OKLAHOMA DERBY DRAW IS WEDNESDAY MORNING, MANY PROBABLES POSTING FINAL WORKOUTS
The Grade 3, $200,000 Oklahoma Derby will be compiled in the Remington Park racing office on Wednesday morning, Sept. 23. Many expected for the 1-1/8 miles event have put in their final workouts.
The 32nd running of the Oklahoma Derby headlines a stakes-laden program on Sunday, Sept. 27. Here is the latest on probable contenders.
Dean Martini
Arrived at Remington Park on Sunday, Sept. 20. Owned by Raise the BAR Racing and David Bernsen, who also owns a computer wagering business in Point Loma, California. Trained by Tom Amoss. This 3-year-old gelding by Cairo Prince, out of the Friends Lake mare Soundwave, won the Grade 3, $500,000 Ohio Derby at Thistledown on June 27 and followed that with a sixth place run in the Ellis Park Derby.
Major Fed
Owned by Lloyd Madison Farms IV, trained by Gregory Foley, the colt may now stay in Kentucky and point to attempt at the upcoming Keeneland fall season, according to a Churchill Downs press release. Major Fed worked on Sunday, Sept. 20 at Churchill Downs, breezing a half-mile in :49 on a fast surface. Major Fed was dispatched at 43-1 odds in the Kentucky Derby and had a troubled trip. He ran second to Shared Sense in the Indiana Derby, a strong closing fourth to Wells Bayou in the Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby on March 21 at Fair Grounds and second in the Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 15 at Fair Grounds.
Mo Mosa
Trainer Michael Maker has given a nod to Remington Park for Mo Mosa to run in the Oklahoma Derby. Mo Mosa worked at Ellis Park on Sunday, Sept. 20, breezing five furlongs in 1:01.4 over a fast track.
Owned by Perry and Denise Martin, the colt by Uncle Mo, out of the Eskendereya mare Roughing, competed in both the Grade 2, $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby and the Grade 1, $500,000 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Ark. He did not fare well in those two huge races, but would get into this race off a win by 4-1/4 lengths in first-level allowance-company Aug. 22 at Ellis Park in his last start.
Rowdy Yates
Owned by L and N Racing of Tulsa, trained by Steve Asmussen, the well-traveled colt breezed Sunday, Sept. 20 at Remington Park, going a half-mile in :49.57 on a fast track. Rowdy Yates will attempt to become the third Oklahoma-bred to win the Oklahoma Derby, joining Clever Trevor (1989) and Shotgun Kowboy (2015). A colt by Morning Line, out of the Yes It’s True mare Spring Station, has won 5-of-11 starts lifetime, four of those in stakes races, including the $100,000 Oklahoma Classics Juvenile and the $75,000 Don McNeill Memorial at Remington Park in 2019. Other than his Oklahoma stakes wins, he also took home the $100,000 Ellis Park Juvenile in 2019 and the $100,000 Riley Allison Derby at Sunland Park in January. Rowdy Yates has competed at six different tracks and has a start in the $800,000 Saudi Arabia Derby on Feb. 29 this year, finishing fourth.
Avant Garde
On the grounds at Remington Park, the gelding is owned by Gelfenstein Farm of Ocala, Fla., trained by Jesus Lander. This son of Tonalist, out of the Afleet Alex mare Dancing Afleet, is riding a four-race win streak at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Fla., but all four victories have come in lesser company than he would face in a stakes race.
Shared Sense
Owned by Godolphin Racing, and trained by Brad Cox. This colt by Street Sense, out of the Bernardini mare Collective, worked at Churchill Downs on Sunday, Sept. 20, breezing five furlongs in 1:01 over a fast surface. He won the Indiana Derby and has been first or second in five-of-nine starts lifetime. Has not been out since running fifth to Art Collector in the Ellis Park Derby.
Necker Island
Owned by Raymond Daniels, Wayne Scherr and Will Harbut Racing, trained by Chris Hartman. Went off 49-1 in the Kentucky Derby and finished ninth after an eight-wide trip down the lane. Prior to the Kentucky Derby, he had finished third in the Indiana Derby to Shared Sense and third in the $200,000 Ellis Park Derby to Art Collector, who figured to be one of the favorites in the Kentucky Derby, but was scratched.
Remington Park features a five-date racing week, culminating with the Oklahoma Derby Day, Wednesday-Sunday, Sept. 23-27. The first race Wednesday through Saturday is at 7:07pm. The special Oklahoma Derby Day on Sunday, Sept. 27 begins at 3pm. All times are Central.
Tracked by more than 164,000 fans on Facebook and 10,500 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $248 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 is open daily for casino gaming and simulcast horse racing. The 2020 Thoroughbred Season continues through Dec. 20. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
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