Okie Ride seeks fourth straight Turf Sprint title
Okie Ride will have to overcome a long layoff and 11 rivals to win the $50,000 Remington Park Turf Sprint for the fourth straight year Friday night in Oklahoma City.
The Turf Sprint, at five-eighths of a mile, is the first stakes of the meet. It is restricted to 3-year-olds and up bred in Oklahoma. The card also includes an optional $50,000 claiming route that drew multiple stakes winner Ibaka.
The Turf Sprint has drawn a full house, including Bring It On Dude, a two-time stakes winner last year at Remington, and Dancing Diva, who takes on males during a year in which she dominated an Oaklawn allowance at 44-1.
Turf Sprint, Race 8
KEY CONTENDERS
Okie Ride, by Candy Ride
Last 3 Beyers: 87-82-92
◗ The 9-year-old horse will be making his first start since December, when he ran second in an open-company allowance at Remington. Okie Ride followed the same schedule into last year’s Turf Sprint. He ran second in an open-company allowance in December before launching his season in the Turf Sprint.
◗ Okie Ride has shown versatility in turf sprints, stalking for a half-length win on “good” ground in 2014 and racing with the pace on firm ground in 2015. He boasts a 3-for-3 record on turf, with his lone starts on the surface coming in the Turf Sprint.
◗ Luis Quinonez was aboard for Okie Ride’s win in the Turf Sprint last year and will team with him Friday from post 2.
◗ Kenneth Nolen trains Okie Ride for his breeder, the Richter Family Trust.
Bring It On Dude, by Munnings
Last 3 Beyers: 73-77-80
◗ He won three of four starts last year at Remington, including the $79,000 Kip Deville over Grade 3 winner He’s Comin in Hot and the $89,000 Oklahoma Classics Juvenile.
◗ Both races were run around one turn, and he will be cutting back to that configuration.
◗ Bring It On Dude will be making his turf debut, and his sire gets 11 percent winners from his first-time turfers and 14 percent winners overall on grass.
◗ Jareth Loveberry has the mount for trainer C.R. Trout.