George Taylor pulls upset on Oklahoma Classics Day

George Taylor pulled the biggest upset of the Oklahoma Classics Day program on Saturday night at Remington Park when he rallied for a three-quarter length win over Expensive Risk in the $75,000 Classic and paid $47.80.

The race was the richest of seven statebred stakes on the card, with purses totaling $285,000.

George Taylor($47.80) settled well off the pace early in the mile and a sixteenth race for 3-year-olds and up, and in the stretch ran down Expensive Risk, as well as third-place finisher Coldiron Slew. He covered the distance over a fast track in 1:45.04.

Nena Matz rode the winner for trainer Ricky Gustafson. George Taylor, who had been racing in turf starters of late, earned $43,530 for his victory in the Classic. His record now stands at 5 wins from 20 starts for earnings of $81,693. George Taylor races for his owner and breeder, Rash Barrett.

In other races, Medium Rare($2.80) won the $35,000 Sprint for the third consecutive time when he was prominent throughout for a length and a half win over Notable Okie. He covered six furlongs in 1:10.83 under Cliff Berry, who had the mount for trainer Roger Engel.

o Bayakoa's Image($6.60) defended her title in the $35,000 Distaff when she rolled to a nine and a half length win over 1-2 favorite Devout Sinner. Kevin Cogburn rode the winner for trainer O.J. Osborn.

o Okie Style($6.60) picked up his third straight stakes win when he rallied for a length win over favorite Depop in the $35,000 Juvenile. Don Pettinger rode the winner for trainer Donnie Von Hemel.

o Von Hemel and Pettinger also teamed to win the $35,000 Turf with wire to wire winner April's Lucky Boy($3.80). He won by two and three-quarter lengths over Dance And Dazzle.

o In the $35,000 Filly and Mare Turf, Slew Ann($4.20) was up for a neck win over Go Go Okie. Kirk LeBlanc rode the winner for trainer Cole Norman.

o Aspen Gal won her second straight stakes in the $35,000 Lassie for 2-year-old fillies. Berry rode Aspen Gal, a three-length winner over Revealing Blush, for trainer Wilson Brown.

o The Classics Day program was held at night for the first time in its 11 runnings, and the ontrack crowd of 2,567 represented a 6 percent increase in attendance for the series over 2002.