Okie Ride trying to win Silver Goblin for third time
Okie Ride might have to fend off Z Rockstar in the late stages to win the $50,000 Silver Goblin for the third time in his career Friday night at Remington Park. The 6 1/2-furlong race is restricted to 3-year-olds and up bred in Oklahoma.
Okie Ride, an 8-year-old who has won stakes in both of his starts in 2015, captured the Silver Goblin at 5 and 6. He also was second in last year’s running to Johnny Whip, who defends his title Friday. Z Rockstar is another past winner of the Silver Goblin, accounting for a dead-heat win with Okie Ride in the 2013 renewal.
The field of 11 for the Silver Goblin also includes the stakes winners Imahit, Chifforobe, and Perfect to Please.
KEY CONTENDERS
Z Rockstar (Last 3 Beyers: 88-81-84)
◗ He will be cutting back from two turns off a pacesetting effort in the $151,750 Oklahoma Classics Cup at 1 1/16 miles on Oct. 16 at Remington. Z Rockstar finished second in that race to Shotgun Kowboy, the winner of the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby who is being pointed for the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs.
◗ Z Rockstar could get a stalking trip behind Okie Ride and Chifforobe, both of whom are tucked to his inside. The pace also could be contested by Imahit.
◗ Ramon Vazquez has the mount on Z Rockstar for trainer Donnie Von Hemel. Robert Zoellner bred and owns five-time stakes winner Z Rockstar.
Okie Ride (Last 3 Beyers: 92-88-87)
◗ He is seeking his third straight stakes win, following the $50,000 Remington Park Turf Sprint in his 8-year-old debut Sept. 11 and the $118,900 Oklahoma Classics Sprint at that track Oct. 16.
◗ Okie Ride has won 10 stakes in his career. He boasts a 9-for-24 record over the main track at Remington.
◗ Okie Ride, who will break from post 4 under Luis Quinonez, has tactical speed and could track Chifforobe.
◗ Okie Ride races for his breeder, the Richter Family Trust, and is trained by Kenneth Nolen.
Imahit (Last 3 Beyers: 86-92-81)
◗ He exits the Oklahoma Classics Sprint, in which he finished third to Okie Ride.
◗ Imahit faced open-company sprinters in August and September at Remington, running second to Ivan Fallunovalot in the $76,500 David M. Vance Sprint and third to that same rival in the $151,650 Remington Park Sprint Cup.
◗ Jareth Loveberry has the mount for owner-trainer-breeder C.R. Trout.