Two Oklahoma-bred races added

Will Rogers Downs has added two $25,000 Oklahoma-bred races for Thoroughbreds to its schedule, and both will be run May 12. The track worked with the Oklahoma Thoroughbred Association to develop the races, which are designed to serve as stepping-stones to the Oklahoma Classics Day program this fall at Remington Park.

The OTA Classic Prep is for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs. The Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs Classic Prep is for fillies and mares at six furlongs. Both races have $5,000 in added funds available to Oklahoma-breds eligible to the Oklahoma Classics.

The Oklahoma Classics Day card will expand to eight races this year, with the new race being a sprint for fillies and mares over 6 1/2 furlongs. The OTA also has announced plans to increase the purses of five of the Oklahoma Classics Day stakes this year to $60,000.

* Curtis Kimes, who won the 1,000th race of his career in the fifth race here last Saturday, is represented by former trainer Chuck Turco. Among the top horses Turco trained are Dazzling Falls, a winner of the Arkansas Derby, and multiple sprint stakes winner Highland Ice.