Remington: Red Earth draws three Classics Day winners

The winners of three separate Oklahoma Classics Day stakes last year at Remington Park – J J’s Indy, Strategic Leader, and She’s All In – will square off Friday night in the $50,000 Red Earth. The stakes is the first of the Remington meet that opened Thursday, and will share a card with a $40,000 allowance prep for next month’s $50,000 Ricks Memorial.

The Red Earth, a 7 1/2-furlong turf race for 3-year-olds and up bred in Oklahoma, drew a field of 10.

J J’s Indy, who last fall wired the field in the $167,000 Oklahoma Classics Day Classic, has since won two turf races. He defeated open-company rivals in his most recent start July 2, when he stalked and pounced his way to a half-length win in a wide open allowance on turf at Lone Star Park. The Beyer Figure of 84 that J J’s Indy earned is the best last-race number in the Friday field. Luis Quinonez has the mount for trainer Brent Charlton.

Strategic Leader, the winner of last year’s $137,000 Oklahoma Classics Day Turf, is making his second start since that October race. He has compiled a strong record over the Remington course, having gone 9 for 20 on the surface. Cliff Berry has the mount for trainer Roger Engel.

She’s All In, an 11-length winner of the $136,000 Oklahoma Classics Day Distaff, is moving back to turf after a series of main track starts. When last seen on the local course she won the $50,000 Ladies On the Lawn for Oklahoma-breds in November. The success against statebreds helped She’s All In take down the Oklahoma Racing Commission’s horse of the year award for 2010. It is based on earnings and was announced last Saturday night. Glen Murphy has the mount Friday for Robert Zoellner and trainer Donnie Von Hemel.

◗ Slide On Bye will seek her second straight win Friday in the Ricks Memorial prep that goes as the fifth race. She closed fast for a neck win in a wide-open allowance at Lone Star in her most recent start July 4. Slide on Bye’s chief rivals include Skedee, winner of the $122,000 Oklahoma Classics Filly and Mare Turf last October, and Plesantly Blessed, who took the Ricks Memorial in 2009.

◗ Shotgun Gulch, a five-time stakes winner who in April took the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland, was named the Oklahoma Thoroughbred Association’s horse of the year for 2010 during the same banquet that honored She’s All In. Shotgun Gulch races for her breeder, C.R. Trout.