Oklahoma Derby goes to Owendale

Owendale picked up his third Grade 3 win on the year Sunday night, when he advanced four wide on the final turn of the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park en route to a 1 3/4-length win over pacesetter Sleepy Eyes Todd. Chess Chief was another neck back in third, a head in front of 4-5 favorite Mucho Gusto in fourth.

The Oklahoma Derby was part of a 13-race card that featured eight stakes. The races were worth $1.1 million to make for the richest program of the meet at Remington.

Owendale ($6.20), who had won the Grade 3 Lexington in April and the Grade 3 Ohio Derby in June, was the second choice in the Oklahoma Derby. He was content to let the speed go, as 40-1 shot Sleepy Eyes Todd, with Mucho Gusto in close pursuit, set fractions of 23.95 seconds for the opening quarter, 48.03 for the half-mile, and 1:12.32 for six furlongs.

Owendale launched his bid into the final turn, traveling four wide around the bend and into the stretch as the team of horses continued on toward the wire. Owendale dug in to get past a battling Mucho Gusto, Sleepy Eyes Todd, and 35-1 shot Chess Chief, then moved clear in the later stages. The winner covered 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:49.29.

“He made a big, wide move – the way he likes to run best,” said winning rider Florent Geroux. “He ran a great race.”

Brad Cox trains Owendale for Rupp Racing. Earlier this year the horse ran third in the Preakness. He came into the Oklahoma Derby off a fifth-place finish to Code of Honor in the Travers. Owendale earned $240,000 for his win Sunday, improving his career record to five wins from 12 starts for earnings of $958,725. He is a son of Into Mischief.

Tax was scratched from the Oklahoma Derby.

Space Mountain takes Remington Green

Space Mountain became a stakes winner in the $100,000 Remington Green when he closed from next to last to edge Mr. Misunderstood by a half-length. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to Keep Quiet in third.

Space Mountain ($20.60) was content to let the pace go as Popularity set pressured fractions of 23.71 seconds for the opening quarter, 47.73 for the half-mile, and 1:11.41 for six furlongs. Space Mountain picked up horses on the final turn and closed through the stretch to cover 1 1/8 miles on firm turf in 1:47.45.

“When I asked him the last quarter, he responded,” said winning rider Ramon Vazquez. “Everytime I asked him, he responded well.”

Mike Maker trains Space Mountain for Hooties Racing and Michael Hui. The horse by Street Cry has now won 6 of 30 starts and the first-place check of $60,000 on Sunday pushed his earnings to $339,130.

► Trixie Racer ($8) won a photo over Topless in the $50,000 E.L. Gaylord Memorial, the eighth and final stakes on the card Sunday. The winner covered 6 1/2 furlongs for 2-year-old fillies in 1:17.48. Danny Sorenson was aboard the daughter of Orb for Speed Racing 2018 and trainer Danny Pish.