Lady Apple bests Gold Standard in Remington Oaks

Lady Apple edged Gold Standard after a tight stretch battle in the Grade 3, $200,000 Remington Park Oaks and with the win lifted Steve Asmussen past his own track record for trainer wins on a Remington card. The Oaks was Asmussen’s sixth victory on the card and one race later he added a seventh, when Mt. Brave captured the $50,000 Flashy Lady Stakes. All of the winners were ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr.

Asmussen shared Remington’s record for trainer wins on a card with Wade White, reaching the mark of five three times. Wade had five winners on a card in 1993, according to Dale Day, track announcer at Remington. Asmussen had five winners twice on a card in 2018 and once in 2017. He is the current leading trainer at Remington.

“Very good day to do it,” Asmussen said of hitting the record on Oklahoma Derby Day. “We’re blessed with opportunities, obviously given horses with a lot of talent.”

Asmussen also credited the work of his local assistants, Darren Fleming and Pablo Ocampo, as well as the stables’ other team members at Remington.

Lady Apple ($4.40) sat just behind the leaders in the four-horse Remington Park Oaks, stalking as Classic Fit took the field through an opening quarter in 23.75 seconds and Gold Standard took over through a half-mile in 47.07.

Gold Standard continued to duel between rivals through six furlongs in 1:10.57 as Lady Apple advanced on the final turn and in the stretch moved past Gold Standard, who fought back along the rail and ended up second by a half-length. It was another 7 3/4 lengths back to Classic Fit in third. Lady Apple covered 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:43.65.

Lady Apple was winning her third Grade 3 race of the year, behind the Fantasy in April at Oaklawn and the Iowa Oaks in July at Prairie Meadows. In between those starts she was third in the Kentucky Oaks.

Lady Apple is a daughter of Curlin who races for Phoenix Thoroughbred III and KatieRich Stables.

“She’s a quality filly – this was a good win for her,” Asmussen said. “Horses by Curlin get better with age, and we’re sure looking forward to her future.”

Lady Apple has now won five of 11 starts for earnings of $811,950. She gave Asmussen his fourth win in the Remington Park Oaks and Santana his second, it was announced at Remington.

Mt. Brave ($12.80) was prominent throughout to win the Flashy Lady over Okie Diva, covering six furlongs on a fast track in 1:08.54. The winner is a daughter of Malibu Moon and the millionaire mare Wild Gams who races for Stonestreet Stables and Peter Leidel.

Santana's win equaled a Remington record for jockey wins on a card. Santana now shares that record with Cliff Berry, who set the mark in 2010, according to an announcement at Remington.

There were still three more races on the card at the time Santana set the record Sunday.