Trout wins 3 stakes on Classics Night

The breeding program that has produced Grade 1 winner Shotgun Gulch and Canadian champion Hollywood Hit was on full display at Remington Park on Friday night, when C.R. Trout saddled three of his homebreds to stakes wins, including Imahit in the featured $175,000 Oklahoma Classics Cup.

Trout’s other winners were Shotgun Kowboy ($2.20) in the $100,000 Juvenile and Bringinginthelute ($6.60) in the $130,000 Distaff Turf. The races were part of the annual $1 million Classics Night program of eight stakes restricted to horses bred in Oklahoma.

Trout, a breeder, owner, and trainer who has nine broodmares at his farm located 15 minutes from Remington, had starters in five stakes. He said the Classics program is a particular target for his operation. Imahit won the Classics Cup a year ago and put in another impressive performance Friday, assuming command of the 1 1/16-mile race down the backside and finding more in the stretch when challenged.

“We gave him some time off, and it’s paid off,” Trout said. “We’ve come back with a fresh horse.”

Imahit ($6.60) set fractions of 23.26 seconds for the opening quarter, 46.33 for the half-mile, and 1:10.16 for six furlongs. He went on to a 2 1/4-length win over the favored Z Rockstar, covering the distance on a fast track in 1:42.77.

“Turning for home, I just gave him a smooch, and he went on,” said winning rider Jareth Loveberry.

Trout’s night got off to a fast start when Bringinginthelute rolled home by 2 1/4 lengths in the second stakes on the card, the Distaff Turf. Luis Quinonez was aboard and also won for Trout one start later when Shotgun Kowboy proved 6 1/2 lengths best in the Juvenile.

Shotgun Kowboy was content to sit just off the pace, advanced on the turn, and went on to cover six furlongs in 1:09.95. Trout said the horse is now a candidate for the $250,000 Springboard Mile at Remington on Dec. 14. Shotgun Kowboy, a son of Kodiak Kowboy, was third to impressive Saratoga maiden winner Bayerd in last month’s $75,000 Kip Deville at Remington.

In other stakes results:

• Diamond Disco ($16.40) was a half-length winner over 2-5 favorite More Than Even in the $130,000 Distaff Sprint.

• Zealous Vision ($47.40) rallied past dueling leaders for a 2 1/2-length win in the $100,000 Lassie.

• Chifforobe ($16.40) got through for a neck win over Okie Ride in the $130,000 Sprint.

• Okie Smokey ($34.40) closed from last for a 2 1/2-length win over pacesetter What Lola Wants in the $145,000 Distaff.

• Robbytyme ($62.80) was up for a neck win over the favored Dusty Okie in the $130,000 Turf.

• An all-stakes pick four on races 7-10 paid $39,878 on a $1 ticket. The winning numbers were 2-7-4-4. Remington had a minimum pool guarantee of $30,000, with the final pool $53,179.