VICTORIA OLIVER MAKES HISTORY, LUIS SAEZ JOINS FORCES WITH HER IN WINNING OKLAHOMA DERBY, NAMED LIP CHIP TRAINER, JOCKEY OF WEEK

Victoria Oliver did something no other female had done in 37-runnings of the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby when she won with Bracket Buster. While the winner’s jockey, Luis Saez, won three stakes races overall on Sept. 28 at Remington Park.

For their accolades, Oliver and Saez were voted Lip Chip Trainer and Jockey of the Week. Oliver became the first female trainer ever to win the Oklahoma Derby. Saez won the Derby, the Ricks Memorial and the E.L. Gaylord Memorial. The Derby, Remington Park’s only graded race of the meet finished off a banner week for Saez.

When Bracket Buster crossed the finish line a winner of the Derby by 3-1/4 widening lengths, Oliver had made history. The Oklahoma Derby is the richest race of the meet in Oklahoma City every fall. Bracket Buster, a 3-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Vekoma, out of the Dance With Ravens mare Spring Dance, is owned by BBN Racing and was bred by David Baxter.

The Oklahoma Derby score helped Bracket Buster boost his bankroll to $776,318. Prior to coming to Oklahoma, Bracket Buster had run second to Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Sovereignty in the Grade 1 Travers. He was beaten by 10 lengths by the top 3-year-old in the country in that race. However, Bracket Buster beat the rest of the field by more than 10 lengths.

Saez’s Sunday of racing included the win in the Derby and victories with Sabalenka on the turf in the Ricks Memorial and with 2-year-old filly, Woodstock, in the E.L. Gaylord Memorial. Other than Bracket Buster’s easy win, the performance with Woodstock may have been the most visually breathtaking. That Kentucky-bred juvenile daughter of Yaupon, out of the Medaglia d’Oro mare, Hot Hippie, drew away to win by 10-1/2 lengths, covering 6-1/2 furlongs in 1:17.49. She was ahead by seven lengths at the top of the stretch. Woodstock is owned by Paradise Farms, David Staudacher, Gata Racing Stable and Turman Racing Stable. She was bred by Southern Comfort Farm. Woodstock is trained by Michael Maker. Woodstock has won two-of-three lifetime for $57,100 in earnings.

Saez’s three trips to the winner’s circle with stakes winners was done for three different trainers. He was aboard Sabalenka for Joe Sharp in the Ricks Memorial for 3-year-olds and older, fillies and mares, going 1-1/16 miles on the grass. Sabalenka, a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred mare by Good Samaritan, out of the Maria’s Mon mare, Darling Daughter, was given a patient ride from Saez, coming from sixth in the field of nine to win by 2-3/4 lengths over 2-1 favorite Neom Beach. Sabalenka, owned by Everything’s Cricket Racing and bred by Mr. and Mrs. Al Mazzetti, was sent off at 7-2 odds. It was her fourth win in 21 starts for a bankroll of $550,138.

Remington Park live racing moves into October with a four-day race week, Thursday-Sunday this week, Oct. 2-5. The first race nightly is 6 p.m. with a post time this coming Sunday at 2 p.m. All times are Central.

Remington Park has provided more than $390 million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Located at the junction of Interstates 35 and 44, in the heart of Oklahoma City’s Adventure District, Remington Park presents year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. The 2025 Oklahoma Classics Night of stakes racing for top Oklahoma-breds is Friday, Oct. 17. The Thoroughbred Season continues through Dec. 20. Must be 18 years old or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.

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