WELDER TO ATTEMPT 10TH CONSECUTIVE REMINGTON PARK WIN ON EVE OF THE SEASON’S END

It’s the ultimate matchup: Last year’s Oklahoma Horse of the Year and Champion Horse of the Meet at Remington Park, Welder, vs. the last horse to beat him here, Eurobond, and it all happens on Saturday, Dec. 14.

The race is an open allowance event at six furlongs, named the Guthrie Sprint, for 3-year-olds and older. Welder will be going for his 10th win in a row at Remington Park next Saturday and Eurobond will be trying to stop his streak again.

If you go back 10 races on Welder’s form at Remington Park, Eurobond beat him Oct. 20, 2017 in the Oklahoma Classics Sprint. It was the last time Welder didn’t walk to the winner’s circle after a race in Oklahoma City. Eurobond was the Champion Oklahoma-bred and Champion Claimer in 2017.

Now they face each other for the first time since Eurobond came up victorious. Each horse has won four races this meet with Welder’s four against a classier level of horse. Trainer Teri Luneack has conditioned Welder to seven stakes wins in eight races the past two local seasons for owner RaMax Farms (Clayton Rash) in Claremore, Okla. Welder has won two Silver Goblin Stakes, two Oklahoma Classic Sprints, two David Vance Sprints and the Remington Park Turf Sprint in that streak.

“We were very excited to see this race go with eight head and think it’s a great field of horses,” said Luneack. “We have the opportunity to win 10 in a row, and it looks like he will have his work cut out for him to make that happen. Looking forward to post time.”

Trainer Federico Villafranco has put Eurobond in with lesser company but he has been swift to the wire, not losing in four tries for all-time winningest owner at Remington Park, Danny Caldwell of Poteau, Okla. Eurobond beat $25,000 claimers twice and allowance/optional claimers twice to boost his own streak this season.

Welder and Eurobond will stand eyeball-to-eyeball, from post positions four and five, respectively, and the race will be on with a field of eight horses breaking from the gate.

Welder, a 6-year-old gelded son of The Visualiser, out of the Tiznow mare Dance Softly, is also chasing a Remington Park record held by arguably the best female to race here – Slide Show. She won 11 races in a row at Remington Park from October 1993 to November 1995. Leading jockey David Cabrera will be trying to get Welder home again and break the $1 million mark in earnings for the speedy gray. Ramon Vazquez keeps his mount as the regular rider for Eurobond.

Only seven Oklahoma-breds have cracked the $1 million mark in earnings – Lady’s Secret, Clever Trevor, Silver Goblin, Mr. Ross, Kip Deville, She’s All In and Shotgun Kowboy. A win by Welder would put him and his connections in with hallowed company.

Welder was bred in Oklahoma by Center Hills Farm in Pryor, Okla., the same farm that produced $3 million earner Kip Deville.

Here’s a look at the Guthrie Sprint by post position and program order with trainers and jockeys:

1) Westfest: Steve Asmussen, Iram Diego
2) Tiz Alluptome Now: Steve Asmussen, Richard Eramia
3) Trumpence: Kenny Nolen, Luis Quinonez
4) Welder: Teri Luneack, David Cabrera
5) Eurobond: Federico Villafranco, Ramon Vazquez
6) Game Loading: Mindy Willis, Lindey Wade
7) Dame Plata: Francisco Bravo, Sasha Risenhoover
8) Imma Bling: Randy Morse, Stewart Elliott

The Guthrie Sprint is carded as the seventh race of nine on Saturday, Dec. 14 with a scheduled post time of 9:55pm. The first race of the evening is at 7pm. All times are Central.

Sooner 6ix Carryover to Dec. 11
The Sooner 6ix, Remington Park’s jackpot 20-cent pick six wager, was hit by multiple tickets with six of six correct on Saturday night, Dec. 7 on the combination of 6/1,2,7/4,6/3/9/9. The carryover to Wednesday, Dec. 11 is $5,945.52.

The final week of the 2019 Remington Park Thoroughbred Season takes place Wednesday through Saturday, Dec. 11-15. The first race Wednesday through Saturday nights is at 7pm. A special afternoon start time is on hand for the final day of the season, Sunday, Dec. 15. The $400,000 Springboard Mile, Remington Park’s top 2-year-old stakes event that carries qualifying points for the 2020 Kentucky Derby, headlines a program that begins at 3pm. All times are Central.

Tracked by more than 160,000 fans on Facebook and more than 10,100 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $237 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 the home of the $400,000 Springboard Mile, the richest 2-year-old stakes of the season, on Sunday, Dec. 15. The Springboard Mile is a points race to determine qualifiers for the 2020 Kentucky Derby. For more information, reservations and group bookings please call 405-424-1000, 866-456-9880 or visit remingtonpark.com.

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