Shotgun Kowboy fires fresh to win Oklahoma Classics Cup

Shotgun Kowboy ran a big race off the bench Friday night, darting to a 5 1/4-length win over Tuff Kid in the $175,000 Oklahoma Classics Cup at Remington Park. The race was the richest of eight divisional Oklahoma-bred stakes on a card worth $1 million.

Shotgun Kowboy was winning the Cup, a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up, in his first start since May and for the second time in his career. He captured the race in 2015 during a campaign in which he also accounted for the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby. Shotgun Kowboy moved closer to $1 million in earnings with his first-place check of $105,000 on Friday night. His bankroll now sits at $985,927.

The Cup was won on the front end, with Shotgun Kowboy ($2.40) prominent through pressured fractions of 23.98 seconds for the opening quarter and 47.83 for the half-mile. Shotgun Kowboy took a clear lead through six furlongs in 1:11.75 and proceeded to cover the distance on a track rated “fast” in 1:43.20.

“He was ready for this race,” said winning rider Richard Eramia.

Shotgun Kowboy had been away from the races nursing sore feet, according to C.R. Trout, who bred, owns, and trains the horse. The win in the Cup was the fourth for Trout, who also won the race in 2013 and 2014 with Imahit. Shotgun Kowboy has now won 9 of 21 starts. He is a son of Kodiak Kowboy.

Trout had another homebred stakes winner on the card in Hailstorm Slew ($7.40), who rallied for a 1 1/2-length win over Okie Diva in the $130,000 Distaff Sprint. Hailstorm Slew covered six furlongs in 1:09.60. David Cabrera was aboard the daughter of Munnings.

Cabrera had an additional stakes win on the night in the $130,000 Turf, in which he guided Pacific Typhoon ($5.40) to a wire-to-wire win over Mister Keith. Pacific Typhoon won by 1 1/2 lengths while covering 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:41.95. Veronica Griggs trains the winner, a son of Don’t Get Mad, for Carol Nelson.

Gianna’s Dream now 4 for 4 at Remington

Gianna’s Dream ($2.20) improved her record over the Remington turf to 4 for 4 with her repeat win in the $130,000 Distaff Turf. She tracked the pace and went on to a 2 1/4-length victory while covering the 1 1/16 miles on firm ground in 1:44.58.

“I had a perfect trip the whole way and saved ground,” said winning rider Tyler Gaffalione. “When the opportunity came to get out, I just put her out, and she exploded.”

Mike Maker trains Gianna’s Dream, a daughter of Twirling Candy, for Jordan Wycoff. The filly’s other wins at Remington have come in the Ricks Memorial in September and last year’s Bob Barry Memorial.

Stakes double for Vazquez

Remington leading rider Ramon Vazquez had a stakes double on the night, capturing the $130,000 Sprint with Eurobond ($3.20) and the $100,000 Lassie with Bustin a Move ($6.80).

Eurobond led throughout to win the Sprint by 1 1/4 lengths over Welder, covering six furlongs in 1:09.10. Federico Villafranco trains Eurobond, a son of Euroears, for Danny Caldwell.

Bustin a Move wired the field in the Lassie for a 1 1/2-length victory over Annieruok. It was a neck farther back to Create a Star in third. Bustin a Move covered six furlongs in 1:10.43. Steve Asmussen trains the daughter of Bustin Stones for her breeder, Clark Brewster.

Vazquez leads the standings by one win over Eramia.

• Inagoodway ($17) upset 1-2 favorite Steel Cut when she led throughout for a 1 1/2-length win in the $145,000 Distaff. The winner covered one mile and 70 yards in 1:41.85. Bryan McNeil was aboard for trainer Roger Engel. Inagoodway is a daughter of Save Big Money who races for the partnership of Steve Dupy, Kent Blair, and Mike Caster. Inagoodway won the More Than Even Stakes at the same distance in May at Will Rogers Downs.

• Diamondandstripes ($31.20) wired the $100,000 Juvenile field by a length, covering six furlongs in 1:11.87. Lindey Wade was aboard the son of Service Stripe for owner and trainer Jim Helzer.