701 wins at Remington Park, 26 behind the late Pat Steinberg, in fifth with 727. Cliff Berry remains the leader with 2,125 all-time victories here.
Benny’s wife, Lisa, said he was worried Saturday when the spill happened because he “couldn’t feel his legs, but was moving some of his extremities shortly thereafter.” Landeros was working a horse around the turn and his mount tossed him to the ground.
“He is doing better; we’re going home!” Lisa said on Wednesday. When Benny first arrived at the hospital this past weekend, he was diagnosed with some fractured ribs and a small fracture in his neck. They were doing tests on his spinal column to determine why he was having trouble moving his arms and having pain when he tried. He was able to move his legs and toes at that time. Within a day, they had him up walking the hallways of the hospital with a neck brace on.
After one day, Lisa said, “he is able to scratch his own nose with his left hand. He also is able to move his right arm and hand better. We are just praying he continues to improve on his own.
As Landeros improved, he got more movement in both arms and hands. He was able to stand and sit in a chair twice on day two.
“He still has a long road ahead of him,” Lisa said. “He will need physical therapy for his arms and right hand. It’s still weak and he can’t grip or hold onto anything with it.”
Fastest Mile of Season Belongs to Sharp Spark
The final race Wednesday produced an impressive victory by Sharp Spark, winning the allowance that had been moved from the turf to the main track at one mile.
Not only did Sharp Spark win the event going away by 7-1/2 lengths under Stewart Elliott, he crossed the finish with the fastest one-mile time of the season, 1:36.72 over a fast track.
Owned by Highlander Training Center of Sulphur Springs, Texas and trained by Jayde Gelner, Sharp Spark is a 3-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Classic Empire from the Algorithms broodmare Raise the Rithm. He was bred by David Lickhalter and John R. Penn.
The victory was the third from nine attempts for Sharp Spark and his second from three races this season at Remington Park. He won over the turf in claiming company on Sept. 7.
Balsa Works Bullet Half-Mile Wednesday
Balsa, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding and winner of his last two starts at Remington Park this meet, worked a bullet half-mile in a blistering :46.73, handily on Wednesday morning during training. That was the fastest time of the day for four furlongs of 24 that tried the distance over the fast track.
The gelded son of Street Boss, out of the Elusive Quality mare Arbol, got both victories in allowance company. The first trip to the winner’s circle for Balsa and trainer Ronnie Cravens III came on Oct. 2 in a first-level allowance when jockey Lindey Wade booted him home as the 1-5 heavy favorite at about five furlongs on the turf. He won by a half-length for owner Keene Thoroughbreds in a time of :57.77. He followed that up with another win under Wade on Oct. 16 at five furlongs on the grass in a second-level allowance. He won that one as the 9-5 co-favorite by 3-3/4 lengths, covering the distance in :56.15.
Balsa’s record now is 18 starts, five wins, one second and three thirds for earnings of $126,356.
Oklahoma-bred Stakes on Friday
A trio of stakes races for Oklahoma-breds are featured Friday night at Remington Park.
The $50,000 Slide Show Stakes for Oklahoma-bred 2-year-old fillies going one mile takes place in race three.
The $50,000 Silver Goblin Stakes for Oklahoma-breds, 3-year-olds and older at 6-1/2 furlongs, happens in race seven.
The final stakes is in race eight with the $50,000 Don C. McNeill Stakes for Oklahoma-bred 2-year-olds going one mile.
The 46th race date of the Remington Park season features nine races tonight with the first, fifth and ninth scheduled over the turf. There is rain in the forecast later this evening. At this time the main track is fast and the turf is firm.
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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