Oklahoma Derby Draws Eight Foes, Close Decision for Morning-Line Favoritism

The 21st Oklahoma Derby field was drawn during Friday-morning proceedings in the Remington Park racing office. A field of eight with seven wagering interests will take the 1-1/8 miles challenge on Sunday.

Saturday, October 10th 2009, 8:47 pm

By: News 9


News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY –- The 21st Oklahoma Derby field was drawn during Friday-morning proceedings in the Remington Park racing office. A field of eight with seven wagering interests will take the 1-1/8 miles challenge on Sunday.

The $400,000 Oklahoma Derby, presented by News 9, features one same owner and trainer coupled entry with Duke of Mischief tabbed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite. Long-time Remington Park odds-maker Jerry Shottenkirk carefully considered the resumes of three runners before deciding upon Duke of Mischief.

“His fifth-place finish in the Haskell Invitational behind Rachel Alexandra (winner by six lengths) and Summer Bird was one of his best efforts. Being just a length behind Summer Bird, who is the top 3-year-old male in the country, warrants his status as the morning-line favorite. This is about as close an Oklahoma Derby field that we’ve had with Duke of Mischief, Kelly Leak and Massone all vying for the nod as morning-line favorite. Any of the three could be the actual post time favorite…it is that close of a call.”

See the full 2009 Oklahoma Derby field

The morning-line odds separate the trio by the smallest margins possible with Duke of Mischief at 5-2, Massone at 3-1 and Kelly Leak at 7-2.

Owned by the partnership of Lieblong, McMaster and Fawkes, Duke of Mischief is trained by part owner David Fawkes. His last win was a score in the $250,000 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows in late June. Since then he has finished fifth in the Grade 1, $1,250,000 Haskell and a distant fourth in the Grade 2, $1,000,000 Pennsylvania Derby, where he was just behind Kelly Leak.

Massone, owned by Frankfurt Stable and trained by National Racing Hall of Famer Ron McAnally, was made the second-choice in the line thanks to his third-place run in last month’s Grade 2, $750,000 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs. He also was third earlier this year in the Grade 1, $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, one of the last major prep events for the Kentucky Derby.

Kelly Leak is the third-choice in the line due to his third in the Pennsylvania Derby on Labor Day and his victory in late March in the $800,000 Sunland Park Derby. There, he defeated Mine That Bird, who would go on to score the 50-1 upset in the Kentucky Derby. Kelly Leak is owned by the partnership of Blahut, Avila and Johnson and is trained by Mike Machowsky. Alonso Quinonez, younger brother of Remington Park-based jockeys Luis and Belen Quinonez, will ride Kelly Leak.

The entry owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds of Las Vegas and trained by the national and Remington Park leader Steve Asmussen is Zion and Retap. The pair will be ridden by brothers Jermaine Bridgmohan, current leading jockey at Remington Park, and Shaun Bridgmohan, a longtime successful fixture on the east coast.

The complete $400,000 Oklahoma Derby field, by saddle-towel number, with trainer, jockey and morning-line odds:
1. Zion, Steve Asmussen, Jermaine Bridgmohan, 5-1
1a. Retap, Asmussen, Shaun Bridgmohan, 5-1
2. Perfect Bull, Bernell Rhone, Dean Butler, 8-1
3. Kelly Leak, Mike Machowsky, Alonso Quinonez, 7-2
4. Fiddlers Afleet, Michael Hushion, Channing Hill, 12-1
5. Massone, Ron McAnally, Frank Alvarado, 3-1
6. Duke of Mischief, David Fawkes, Eibar Coa, 5-2
7. Red Lead, Chris Hartman, Cliff Berry, 15-1.

The Oklahoma Derby will be the ninth race of 10 on Sunday afternoon with a scheduled post time of 5:06pm (central).

The $200,000 Remington Park Oaks, contested on the main track at 1-1/16 miles, came up strong with numerous winners of graded stakes races this year. The race is the eighth on Sunday and will kickoff the all-stakes race final Pick 3 wager of the day.

The Oaks field of six boasts plenty of talent including a Grade 2 winner in Payton d’Oro and a pair of Grade 3 winners in Hightap and Peach Brew. Hightap was made the 2-1 morning-line favorite off her last out in mid-August.

“Hightap got the nod due to her recent third-place run in the Grade 3, $200,000 Monmouth Oaks,” Shottenkirk said. “She also defeated Peach Brew when they faced each other in the Iowa Oaks this summer.”

Owned by Gainesway Stable and Ron Winchell, Hightap is trained by Asmussen and will be ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan. She is a gray 3-year-old filly by Tapit with four career wins from eight attempts and earnings of $270,365.

Peach Brew, winner of the Grade 3, $150,000 Arlington Park Oaks and most recently the Oklahoma Classics Distaff at Remington Park, will start in the wagering at 5-2 odds. Owned by Dr. Robert Zoellner of Tulsa, Okla. and trained by Donnie K. Von Hemel, Peach Brew has four lifetime wins from 15 attempts with earnings of $256,006. Quincy Hamilton will be aboard.

Payton d’Oro comes into Remington Park for the first time with trainer Larry Jones. Her last score was in the Grade 2, $100,000 Black Eyed Susan Stakes on the eve of the Preakness at Pimlico in May. Payton d’Oro is 3-1 on the morning-line and will be ridden by Terry Thompson who has been aboard for each of her 10 career starts and four victories. She has amassed $230,210 over her career.

The field for the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks, in saddle-towel order, with trainer, jockey and morning-line odds:
1. Multipass, Eddie Kenneally, Cliff Berry, 4-1
2. Hightap, Steve Asmussen, Shaun Bridgmohan, 2-1
3. Morsel, Charles Smith, Dean Butler, 15-1
4. Peach Brew, Donnie Von Hemel, Quincy Hamilton, 5-2
5. Whenthetimeisright, Doug Anderson, Alex Birzer, 15-1
6. Payton d’Oro, Larry Jones, Terry Thompson, 3-1

Approximate post time for the Oaks is 4:39pm (central).

The $150,000 Remington Green at 1-1/16 miles over the turf wraps up the card Sunday as race 10 at 5:33pm (central). A field of 11 with 10 wagering interests will leave the gate in the final stakes race of the day boasting a very competitive field.

“Get Rich Quick is the 3-1 morning-line favorite in an evenly matched field that is very familiar,” Shottenkirk noted. “Most of these horses have faced off numerous times. Get Rich Quick was a solid second and gaining on the winner of the DeBartolo Memorial Breeders’ Cup, the very talented mare Tizfiz, on Labor Day and earns status off that performance along with his connections.”

Owned by Pin Oak Stable of Versailles, Ky. and trained by Von Hemel, Get Rich Quick has won four races from 22 attempts and has earned $205,242. Cliff Berry will have the mount.

The winner of the Green in 2008, Steve’s Double is back and in fine form off a third-place finish in last month’s Grade 3, $175,000 Red Bank Stakes at Monmouth Park. Owned by Oxbow Racing of Ocala, Fla. and trained by former Remington Park regular Ronny Werner, Steve’s Double will be ridden by Joe Rocco, Jr. who was up for the show in the Red Bank. Steve’s Double is 5-1 in the morning-line for the Green.

The Green will also feature two past winners of the Oklahoma Derby in Wally’s Choice (2004) and Mr. Pursuit (2006).

The field for the $150,000 Remington Green, by saddle-towel order, with trainer, jockey and morning-line odds:
1. Mr. Pursuit, Allen Milligan, Martin Escobar, 7-2
1a. Que Paso, Milligan, Escobar, 7-2
2. Pursue a Dream, Michael Biehler, Eddie Martin, Jr., 20-1
3. Ernesto, Danny Pish, Quincy Hamilton, 6-1
4. Steve’s Double, Ronny Werner, Joe Rocco, Jr., 5-1
5. Orientate Express, Kelly Von Hemel, Glen Murphy, 20-1
6. Beta Capo, Steve Asmussen, Shaun Bridgmohan, 8-1
7. Valid Message, Justin Evans, no-rider named, 12-1
8. Wally’s Choice, Biehler, Luis Quinonez, 15-1
9. Strategic Leader, Ralph Mitchell, Dean Butler, 15-1
10. Get Rich Quick, Donnie Von Hemel, Cliff Berry, 3-1.

The first race on Sunday, Oct. 11 will be at 1:30pm.

Remington Park is a Top 3 North American Racetrack according to the Horseplayers Association of North America rating system. 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. Open every day at 10am, Remington Park offers full-card simulcast racing and casino gaming.

For more information, reservations and group bookings please call 405-424-1000, 866-456-9880 or visit remingtonpark.com.

logo

Get The Daily Update!

Be among the first to get breaking news, weather, and general news updates from News 9 delivered right to your inbox!

More Like This

October 10th, 2009

March 22nd, 2024

March 14th, 2024

February 9th, 2024

Top Headlines

March 28th, 2024

March 28th, 2024

March 28th, 2024

March 28th, 2024