Sydney Freeman, Night Strike win statebred stakes

Trainer Donnie Von Hemel had a notable Saturday with the barn’s 2-year-old fillies, capped by Sydney Freeman’s last-to-first win in the $75,000 Slide Show at Remington Park. Earlier in the day, Von Hemel won a Churchill Downs allowance on the Stars of Tomorrow card with 19-1 shot Cosmic Burst.

The Slide Show was one of two stakes on the card at Remington. Night Strike won his maiden in the other, the $75,000 Don McNeill. Both races were for 2-year-olds at a mile and were restricted to Oklahoma-breds.

Sydney Freeman ($20.60) let the pace go in the Slide Show, as Bustin a Move took the field through fractions of 24.43 seconds for the opening quarter, 48.55 for the half-mile and 1:13.61 for six furlongs. Sydney Freeman put in a strong bid through the stretch and was up for a head win while covering the distance on a fast track in 1:40.78.

Luis Quinonez rode the winner for owner and breeder Robert Zoellner.

Sydney Freeman is a daughter of Tizway and the mare Peach Brew, a Grade 3 winner and earner of $320,322 who was raced by Zoellner and trained by Von Hemel. Sydney Freeman has now won two of four starts and $78,131.

Cherokee Lass finished second in the Slide Show, while it was 2 1/4 lengths farther back to Rosie O’Prado in third.

Night Strike went off as the favorite in the Don McNeill despite being one of two maidens going into the race. He settled off the pace set by Diamondandstripes, who put up fractions of 24.01 seconds for the opening quarter, 48.67 for the half-mile and 1:14.11 for six furlongs. Night Strike overtook his rivals in the stretch en route to a three-length win, covering the distance in 1:39.87.

Ramon Vazquez was aboard for Erich Brehm and trainer Bret Calhoun. Night Strike is a son of Liaison who has now won one of six starts and earned $62,162.