Dont Tell Noobody, a Caldwell claim, posts $81 upset in Oklahoma Classics Cup

Owner Danny Caldwell was looking for an Oklahoma-bred closer when he haltered Dont Tell Noobody at Lone Star Park for $15,000 in late July. He ended up with so much more.

Dont Tell Noobody upset the richest race on offer for Oklahoma-breds last Friday night at Remington Park, the $175,000 Oklahoma Classics Cup. He paid $81.40.

“I knew several horses who were going to be in the race and felt we could get a real hot and heavy pace,” Caldwell said. “One of the reasons I claimed him is because he’s a horse that likes to lay back.

“In Oklahoma, a horse who will lay back, a statebred, you’ve got a chance to win some races. We breed a lot for speed here.”

Dont Tell Noobody, a 3-year-old by Cyber Secret, won his maiden for a $7,500 claiming price in March at Will Rogers Downs. He closed from 29 lengths back to win the one-mile race.

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Dont Tell Noobody sat closer in the Classics Cup, racing about six lengths off the pace. He went on to a length win, and the Beyer Speed Figure of 90 that he earned is a career-high number for the horse. Sophie Doyle was aboard for trainer Federico Villafranco.

“We were very fortunate,” Caldwell said of getting the win Friday. “Freddy did a great job getting him prepared for the race, and Sophie did a great job laying back and knowing when to push the button.”

Caldwell has brought Doyle in to ride first call for him this meet at Remington Park. Caldwell is a perennial leading owner at the track and is currently tied atop the standings with Steve Asmussen.

Caldwell and Doyle – who had a double at the track Saturday – became acquainted during the Prairie Meadows meet in Iowa.

Doyle guided D’Rapper to a win in the Iowa Sprint for Caldwell in July.

“We beat Welder up there – that was a big win,” Caldwell said. “Welder is an awesome horse – one of the best-ever Oklahoma-breds. I liked the way she rode D’Rapper and asked her if she wanted to come ride at Remington.”

Villafrano is Caldwell’s primary trainer, but due to the pandemic the owner has had to spread out his stable to more tracks this year and has won races with six different trainers. A new face for Caldwell at Remington is Oscar Flores, who came on board when the barn had to split up over the summer, with Flores heading to Canterbury and Villafranco operating out of Lone Star.

◗ Undercover Lover, Gold Speed Go, and Please the Court appear to be the leading contenders in a first-level allowance sprint that highlights the Wednesday night card at Remington.