Madewell can do better in Oklahoma Distance Challenge final

Madewell can be forgiven for finishing third in a division of the Oklahoma Distance Challenge trials at Remington Park on April 11. The objective of the race was to qualify for Sunday’s $40,299 final at 870 yards.

Madewell won the 2019 Oklahoma Distance Challenge and was third in the $104,500 final at The Downs at Albuquerque last October, his final start of 2019. The April 11 trial was Madewell’s first start this year. He broke from the outside of a field of five and finished third by 3 3/4 lengths.

The draw for Sunday’s race was kinder for Madewell, a 6-year-old gelding owned by Ray and Davy Madewell and trained by Bernard Baca. Madewell will break from post 3 in a field of eight.

With a short run to the turn, jockey Stormy Smith can place Madewell in a good position to save ground. Madewell is quick enough to take the lead, but can win from off the pace.

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The eight runners with the fastest finishing times from the trials earned berths in Sunday’s final. The winner receives a berth in the Distance Challenge Championship in Albuquerque in the fall.

The Oklahoma Distance Challenge is the seventh race on a 10-race program that begins at 7 p.m. Eastern, or 6 p.m. Central. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Ms Esther, second in the rich final in Albuquerque last October, will start from post 6. A 6-year-old mare trained by Jordan Baumann, Ms Esther will be making her fourth start of the Remington Park meeting on Sunday.

Ms Esther won an allowance race at 870 yards on March 2, finished fourth in the $42,980 Pauls Valley Stakes at the distance on April 2, and was second to Higher Flyin Eagle at 3-10 in a division of the April 11 trials, finishing in front of Madewell.

Sunday’s race will be the stakes debut for Higher Flyin Eagle, who won a maiden race for $10,000 claimers at 440 yards at Remington Park a year ago Sunday. Higher Flyin Eagle is unbeaten in two starts at 870 yards.

JB Gray Dawn, who won the second trial on April 11, was not entered in Sunday’s final. The race is also missing Let There Be Sound, the 2019 champion distance horse who won the Pauls Valley. Let There Be Sound did not start in the Oklahoma Distance Challenge trials, held only nine days after the Pauls Valley.