Oklahoma Derby gets a boost

The purse for the Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park has been boosted to $300,000 for its 2007 running on Oct. 21.

The 1 1/8-mile race will be the richest of 30 stakes worth more than $2.1 million during the upcoming 69-date meet at Remington. The season opens Aug. 2 and runs through Dec. 1.

Last year, the Oklahoma Derby was worth $250,000 and was run on a Friday night. This year, the race has been moved to a Sunday afternoon. The Oklahoma Derby will be supported by three other stakes: the Remington Green and MEC Mile, each worth $100,000, and the $75,000 Remington Park Sprint Championship.

In another change to the stakes schedule, Remington has carded three stakes for females the night before the Oklahoma Derby, on Oct. 20. The program will be led by the $75,000 Remington Park Oaks.

Remington has also scheduled a trio of stakes for its Labor Day card on Sept. 3, topped by the $150,000 DeBartolo Memorial Breeders' Cup at 1 1/8 miles on turf. Also on the program will be the Ricks Memorial for fillies and mares at a mile on turf, and the Clever Trevor for 2-year-olds at six furlongs. Those races are each worth $50,000.

Oklahoma Classics Day is Sept. 29. There are eight stakes for eligible Oklahoma-breds. Purses for the races total $500,000.

Remington is scheduled to race Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 6:30 p.m. Central and Sundays at 1:30 p.m.