Rider title race no cliffhanger

OKLAHOMA CITY - Welcome to Berrywood. Over the past two weeks at Remington Park, leading rider Cliff Berry has won 19 races, and if he keeps landing in the winner's circle at that pace, he could register career victory 2,000 by Sunday.

Berry, who is 10 wins from the milestone heading into the races Thursday night, is working on his seventh consecutive title at Remington. He has won 71 races at the current meet, 33 more than the second-leading rider, Rodney Trader.

"It's been so good here the last three or four years," said Berry, who will move his tack to Sam Houston for the first time since 1999 after the Remington meet closes in December.

Bien Nicole heads to Churchill

Bien Nicole, the Remington Park-based turf specialist who made it five in a row last Friday with her win in the $100,000 Estrapade Handicap at Arlington Park, shipped to Churchill Downs on Monday to prepare for the Grade 3, $150,000 Cardinal Handicap for fillies and mares on turf Nov. 23.

Bien Nicole won the $150,000 DeBartolo Breeders' Cup Memorial over male rivals at Remington one start before she traveled north to take the Estrapade under regular rider Don Pettinger. Donnie Von Hemel trains the filly for John and Kristine Richter.

Bien Nicole was one of two weekend stakes winners for the Richter, Von Hemel, and Pettinger team. On Sunday, those connections won the $50,000 Juvenile at Remington with Notable Okie. The colt is being pointed to the $75,000 MEC Mile at Remington on Dec. 1.

Turf may be next for Zee Oh Six

Turf could be the next stop for Zee Oh Six, who wired the field Sunday in the $75,000 Magna Entertainment Classic, the richest of seven statebred stakes held at Remington. The colt, named for the new Corvette model, is being pointed to the $30,000 Remington Green over 1 1/16 miles on turf Nov. 16.

"I've been wanting to run him on the grass," said Steve Hobby, who trains Zee Oh Six for John and Barbara Smicklas.

Zee Oh Six is a three-quarter-brother to Belle of Cozzene, a Grade 3 winner of $522,455 who is now a broodmare and in foal to Theatrical. A winner of the Classic at Remington in 1996, she also won on turf, said Hobby, who trained Belle of Cozzene.

Hobby has been away from Remington for a few years, but brought a small string of horses to the track last week and plans to run them through the end of the season. Among his runners are Sue's Good News, a 2-year-old half-sister to Iowa Derby winner Easyfromthegitgo. She is being pointed for the $30,000 Cimarron Stakes over 6 1/2 furlongs at Remington on Nov. 24.

Tulupai points for Cimmarron

Tulupai, dominant winner of the $50,000 Lassie during the Classics Day program Sunday, could go next in the Cimmarron. A long-term goal for the filly, who has won two stakes in her last two starts, is the $100,000 Delta Princess at Delta Downs on Dec. 20, said co-owner and trainer Wilson Brown.

Other winners from Classics Day looking at local stakes for their next starts include Medium Rare, a 4 1/2-length winner of the Sprint. He is being pointed to the $30,000 Autumn Classic for statebreds on Dec. 15, said trainer Roger Engel.

Norman nears record in Louisiana

Cole Norman, the leading trainer at Louisiana Downs, tied his own record for victories in a season Sunday when he saddled his 108th winner at the meet

Norman could break the mark as early as Thursday. He has entered eight horses in six races at Louisiana Downs.

- Lone Star handled a track-record $2.3 million on simulcast races Saturday, with $1.4 million of that total bet on the Breeders' Cup. Lone Star is currently running a live meet for Quarter Horses, and on Saturday night will host that breed's prestigious MBNA America Challenge Championships.