NY DERBY WINNER BANKIT JOINS TAX, OWENDALE ON FLIGHT FROM KENTUCKY FOR OKLAHOMA DERBY; MUCHO GUSTO FLYING ALSO

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby on Sunday, Sept. 29, continues to gain strength with the New York Derby winner Bankit likely joining a field that already includes top sophomores Long Range Toddy, Tax, Owendale and Mucho Gusto.

All four of the latter horses have been winners among the top 3-year-olds racing in 2019.
– Long Range Toddy won the $400,000 Springboard Mile at Remington Park as a juvenile and a division of the Grade 2, $750,000 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., this spring.
– Tax won the Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga in upstate New York on July 27. He breezed a half mile in 47.60 seconds at Belmont Park on Saturday in New York, the fourth fastest of 64 that tried that distance.
– Mucho Gusto won both the Grade 3, $100,000 Laz Barrera Stakes and the Grade 3, $100,000 Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita in California this spring and then pushed the best horses in the country in the 3-year-old division this summer. Trained by National Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, Mucho Gusto held his own after the weather heated up, running second to Maximum Security in the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell at Monmouth and third in the Grade 1, $1,250,000 Travers Stakes at Saratoga to Code of Honor, who some believe is the top sophomore runner in the country.
– Owendale won the Grade 3, $500,000 Ohio Derby at Thistledown after losing by only 1-1/4 lengths in the Preakness to War of Will. He posted a bullet work at Churchill Downs on Saturday, breezing five furlongs in a swift 58.80 seconds, the fastest of 42 at the distance.

The Tex Sutton Air Equine charter, Air Horse One, will arrive from Kentucky at Will Rogers World Airport on Wednesday. Then the plane returns on Thursday, arriving from California, on Thursday.

Booked on the Kentucky flight are Tax, Owendale and Bankit, along with Classic Fit, who is nominated to race in the Grade 3, $200,000 Remington Park Oaks. She is a 3-year-old filly out of the barn of trainer Michael Stidham. Classic Fit won the $75,000 Hut Hut Stakes at Gulfstream Park as a 2-year-old in December.

Other horses scheduled on the Kentucky flight are: Killybegs Captain (nominated to $150,000 David M. Vance Stakes, trainer John Terranova II); Funny Guy (Oklahoma Derby, Terranova II); Chess Chief (Oklahoma Derby, breezed a half mile in 49.20 seconds Saturday for trainer Dallas Stewart); and Gold Standard (Remington Park Oaks, trainer Brad Cox).
Mucho Gusto is scheduled to arrive in Oklahoma City for trainer Bob Baffert for the Oklahoma Derby, coming in on the flight from California on Thursday.

THREE OKLAHOMA-BRED TURF STAKES ON FRIDAY AT REMINGTON PARK
Three turf stakes are scheduled for the Friday, Sept. 27, the $70,000 Remington Park Turf Sprint, 3-year-olds-and-up, Oklahoma-breds going 5 furlongs; the $70,000 Bob Barry Memorial, 3-year-olds-and-up, Oklahoma-bred fillies and mares, covering 7-1/2 furlongs, and the $70,000 Red Earth Stakes with 3-year-olds-and-up, Oklahoma-breds, going 7-1/2 furlongs.

Following is a look at the field for each with jockey, trainer and morning-line odds.

TURF SPRINT, race three, Friday, Sept. 27, 8:03pm
1) Sladens Dream: Ramon Vazquez, Federico Villafranco, 8-5 (morning-line favorite)
2) Bluecollarman: Floyd Wethey, Veronica Griggs, 30-1
3) Perfect to Please: Bryan McNeil, Veronica Griggs, 2-1
4) Mr. N: CJ McMahon, Karl Broberg, 8-1
5) Stormieis Blue: Luis Quinonez, Michael Whitelaw, 15-1
6) Fearless Will: Iram Diego, Francisco Bravo, 30-1
7) Dance to My Song: David Cabrera, Karl Broberg, 20-1
8) Rockport Kat: Kevin Roman, Lynn Chleborad, 20-1
9) Fetchum Ketchum: Richard Eramia, Jory Ferrell, 15-1
10) Fast Breakin Cash: Stewart Elliott, C.R. Trout, 5-1

BOB BARRY MEMORIAL, race six, Friday, Sept. 27, 9:27pm
1) Hawaiian Typhoon: Bryan McNeil, Veronica Griggs, 15-1
2) Tic Toc Toccet: Luis Quinonez, Steve Williams, 12-1
3) Inagoodway: David Cabrera, Karl Broberg, 9-5
4) Wirewirewire: Obed Sanchez, Ron David, 30-1
5) Socks: Floyd Wethey, Kenneth Nolen, 30-1
6) Alternative Slew: Iram Diego, Randy Oberlander, 6-1
7) Sunday Night Miss: Richard Eramia, C.R. Trout, 8-5 (morning-line favorite)
8) Onemorefastdance: Ken Tohill, Marti Rodriguez, 30-1
9) Dicey: Stewart Elliott, Patrick Swan, 8-1
10) Natalie’s Mischief: Walter De La Cruz, Joe Offolter, 20-1

RED EARTH, race nine, Friday, Sept. 27, 10:51pm
1) Pacific Typhoon: Bryan McNeil, Veronica Griggs, 20-1
2) Cowboy Mischief: Richard Eramia, Kenny Nolen, 15-1
3) Timely Reply: Freddy Manrrique, Randy Swango, 30-1
4) Tuff Kid: CJ McMahon, Karl Broberg, 10-1
5) Hallelujah Hit: 6-1, David Cabrera, C.R. Trout, 6-1
6) Ezmosh: Lindey Wade, Joe Sharp, 9-5 (morning-line favorite)
7) Magic Command: Ken Tohill, Karl Broberg, 30-1
8) Gospel Abe: Ramon Vazquez, Federico Villafranco, 20-1
9) Just Fred: Floyd Wethey, Steve Williams, 30-1
10) Gospel Cherokey: Luis Quinonez, Steve Williams, 30-1
11) Quality Rocket: Jose Medina, Boyd Caster, 10-1
12) Ibaka: Iram Diego, Francisco Bravo, 2-1

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