Trainer Michael Maker has given a nod to Remington Park for Mo Mosa to run in the Grade 3, $200,000 Oklahoma Derby on Sunday, Sept. 27.
He joins likely possibilities that include a couple of Kentucky Derby competitors – Major Fed and Necker Island – for this field looking for an Oklahoma Derby crown. A couple of other Kentucky Derby horses were nominated – Mr. Big News (third in Kentucky Derby) and NY Traffic (eighth in Kentucky Derby) – but it appears those two are working toward the Preakness, the final leg of this year’s Triple Crown.
Dean Martini is expected to fly into Oklahoma City on Sunday, Sept. 20, to prepare for his run at the Oklahoma Derby. He, Shared Sense and Rowdy Yates are three horses that show an official workout since the Kentucky Derby and likely for the derby. The Oklahoma-bred Rowdy Yates has been stabled at Remington Park since late August.
Dean Martini, winner of the Grade 3, $500,000 Ohio Derby at Thistledown on June 27, breezed a half mile at Churchill Downs on Thursday, Sept. 17 and covered the distance in :48.4 seconds, the eighth fastest of 37 that day. Shared Sense, the winner of the Grade 3, $300,000 Indiana Derby at Indiana Grand on July 8, went five furlongs at Churchill Downs on Sept. 13, breezing in 1:00.4, the sixth fastest of 32 that worked the distance.
Rowdy Yates, with Oklahoma ties (L and N Racing, owners from Tulsa, Okla.) and the winner of the $100,000 Oklahoma Classics Juvenile and $75,000 Don McNeill Stakes at Remington Park last year, got the bullet work at Remington on Sept. 13, going five furlongs in 1:01, the fastest of 12 that morning.
Here’s a look at those most possible for the Oklahoma Derby of the 22 nominees:
Major Fed
Owned by Lloyd Madson Farms IV, trained by Gregory Foley. Went off 43-1 in the Kentucky Derby and had a troubled trip. He ran second to Shared Sense in the Indiana Derby, a strong closing fourth to Wells Bayou in the Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby on March 21 at Fair Grounds and second in the Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 15 at Fair Grounds. Was ridden by James Graham in the Kentucky Derby. Graham rode Lone Sailor to an Oklahoma Derby win in 2018.
Necker Island
Owned by Raymond Daniels, Wayne Scherr and Will Harbut Racing, trained by Chris Hartman. Went off 49-1 in the Kentucky Derby and finished ninth after an eight-wide trip down the lane. Prior to the Kentucky Derby, he had finished third in the Indiana Derby to Shared Sense and third in the $200,000 Ellis Park Derby to Art Collector, who figured to be one of the favorites in the Kentucky Derby, but was scratched.
Shared Sense
Owned by Godolphin Racing, and trained by Brad Cox. This colt by Street Sense, out of the Bernardini mare Collective, won the Indiana Derby and has been first or second in five-of-nine starts lifetime. Has not been out since running fifth to Art Collector in the Ellis Park Derby.
Dean Martini
Owned by Raise the BAR Racing and David Bernsen, who also owns a computer wagering business in Point Loma, California. Trained by Tom Amoss. This 3-year-old gelding by Cairo Prince, out of the Friends Lake mare Soundwave, won the Grade 3, $500,000 Ohio Derby at Thistledown on June 27 with jockey James Graham aboard. He followed that with a sixth place run in the Ellis Park Derby.
Avant Garde
Owned by Gelfenstein Farm of Ocala, Fla., trained by Jesus Lander. This gelded son of Tonalist, out of the Afleet Alex mare Dancing Afleet, is riding a four-race win streak at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Fla., but all four victories have come in lesser company than he would face in a stakes race.
Mo Mosa
Owned by Perry and Denise Martin, trained by Michael Maker. This colt by Uncle Mo, out of the Eskendereya mare Roughing, competed in both the Grade 2, $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby and the Grade 1, $500,000 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Ark. He did not fare well in those two huge races, but would get into this race off a win by 4-1/4 lengths in first-level allowance-company Aug. 22 at Ellis Park in his last start.
Rowdy Yates
Owned by L and N of Tulsa, trained by Steve Asmussen, this colt by Morning Line, out of the Yes It’s True mare Spring Station, has won 5-of-11 starts lifetime, four of those in stakes races. Other than his Oklahoma stakes wins, he also took home the $100,000 Ellis Park Juvenile in 2019 and the $100,000 Riley Allison Derby at Sunland Park in January.
Remington Park features a five-date racing week, culminating with the Oklahoma Derby Day, Wednesday-Sunday, Sept. 23-27. The first race Wednesday through Saturday is at 7:07pm. The special Oklahoma Derby Day on Sunday, Sept. 27 begins at 3pm. All times are Central.
Tracked by more than 164,000 fans on Facebook and 10,500 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $248 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 open daily for casino gaming and simulcast horse racing. The 2020 Thoroughbred Season continues through Dec. 20. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
Phot Credit: Coady
