Remington: Politicallycorrect runs down Willy Beamin in Oklahoma Derby

OKLAHOMA CITY - The talent trainer Wesley Ward and jockey Kent Desormeaux saw in Politicallycorrect emerged  at an opportune time on Sunday, when the horse roared down the middle of the track to win the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park and set himself up for a start in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

Politicallycorrect won the Oklahoma Derby by three-quarters of a length over 2-1 favorite Willy Beamin, while it was another head back in third to Called to Serve. The race was the richest of the meet, and it anchored a card of five stakes worth more than $1 million.

Ward said he has long been excited about the prospects of Politicallycorrect, who had some close calls in stakes earlier this year and  has matured in recent months. The horse was third in the $100,000 Easy Goer at Belmont Park in June, and second in the Grade 3 Ohio Derby in July. Those efforts, coupled with a series of strong works under Desormeaux, also had the rider looking forward to his first mount in the Oklahoma Derby.

“This horse has been training so good, I couldn’t wait to get here,” said Desormeaux.

“The horse, he’s always had a lot of talent,” said Ward.

Politicallycorrect ($22.60) settled in fifth along the rail in the early stages of the Oklahoma Derby, as Master Rick jumped out the lead and took the 10-horse field through an opening quarter in 23.30 seconds. Willy Beamin pressed in second, as the two horses continued through a half-mile in 47.58 seconds and six furlongs in 1:12.29. Politicallycorrect, meanwhile, angled out on the final turn, advanced and came six wide into the stretch. He rallied own the middle of the track to catch Willy Beamin nearing the wire.

“I swung him out and he did drift a little,” said Desormeaux.

Desormeaux said when he started to correct the horse he began to slow down, so he decided to go with the flow.

“As long as he was progressing, I let him drift,” said Desormeaux.

Politicallycorrect covered 1 1/8 miles  on a track that was upgraded to fast for the race in 1:50.23.

Ward trains Politicallycorrect for Ken and Sarah Ramsey, and in 2010 the parties teamed to win the Oklahoma Derby with Pleasant Prince. The Ramseys are the first owners to win the race twice, while Ward’s two wins in the race is the second-best Oklahoma Derby trainer record behind three wins for Donnie Von Hemel. 

Ward said Politicallycorrect will now be pointed for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 3. He said Politicallycorrect would fly to Hollywood Park from Remington on Tuesday.

Politicallycorrect ended two significant win streaks in the Oklahoma Derby, as Willy Beamin was shooting for his seventh straight win and Diamond Joe, his 10th. Diamond Joe finished 10th. Politicallycorrect earned $240,000 for his win, his third from 12 starts. He has now earned $351,375. Politicallycorrect is a son of Kitten’s Joy.

Remington handled $1,698,017 on its 10-race card from all sources, up 29 percent from the Oklahoma Derby card in 2011.