Remington: Explosive Count the main speed

They will not beat Explosive Count in the $40,000 Chuck Taliaferro Memorial at Remington Park on Sunday if he runs back to his win July 1. That's when Explosive Count romped by 7 1/2 lengths in a $20,000 claiming race and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 105.

He showed a high turn of foot in the race, when he ran the opening half-mile in 43.60 seconds and finished up six furlongs in 1:08. Explosive Count will go the same distance in the Taliaferro, where he will face five others, including Abbi's Choice, Silver Phone, and Ski Bum.

Explosive Count has raced just once since his romp at Lone Star Park, finishing second in an Arlington Park allowance that carried an optional claiming price of $62,500. Since then, he has worked three furlongs in 35 seconds in preparation for the Taliaferro.

Cliff Berry, who won with 39 percent of his mounts over the opening weekend at Remington, will ride Explosive Count for Carl Moore Management and trainer Bret Calhoun.

The chief pace threat to Explosive Count is Abbi's Choice, who wired the field in the $43,000 Tulsa Dash over four furlongs at Fair Meadows Tulsa on June 19. Earlier this year, Abbi's Choice earned a Beyer Figure of 109 when he led throughout to win a $40,000 claiming race at Oaklawn Park.

If he and Explosive Count were to duel, the race could set up for the late run of either Silver Phone or Ski Bum.