Diodoro doubles his chances in Oklahoma Derby

Last year, Robertino Diodoro picked up the richest win of his training career when Broadway Empire dominated the Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park. He’s back again this year, attempting to win the Grade 3, $400,000 race on Sunday.

Diodoro will double-up with Canadian Derby winner Edison and Belmont maiden special weight winner Bay of Biscay.

“Hopefully it will work out,” Diodoro said. “Time will tell, right?”

The 1 1/8-mile Oklahoma Derby heads a program of seven stakes worth a total of $1 million. The card includes the $100,000 Remington Green, and Diodoro said Broadway Empire is a go for that race, which will mark the horse’s turf debut. Diodoro also will saddle Castletown in the $150,000 Remington Park Sprint Championship.

Edison is following the same kind of path Broadway Empire did into the Oklahoma Derby. Both horses won back-to-back stakes in Canada leading up to the Remington race, among their efforts stalking, dominant wins in the Grade 3 Canadian Derby at Northlands Park. Edison rolled by 11 1/2 lengths in his last start, Aug. 16.

“I told a few people if you watch last year’s Canadian Derby when Broadway Empire won it, it was just about identical,” Diodoro said of Edison’s race. “It was the same kind of trip, by the same rider.”

Rico Walcott was aboard, and Diodoro said he will have the mount again in the Oklahoma Derby. Walcott also rode Broadway Empire in the race a year ago, and like Diodoro celebrated the richest win of his career at Remington.

Bay of Biscay makes a couple of notable moves for Sunday. He’s back on dirt after finishing 10th in the $200,000 Mystic Lake Derby at Canterbury in his turf debut Sept. 13. Bay of Biscay is also returning to the distance of his maiden win in June.

“He really didn’t pick up the bit like he should have at Canterbury, and a lot of it had to do with the grass,” Diodoro said. “I think getting back on the dirt is definitely going to help him.”

Diodoro said Jorge Carreno is scheduled to ride Bay of Biscay.

Edison races for three of the four partners who won last year’s Oklahoma Derby with Broadway Empire: Fouad El Kardy, Bob Butz, and Rick Running Rabbit. Bay of Biscay is owned by El Kardy, Running Rabbit, and Charles Garvey.

Broadway Empire won an off-the-turf allowance at Canterbury in his last start Sept. 1. Castletown will enter the Remington Park Sprint Championship off a win in the HBPA Sprint at Canterbury, posting a career-high 101 Beyer Figure.