Remington: Ricks Memorial pace scenario may be ideal for Aquapazza

Aquapazza could get the right kind of pace setup Friday night, when she seeks her second stakes win of the summer in the $50,000 Ricks Memorial at Remington Park. She will be invading from Kentucky for the one-mile turf race for fillies and mares that drew a field of 10.

Aquapazza closed from next to last to win the $50,000 Opelousas at Evangeline Downs on May 26. She came from nine lengths off the pace in that one-mile turf race, and could get a similar trip in the Ricks. Those who figure to make for honest fractions up front include Miss Natalie, a sprint stakes winner last out at Fair Meadows in Tulsa, and Devil in Diamonds, a front-runner making her first start since August 2011.

Jamie Theriot, who was aboard Aquapazza in the Opelousas, has the mount for Willow Lane Stable and trainer Ronny Werner. The Ricks will be Aquapazza’s second start since the Opelousas. In the $75,000 Firecracker at Mountaineer in her last race July 3, she finished seventh. Aquapazza has since been working at Churchill Downs.

The Ricks field also drew four runners from an Aug. 10 allowance at Remington that was won by She’s All In, the Grade 3 Sixty Sails winner earlier this year at Hawthorne who is now being pointed for defense of her title in the $100,000 River Cities at Louisiana Downs on Sept. 8, according to her trainer, Donnie Von Hemel.

Guanabara Gal was second in the Remington allowance, beaten a neck by She’s All In. Others coming out of the race are third-place finisher Patty’s Pride, fifth-place finisher Remit, and sixth-place finisher Lookinforachange.

Friday night’s card also includes two other high-end overnight races on the grass. Que Deseo, a half-brother to multiple Grade 2 winner Wasted Tears, heads an optional $40,000 claimer at 7 1/2 furlongs that could produce starters for the $125,000 Remington Green on Sept. 30. In a five-furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares, All About Allie, a stakes winner this spring at Oaklawn, makes a rare start on the grass. She will face stakes winner Skedee, who is 6- for 18 on the turf course at Remington.