Military Major rallies in derby

OKLAHOMA CITY - Military Major gave his trainer, Mike Caraman, and his rider, Jeff Burningham, the biggest wins of their careers on Friday night when he rallied for a three-quarter-length win over Real Dandy in the $150,000 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park.

The 1 1/8-mile race was the richest of five stakes on the card.

Military Major ($16.20) settled about six lengths behind pacesetter Lumbre, who led the field through fractions of 23.39 seconds for the opening quarter and 48.52 seconds for the half-mile mark. Military Major moved up down the backside, went around rivals on the final turn, and persevered through the stretch, covering the distance over a fast track in 1:49.49.

"We came home strong," said Burningham. "Even galloping out, he was still going strong. Mike said this horse was bred to run all day, and I quite agree with him."

Military Major is a son of Rahy and out of the Woodman mare Ms. Teak Wood, making him a half-brother to Grade 3 winner Acceptable. He races for the Kinsman Stable of George Steinbrenner, and came into the Oklahoma Derby off a fourth-place finish in the Grade 2, $750,000 Super Derby.

Caraman said Military Major will likely be freshened, then considered for the Grade 3, $100,000 Fred W. Hooper at 1 1/8 miles at Calder Race Course on Dec. 17. The gelding earned $90,000 for the win Friday, his second from seven career starts. He has now earned $150,400.

Golden Rainbow finished third in the Oklahoma Derby, followed by Lumbre, Kilates Kiss, Flying Eagle, Lucky Bid, Jazzy Gallop, Tricky Slew, and Lear Force.

Double for Vinery, Asmussen

Test Boy ($9) was up for a nose win over Out Our Way in the $75,000 MEC Mile, one of two stakes that Vinery Stables and trainer Steve Asmussen won on the card. They also scored with More Than Promised ($5.40), who was an explosive 8 1/4-length winner of the first division of the $40,000 Remington Park Oaks.

Quincy Hamilton rode Test Boy, who covered the mile for 2-year-olds in 1:38.26. Premier Dance was scratched, and Test Boy was a slight favorite over Out Our Way.

Luis Quinonez rode More Than Promised, who covered the mile on turf in 1:34.89.

Three straight for 'Dontbother'

Dontbotherknocking ($5.80) won his third consecutive stakes in the $50,000 Remington Green, when he split horses in midstretch and went on to a 1 3/4-length win over Missme.

Hamilton rode the winner for Frank Jedlicki and trainer Bernell Rhone.

Dontbotherknocking won the $125,000 DeBartolo Memorial and the $125,000 Harrah's Louisiana Downs Handicap in his two starts leading up to the Green.

* Where's Bailey ($4.20) was a two-length winner of the second division of the $40,000 Remington Park Oaks. Glen Murphy rode the winner for trainer Bret Calhoun.

* Remington handled $1,163,155 on the card, up significantly from last year's handle of $685,354 on the corresponding program. Attendance was also up over last year, as 3,508 patrons were ontrack Friday compared to last year's draw of 2,044.