Jazzy Okie tries two turns on turf

Jazzy Okie has emerged as one of the best 2-year-old fillies in the Mid-South region, and the direction her campaign will take next year will be shaped somewhat on Saturday night, when she makes her two-turn and turf debut in the $40,000 Cimarron at Remington Park.

Jazzy Okie will go favored in the 7 1/2-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies by virtue of a 3-for-5 career record that includes a win over colts in the Iowa Stallion Futurity at Prairie Meadows.

"She's a real nice filly, and has a lot of heart and a lot of try to her," said Donnie Von Hemel, who trains Jazzy Okie for Richter Family Trust.

In her most recent out, Jazzy Okie won the $40,000 E.L. Gaylord over 6 1/2 furlongs at Remington Oct. 15. The third-place finisher in the Gaylord, Yaddo Cat, returned in her next start to win a stakes at Zia Park.

Jazzy Okie, meanwhile, has been working on turf for the Cimarron.

"It's a good chance to find something out about her," said Von Hemel. "If [she] can do the turf, or can do the two turns, those are the answers we need to know, to kind of tell us what to do with her this coming year."

Von Hemel said he looks for Jazzy Okie to be with the pace Saturday. She will break from post 4 under Don Pettinger.