Number One Dude back to grass in Red Earth repeat bid

Number One Dude will be doing some surface hopping over the next month, and it starts Friday night when he makes a rare appearance on the grass for the $50,000 Red Earth at Remington Park.

“We’re ultimately looking at the Oklahoma Classics Cup back on the dirt, but this is a good prep,” said Scott Young, who trains Number One Dude.

The Red Earth is one of three Oklahoma-bred stakes on the card, and all should produce starters for the $1 million Oklahoma Classics Night program of stakes Oct. 20 at Remington.

Number One Dude is part of a field of 12 for the Red Earth, a 7 1/2-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up that drew last year’s Classics Cup winner, That’s Something, and last year’s Classics Turf winner, Tap the Dot.

:: Bet with the Best! Get Free DRF PPs and Cashback when you wager. Join DRF Bets.

Number One Dude won last year’s Red Earth by a neck over That’s Something in what has been Number One Dude’s lone start on the grass. He comes into this year’s renewal off a close fourth-place finish against open company in last month’s $100,000 Governor’s Cup at Remington.

“He couldn’t be doing any better,” Young said. “He ran very well in the Governor’s Cup off the layoff. He just flattened out about the last eighth of a mile. We really think he will move forward off that performance.”

The Governor’s Cup has become a key race, producing a pair of next-out allowance winners in Holden the Lute and Presidential. Governor’s Cup winner Paluxy is entered back in the Remington Green for Sunday, which is Oklahoma Derby Day.

Leandro Goncalves has the mount on Number One Dude.

“He’s the kind of horse that places himself and usually it’s forwardly placed,” Young said.

Ghost Hero, a four-time stakes winner, entered in the Red Earth but will be scratched in favor of a start in the Oklahoma Derby, trainer Jayde Gelner said Tuesday.

Gelner on Friday will saddle Run Slewpy Run in the $50,000 Bob Barry Memorial, which is for fillies and mares over 7 1/2 furlongs on turf.

“She’s going for the three-peat,” Gelner said of the race Run Slewpy Run won in 2021 and 2022. “A lot of pressure on me, but pressure makes diamonds. So, hopefully, we’ll make diamonds.”

Run Slewpy Run made her first start for Gelner on Aug. 18 at Remington. She faced open company in a two-other-than allowance and was sixth, beaten four lengths in her first out since December.

“I think she should throw a big effort,” Gelner said. “She was coming off a layoff last time. She should run a lot sharper. She’s worked really good.”

Stewart Elliott has the mount from post 11.

Shannon C is looking for his second win in the $50,000 Remington Park Turf Sprint, a five-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up he captured in 2021. Shannon C is moving back to turf off a third-place finish in an allowance sprint over six furlongs in May at Will Rogers.

“He had a little break after the Will Rogers meet and has been training very well,” Young said. “I’m excited to see him run five-eighths again. We like the five-eighths. The shorter the better for him.”

The field includes the mare Ragan’s Jet, a four-time stakes winner.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.