Pleasant Storm points to Oklahoma Derby

Pleasant Storm could be headed to the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby after winning last weekend’s allowance prep for the race to improve his Remington Park record to 3 for 3. Pleasant Storm was up for a half-length win in what was his first start since March.

“I liked his race,” said Joe Petalino, who trains Pleasant Storm for Vickie Fixley. “I think he had a little something left.”

Pleasant Storm was making his comeback in the one-mile allowance after having a bone chip taken out of a knee this past spring. Last season, he won his debut and the $50,000 Oklahoma Classics Juvenile at Remington. Pleasant Storm went on to run second in the $100,000 Smarty Jones at Oaklawn in January.

The Oklahoma Derby, at 1 1/8 miles, will be run Oct. 10. Petalino said the other next-race option for Pleasant Storm is the $175,000 Oklahoma Classics Day Classic on Oct. 22.

The allowance Saturday was one of two features Petalino won last week at Remington. Brickyard Fast is poised to return to stakes competition after he took a first-level allowance by more than two lengths Sept. 15, covering six furlongs in a sharp 1:10.40.

Petalino said that Brickyard Fast is now a candidate for the $50,000 Kip Deville for 2-year-olds at six furlongs at Remington on Oct. 8.

Brickyard Fast took a June 18 maiden special weight by 10 lengths over the summer at Lone Star Park, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 87.

◗ Shotgun Gulch, a multiple-stakes-winning sprinter, will make a rare start at two turns in Friday night’s ninth race, a $50,000 optional claimer for fillies and mares at 7 1/2 furlongs on turf.