Remington opens meet with big fields, limited spectators

Remington Park in Oklahoma City will open a 67-date meet Friday night with spectators on the apron and large fields on the track.

The nine-race opener, led by the $75,000 Governor’s Cup, drew an average of 10.4 horses per race, while Saturday night’s card averages 10.7.

“Entries went well,” said Dale Day, announcer and spokesman for Remington.

The meet will extend a week later this year, to Dec. 20. The highlights remain the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby and Grade 3 Remington Park Oaks, which anchor a card of eight stakes Sept. 27, and the closing-day Springboard Mile for 2-year-olds, which traditionally carries points for the Kentucky Derby.

Remington is putting on its second meet during the coronavirus pandemic. The track ran Quarter Horses earlier this year, with spectators able to return to the races at the tail end of the season. Patrons will be able to be part of the Thoroughbred meet from Day 1.

“We will be limited on attendance,” Day said of restrictions. “The only thing open will be the track level, or ground level. That will be open to racing fans, 18 and over.

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“All fans are being asked to enter through the casino entrance, where they’ll go through a temperature screening, and everyone will be required to have a protective facial mask or covering.”

Day said admission and parking are free.

Remington’s casino is back operating with limited attendance. It was closed for two months earlier due to the pandemic, which has impacted some of the stakes purses. The Oklahoma Derby and Springboard Mile – the meet’s richest races – will be worth $200,000 each compared to their typical values of $400,000.

There will be a total of 32 stakes this meet, worth a cumulative $2.8 million. That’s a reduction of $820,000 from last year because of the temporary shutdown of both the casino and simulcasting.

The Oklahoma Derby Day card is worth $640,000. The Springboard Mile card features six stakes worth a total of $535,000. Both are Sunday programs that begin at 3 p.m. Central. The $1 million Oklahoma Classics card of eight stakes is Oct. 16. Post time for most cards will be 7:07 p.m.

The stakes schedule opens with the nine-horse Governor’s Cup, a 1 1/8-mile race that drew defending winner Mocito Rojo. Overall, there are eight stakes winners making up the field. Pioneer Spirit has more speed than most of his rivals and could show the way or track Hunka Burning Love, a front-runner who is moving from turf to dirt, where he won the $75,000 Lone Star Park Mile in June.

Steve Asmussen, who has won 15 training titles at Remington, will counter with Lamartine, Sheriff Brown, and Vangilder.

Ramon Vazquez has the mount on Pioneer Spirit for trainer Robertino Diodoro, who is back with a Remington stable after a four-year absence. Vazquez is coming off the riding title at Lone Star. David Cabrera, who has won the last two titles at Remington, has the mount on Hunka Burning Love.

The riders are part of a diverse and deep colony this meet at Remington.

“Sophie Doyle is riding here for the first time,” Day said. “Keith Asmussen, Steve’s son, is named on horses on Friday night.”

Day said that Assael Espinoza, who has been at Del Mar, will ride at the Remington meet.

Orlando Mojica will start riding at Remington on Aug. 28, said his agent, Bill Castle, who also represents Vazquez. Another new face is Jose Alvarez, who has been riding at Gulfstream. He will be represented by Monty Penney, according to Alvarez’s friend Fabio Arguello.

Day noted that Floyd Wethey Jr. is nearing 1,000 wins. Stewart Elliott, coming off a milestone of 5,000 wins, has returned to Remington after first venturing to the track in 2019. Others on hand include Richard Eramia and Luis Quinonez, who is set to ride Mocito Rojo.

The wagering format will have a new addition this meet, Day said.

“We are adding a pick four,” he said. “We always had the Primetime Pick 4 anchoring the final four races on any program. Now, we’re adding another pick four early on the card, starting in race 2. It’s a 50-cent minimum.”

The forecast for opening weekend is favorable in a region that has been suffering through high temperatures.

“We’re getting a break weather-wise,” Day said. “We’re in the 80s all week. That’s huge. The cooler temperatures are a welcome relief.”

And so is a return to some normal racing conditions.