Remington Park: Speed sets up Skipjack

Skipjack should get all the pace he needs up front to fuel his late run Sunday in the $30,000 Norman Stakes at Remington Park, thanks to the presence of sprinters Pogamoggan, Abbi's Choice and Red Work in the one-mile turf race for 3-year-olds, which has drawn 11.

Skipjack comes into the Norman following a fifth-place finish in the $40,000 Bossier City Turf Handicap at Louisiana Downs. He suffered through a rough trip in that race, and was given almost two months to regroup. Works for his return have been sharp, and with a potential speed duel between the Norman's three sprinters, the late-running Skipjack could recapture his summer form, when he won back-to-back two-turn turf allowances at Lone Star Park.

Gerard Melancon will ride Skipjack, a son of Prized, for owner Heililgbrodt Racing Stable and trainer Troy Young.

Kris Havingfunnow, the field's most accomplished runner with two stakes wins on turf and $147,820 in earnings, will also benefit if the pace is fast in the Norman. In his last start, he closed with a rush to win a tight photo in the $35,000 Jim Bowie Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile turf race at Retama Park. Steve Bourque has the mount for owner William Brown and trainer Jerenesto Torrez.