Shotgun Kowboy works ahead of Oklahoma Classics Cup

Shotgun Kowboy and Smack Smack have had their share of success at Remington Park, but just one of them is scheduled to see action at this meet. Shotgun Kowboy worked a sharp half-mile on Wednesday as he prepares for his first start since the spring, while Smack Smack was taking it easy a few miles away, lounging at the Oklahoma farm of owner Toby Keith.

Shotgun Kowboy went a half-mile in 47.80 seconds while preparing for his main goal of the meet, the $175,000 Oklahoma Classics Cup on Oct. 20. Shotgun Kowboy last raced on May 28, finishing third in the Grade 3 Lone Star Park Handicap.

“We’re looking at the Classic here right now, maybe a turf race before then,” said C.R. Trout, who bred, owns, and trains Shotgun Kowboy. “We’ll let him tell us what he wants to do.”

Shotgun Kowboy has raced once on grass, finishing second to multiple turf stakes winner Ibaka in a Remington allowance in August 2016. Shotgun Kowboy is 6 for 8 over the main track at Remington, among his wins the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby and the Classics Cup in 2015. The horse by Kodiak Kowboy has a 2-year-old half-brother, Shotgun’s Night, who will debut for Trout on Friday night at Remington.

Smack Smack also is a multiple stakes winner at Remington, among his wins the $175,000 Governor’s Cup, which will be renewed Sept. 24, and the $100,000 Clever Trevor. The horse last raced on July 13, finishing fourth in an allowance at Prairie Meadows.

“I gave him a little break, sent him to the farm,” said trainer Don Von Hemel.

Von Hemel said Smack Smack could resume training in a few months, depending on his connections’ plans for a 2018 campaign.

“He’s about $18,000 from a million,” Von Hemel said. “He’ll get that one of these days.”

Smack Smack is a 6-year-old by Closing Argument and was bred by the country-music artist Keith, who with his family races as Dream Walkin’ Farms.