Expensive auction buy Lebron J to debut at Remington

Lebron J made headlines in the spring of 2018, when the Medaglia d’Oro colt brought $1.2 million at auction. He’s scheduled to make his long-awaited debut Wednesday night at an unexpected venue – Remington Park in Oklahoma City.

Lebron J’s journey entering Wednesday’s maiden special weight over six furlongs includes works in Southern California, Kentucky and, of late, Remington. The horse, who is 3, has drawn into a competitive race, with the chief threats the more experienced runners Jerry’s Got Aces and Bodefecta. Trainer Steve Asmussen has given the mount to Ramon Vazquez.

Owner Phoenix Thoroughbred III purchased Lebron J out of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic auction of 2-year-olds in training in Timonium, Md. He topped that sale on a ticket signed by Dennis O’Neill – bloodstock agent and brother of trainer Doug O’Neill – and was subsequently named for basketball great LeBron James, according to DRF Breeding.

Lebron J last summer was working at Santa Anita for trainer Doug O’Neill, according to reporting from Daily Racing Form. The horse made his way to the Midwest this year, and after working some at Keeneland and Churchill, lands in Wednesday night’s sixth race for 3-year-olds and up.

Lebron J is out of the Tapit mare Tapicat, a Grade 3 winner who earned $272,668. The colt is one of several runners for Phoenix that Asmussen has had this meet at Remington, chief among them Lady Apple, winner of the Grade 3, $200,000 Remington Park Oaks.