Hence closes strong to win Governor's Cup

Hence put in a powerful closing bid to win the $175,000 Governor’s Cup by 3 1/4 lengths over Forevamo on Sunday night at Remington Park.

It was another three-quarters of a length back to Shotgun Kowboy in third.

The Governor’s Cup was one of 10 stakes on the Oklahoma Derby Day card Sunday.

Hence ($4.40) trailed by double digits early on as Pinson set fractions of 23.93 seconds for the opening quarter, 48.23 for the half-mile and 1:12.28 for six furlongs while under pressure from Shotgun Kowboy. Hence literally moved into the picture heading into the final turn and put in a determined stretch run to catch the leaders. He then went on to cover the 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:49.87.

“He’s put a couple good races together late in the year,” trainer Steve Asmussen told Remington television host Richard Linihan. “He won a nice race at Albuquerque and reproduced that race today.”

Hence had won the $200,000 Downs at Albuquerque Handicap in August. He came into the Governor’s Cup off a seventh-place finish to Yoshida in the Grade 1 Woodward at Saratoga.

Ricardo Santana Jr. was aboard Hence for the horse’s owner and breeder, Calumet Farm.

The win was the fourth stakes victory on the card for Asmussen and Santana, with the Oklahoma Derby and Ricks Memorial still to be run Sunday. Last year, the men teamed to win four races on the Oklahoma Derby Day card, including the Governor’s Cup with Iron Fist.

Hence, a son of Street Boss, has now won five of 17 starts for earnings of $878,731.

Asmussen and Santana swept the card’s stakes for 2-year-olds, when B.B. Dude accounted for the $75,000 Kip Deville and Adventurous Lady captured the $50,000 E.L. Gaylord Memorial. Both horses race for Jerry Durant.

B.B. Dude ($12.40) won his second straight stakes when he was up for a neck win over Fast Breakin Cash in the Kip Deville, which is the first stop on Remington’s road to the $400,000 Springboard Mile, a Kentucky Derby points race in December. He covered six furlongs in 1:10.14. B.B. Dude is by Shakin It Up and came into the Kip Deville off a win in the $50,000 Manzano at the Downs at Albuquerque.

Adventurous Lady ($4.20) was winning her third straight race in the E.L. Gaylord, rolling by 5 1/4 lengths over stablemate Ta. The winner covered 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.13. Adventurous Lady won a Remington allowance earlier this month and prior to that captured a division of the Texas Thoroughbred Futurity at Lone Star Park. She is by Kantharos.

Asmussen and Santana also won the Grade 3, $200,000 Remington Park Oaks with She’s a Julie.

Welder takes David M. Vance

Welder, a reliable Oklahoma-bred stakes winner, picked up the biggest win of his career in the $150,000 David M. Vance, darting home by 3 1/4 lengths over Leadem in Ken. It was another neck back in third to Pop Keenan, who finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of fourth-place finisher and favorite Petrov.

Welder ($9.80) was with the pace throughout, dueling with Wings Locked Up through fractions of 21.69 seconds for the opening quarter and the half-mile in 44.07. The winner went on, and covered the six furlongs on a fast track in 1:08.67.

“He was ears up, just relaxing,” winning rider David Cabrera said of the pace battle. “I really wanted to ride this horse. I just kind of let him do whatever he wants to do. He knows what to do.”

Cabrera was aboard for trainer Theresa Luneack.

Welder has now won 13 of 21 starts and $515,151. He is a son of The Visualiser and races for Ra-Max Farms.

Luneack said Welder will be pointed to the Oklahoma Classics Sprint next month at Remington.

* Perfect to Please ($15.60) shot up the rail for a two-length win over favorite and pacesetter Pacific Typhoon in the $70,000 Red Earth.

Trainer Veronica Griggs trains both horses, with Perfect to Please winning his second Red Earth, a race that Pacific Typhoon won in 2017.

Perfect to Please, who was winning his third straight race at the meet, covered 7 1/2 furlongs on firm turf in 1:28.54. Kevin Roman rode the winner for Elada Kirk. Perfect to Please is an 8-year-old by Pleasantly Perfect.

* Marquee Miss ($3.40), a half-sister to recent Grade 1 winner Promises Fulfilled, won the fifth stakes race of her career when she rolled by 5 1/4 lengths in the $50,000 Flashy Lady. She was with the pace throughout and covered the six furlongs for fillies and mares in 1:08.90. Jermaine Bridgmohan was aboard for Rags Racing Stable and trainer Ingrid Mason.

* Gianna’s Dream ($3.40) ran her record over the Remington turf course to 5 for 5 in the $70,000 Bob Barry Memorial, a 7 1/2-furlong turf race for Oklahoma-bred fillies and mares she won two years ago at 3. She won by three lengths Sunday and covered the distance in 1:29.66. Jose Ortiz was aboard for Jordan Wycoff and trainer Mike Maker.