Remington: Que Deseo gets more ground in turf feature

The additional distance Que Deseo picks up in Thursday night’s eighth race at Remington Park should be a boon for the half-brother to multiple Grade 2 winner Wasted Tears. He goes in a 1 1/16-mile turf allowance that has a $50,000 claiming option. The race is one of two intriguing offerings on the eve of Friday night’s $1 million Oklahoma Classics program at Remington. In the fifth Thursday night, multiple stakes winner Stachys takes on 3-year-olds Texas Bling and Steelman Run.

Que Deseo is part of a nine-horse field that includes several runners exiting the $100,000 Remington Green on Sept. 29. Caberneigh, No Spin, and Tiz Tee Time, who were a respective second, third, and fourth in the stakes, all return. Thursday’s field also includes the popular Nebraska-bred Diamond Joe.

“It’s a tough race,” said Bart Evans, who bred, owns, and trains Que Deseo. “There’s not any slouches in there.”

Que Deseo last raced at a mile on turf, and was a closing third under Remington’s all-time leading jockey, Cliff Berry. The horse was beaten 2 3/4 lengths in a race that went in a quick 1:34, and for the effort he earned his best career Beyer Figure, an 81. Evans said he likes the added distance the horse will get on Thursday.

“I think that might hit him even better,” he said.

“The fact that Cliff wanted to stay with him is also encouraging.”

Que Deseo drew post 8.

No Spin is a threat to wire the field if he shakes free from his rail post. He set the pace in the Remington Green, then was overtaken by winner Daddy Nose Best and runner-up Caberneigh.

Adding further depth to Thursday’s feature is Red Lead, a multiple stakes winner of 13 races and $795,677 who is making his first start since finishing fourth as the favorite in the $100,000 Arapahoe Park Classic on Aug. 11.

In the fifth race, Stachys is the most accomplished member of the eight horses set to start in an optional $25,000 claimer at a mile. An earner of more than $500,000, Stachys will be seeking his 10th career win.

Stachys enters off a fifth-place finish at a similar level at Remington on Sept. 21. Luis Quinonez has the mount on the horse, who might get more pace to run at than he did in his most recent out, courtesy of New Mexico shipper Worthington, the rail-drawn Bold Stephen, and Frederico.

Michael Biehler trains Stachys for Al and Bill Ulwelling.

Texas Bling, the winner of last year’s $300,000 Springboard Mile at Remington, will be making his second start off a layoff Thursday, while Steelman Run is moving back to the main track following a second-level allowance win on turf at Remington on Sept. 27.

Omniscient might pose the greatest danger to all as he will be returning to a mile, the distance of his last two wins, after sprinting in a quick race at Lone Star Park. Ramon Vazquez has the mount for leading trainer Steve Asmussen.

Catalano looking at Oaklawn

Trainer Wayne Catalano, who is operating one of the hottest stables in the Midwest, said he is leaning towards sending a division of horses to the Oaklawn Park meet that opens in January. Catalano said he would like to send about 35 horses to the track in Hot Springs, Ark.

“We’re highly thinking about coming,” he said Monday.

Catalano won the Arkansas Derby in 1997 with Crypto Star. He has had just a handful of starters at Oaklawn since then, among them Injustice, who won the Grade 3 Azeri in 2005.

Catalano went 10 for 15 to win the Kentucky Downs title earlier this fall, and late last month wrapped up the title at Arlington Park.

◗ Cameo Appearance, who was second in the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby, is being freshened, Catalano said. “We’ll bring him back next year,” he said Monday