Test Boy goes for two stakes in row
Test Boy has stepped up his game considerably in a short period of time, and on Monday night at Remington Park he will be shooting for his second straight stakes win when he starts in the $40,000 Centennial.
The one-mile turf race for 2-year-olds will close out the meet at the Oklahoma City track.
Test Boy has made four career starts, rising from $25,000 maiden claimer in August to stakes winner by October. In his most recent start, he rallied for a nose win in the $75,000 MEC Mile on dirt at Remington Park on Oct. 21. One start earlier, Test Boy was a good third on turf in the $125,000 Harrah's Juvenile at Louisiana Downs.
"Racing made a huge difference in him," said Steve Asmussen, who trains Test Boy for Vinery Stables. "His races woke him up."
Test Boy shows three breezes at Louisiana Downs in preparation for the Centennial. He is a January foal by Brahms and will be ridden by Quincy Hamilton.
Luis Quinonez will be aboard Unruly, who is undefeated in two starts. In his most recent outing, he won an optional claiming allowance on turf that served as the local prep for the Centennial.
Others in the 12-horse field include Sheri's Rubiano, a two-time winner on turf to be ridden by Glen Murphy.
The Niner Account gets number 18
The Niner Account closed out his Remington meet in style on Friday night, when he won a turf allowance. The win was the 18th of his 31-race career, and he proved 2 1/2 lengths best in the five-furlong race that went in a sharp 56.05 seconds. The Niner Account has now earned $315,030.
He has gone 2 for 3 this meet at Remington, with his biggest win coming in September in the $40,000 Taliaferro Memorial. Cliff Berry rode The Niner Account, ($4.80) on Friday and in the Taliaferro. Martin Lozano trains the gelding for Gary Owens.
Owens claimed The Niner Account for $20,000 in February 2004. The gelding had topped a 2-year-olds in training auction at $350,000 in 2000, dropped to the $10,000 claiming ranks in 2002, then won his first stakes in 2004, at Remington.