REMINGTON PARK MULTIPLE STAKES-WINNING TURF HORSE, SUNLIT SONG, LIKELY WON’T COMPETE THIS SEASON

Trainer Mindy Willis says it is unlikely that Remington Park multiple-stakes winning horse, Sunlit Song, will race in Oklahoma City this meet.

“He’s on vacation at my house in Jones, Okla., and he is having a great time,” Willis said. “He just hasn’t seemed the same when we sent him out to the track (for training). I think he might be dealing with some arthritis. His X-rays all come back clean, but we just want to do what’s best for the horse and playing in my field at my house is that. He loves it.”

Sunlit Song, a 9-year-old Texas-bred Gelding by My Golden Song, from the Early Flyer mare Fly So True, won the Remington Green over the turf in 2020 and 2023, running second in that race in 2021 and 2022.

Always a favorite of Remington Park fans, this gray gelding has started 45 times in his career, winning 18 times, running second another 13 times and third six times for $757,520 in earnings for owners Carolyn Barnett and Becky Harding. Barnett was also the breeder in Texas.

At 9 years old, Willis says she understands there might be setbacks on occasion for Sunlit Song.

“I look at him in his stall and say, ‘Hey, I can relate,’” said Willis, who has been saddling horses at Remington Park since it opened in 1988. “We’ll give him this vacation and see how he feels this winter at Houston (Sam Houston Race Park). It’s up to him. If it’s his time to retire, he will tell us that.” The $75,000 Remington Green on Sunday drew a field of nine without Sunlit Song. This year’s Green is the fourth race on the 10-race Oklahoma Derby program. The Green is scheduled for 4:33pm. Sunday’s opener is at 3pm. All times are Central.

Remington Park Oaks Field Size
The $200,000 Remington Park Oaks drew a field of nine for the 1-1/16 miles on the main track Sunday. If all nine start, it will be the largest oaks field here since 2018.

She’s a Julie prevailed in 2018, defeating nine other rivals as 10 left the starting gate. The last time nine fillies started in the Remington Park Oaks was in 2005 when More Than Promised was the winner.

The Remington Park Oaks is the ninth of 10 races on Oklahoma Derby Sunday, Sept. 29. The oaks is scheduled for 7:14pm, one race ahead of the derby.

Sharp Sonny White Winning Immediately with Claimed Athletes
Owner-trainer Sonny White has proven this meet that he has quite an eye for horse flesh as he has claimed two horses that have come right back and won for him. Iuka Miss in Thursday’s second race was the second horse new to his barn off a claims that have won for him now.

White, from Earlsboro, Okla., claimed Iuka Miss for $10,000 from trainer Steve Asmussen’s barn on Aug. 23 when she ran third in a claiming race here. White entered the 3-year-old Kentucky-bred filly back Sept. 19 on the turf against allowance horses and ran a dismal eighth, stepping up in class. On Thursday night, White dropped her back down in class and sent her seven furlongs, which is quickly proving to be the filly’s favorite distance. It did the trick and now Iuka Miss has won twice in four starts going seven-eighths. Iuka Miss won $8,949 for White, getting almost all of the money back that he spent to purchase her out of the claiming race.

Iuka Miss was claimed out of Thursday’s race, taken for $10,000 by new owner Cornell Burkhalter and new trainer Byron Bert.

White did a similar thing with another horse earlier in the meet. Mr Peloton raced in his Remington Park debut on Aug. 16, running fifth for trainer Robbin Caldwell. White picked up that horse for $10,000 and ran him back Sept. 7 at the same claiming level and condition. The 4-year-old Oklahoma-bred gelding won first off the claim for White after War Hawk was disqualified in the race. He earned $9,000 for the win and Caldwell claimed Mr Peloton back, putting the $10,000 back in White’s pocket.

White’s record for the meet as a trainer is three starters with two wins for 66 percent.

Night 22 of the Remington Park season features nine races, with the finale over the turf. The first race is at 6:30pm. All times are Central.

Remington Park has provided more than $357 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. The Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby takes place on Sunday, Sept. 29. 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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