For Immediate Release
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
$1.1 Million Oklahoma Classics Card Ready For Friday
OKLAHOMA CITY – The top Oklahoma-bred Thoroughbreds are set to compete throughout a stellar 10-race program on Friday night as the Oklahoma Classics is renewed for the 19th time at Remington Park. The divisional stakes race-laden program will carry total purse money of $1,100,000, led by the $175,000 Oklahoma Classics Cup.
There were 98 eligible Oklahoma-breds entered this morning in the Remington Park racing office for the Friday night Classics program that begins at 6:30pm. There are eight divisional stakes races and a pair of quality starter allowance events with the featured Classics Cup going as race 10.
The
main event drew a field of nine, including 3-1 morning-line
favorite Ransom Roberto, who has been supplemented to the
race by his owner Steve Martin of Morrison, Okla.
Martin placed Ransom Roberto into the Classics Cup for a fee of $15,300, after his 5-year-old gelding rolled by 4-1/4 lengths in his most recent effort. That race also caught the eye or Remington Park odds-maker Jerry Shottenkirk who tapped the chestnut as the morning-line favorite.
(Ransom Roberto winning in a driving rain on Oct.
8, 2011,
with Jose Medina up. Ransom Roberto is the 3-1 morning-line
favorite for the $175,000 Oklahoma Classics Cup on
Friday, Oct. 28 at Remington Park.)
“Ransom Roberto was impressive in an allowance race that came off the grass and was contested over a sloppy main track,” Shottenkirk recalled of the horse’s romp on Oct. 8. “He has won four of his seven main-track races this year and has the versatility to adjust to any pace in this race.”
Trained by Wilson Brown, Ransom Roberto will be ridden by Jose Medina who has had the assignment for all of his races this season at Remington Park. Overall, Ransom Roberto has won eight of 26 career starts with total earnings of $142,585. He will leave the starting gate from post position six.
J
J’s Indy, (shown to left) the defending champ of the
Classics Cup, drew post number three and will be ridden by
Luis Quinonez. Owned by Marvin Wooldridge of Oklahoma
City and trained by Brent Charlton, J J’s Indy is the second
choice in the morning-line at 4-1 odds. He won the Classics Cup
in front-running style in 2010, leading every step of the 1-1/16
miles to score by 1-1/2 lengths. The 5-year-old gelding has won
twice since the Classics and boasts six career wins from 29
attempts, with earnings of $253,977.
(J J’s Indy winning the
2010 Oklahoma Classics Cup
at Remington Park.)
The field of nine in the Classics Cup has earned $1,030,099 between them while totaling 43 wins as a group. The complete field by post position and program number with trainer, jockey and morning-line odds for the Classics Cup is:
- Fifth Date – Larry Brown, Alex Birzer, 20-1
- Sooner Red – Brent Davidson, Lindey Wade, 15-1
- J J’s Indy – Brent Charlton, Luis Quinonez, 4-1
- Evansville Storm – Mike Teel, Nena Matz, 5-1
- Ninilchik – Shad Seaton, Travis Cunningham, 9-2
- Ransom Roberto, Wilson Brown, Jose Medina, 3-1
- Watch Me Daddy – Federico Villafranco, Chris Landeros, 15-1
- Lucky Reward – Martin Lozano, Belen Quinonez, 15-1
- Robbytyme – Kenny Nolen, Floyd Wethey, Jr., 6-1
A pair of $40,000 Starter Allowances will begin the Classics program with the eight divisional stakes races contested as follows:
Race 3 - $130,000 Sprint, 3 & older, 6 furlongs
Race 4 - $90,000 Lassie, 2-year-old fillies, 6 furlongs
Race 5 - $130,000 Distaff Turf, fillies & mares, 3-year-olds & older, 7-1/2 furlongs
Race 6 - $90,000 Juvenile, 2-year-old colts & geldings, 6 furlongs
Race 7 - $130,000 Distaff Sprint, fillies & mares, 3-year-olds & older, 6 furlongs
Race 8 - $145,000 Distaff, fillies & mares, 3-year-olds & older, 1 mile-70 yards
Race 9 - $130,000 Turf, 3-year-olds & older, 1 mile
Race 10 - $175,000 Classics Cup, 3-year-olds & older, 1-1/16 miles
Remington Park Thoroughbred racing takes place Wednesday thru Saturday this week, with the first event each night at 6:30pm.
Open daily at 10am for casino gaming and simulcast racing, Remington Park also features Henry Hudson’s on the first floor, which opens for lunch at 11am. Admission, general parking and valet parking are always free at Remington Park.
Remington Park is Oklahoma City’s only Racetrack & Casino, located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District. For more information, reservations and group bookings please call 405-424-1000, 866-456-9880 or visit remingtonpark.com.
Photo credits: Dustin Orona Photography/Remington Park
For more information, contact:
Dale Day
405-425-3215, 405-326-7496 (m)