Von Hemel has shot at sweeping three Friday stakes

Trainer Donnie Von Hemel has a chance to sweep the three Oklahoma-bred stakes on Friday night’s card at Remington Park. He has the probable favorite in both the $75,000 Don McNeill and $75,000 Slide Show and sends out the fourth choice on the track’s morning line in the $50,000 Silver Goblin.

The McNeill and Slide Show are both mile races for 2-year-olds, while the Silver Goblin is for 3-year-olds and up over 6 1/2 furlongs.

Rowdy the Warrior returns to the Oklahoma-bred ranks for the McNeill after finishing second by a head in an optional $75,000 claiming race Oct. 14 at Remington. He rallied from farther off the pace than usual in the mile race, for good reason.

“The loose horse early in the race probably caused him to be a little farther back than he should have been,” Von Hemel said. “Made his job the last quarter-mile quite a big job to do, and he almost got it done, still.”

The winner, U S Officer, won the $100,000 Clever Trevor at Remington in his next start. As for Rowdy the Warrior, he has since worked consecutive bullets over the local strip, his latest five-eighths in 59.60 seconds Nov. 10.

Luis Quinonez has the mount on Rowdy the Warrior, a son of Warrior’s Reward who races for his breeder, Robert Zoellner.

Also in the 11-horse field is Hallelujah Hit, who was second to Rowdy the Warrior in a maiden special weight at a mile Sept. 22 at Remington.

In the Slide Show, the Von Hemel-trained Okie Diva will be moving to two turns off a pair of local sprint wins, a maiden special weight and the $85,000 Oklahoma Classics Lassie on Oct. 21.

“I think it’s a good move for her,” Von Hemel said. “She’s become more professional every time she’s run. I would expect her to handle the one-mile distance.”

Quinonez has the mount from the rail in the five-horse Slide Show.

Okie Diva, a daughter of Chitoz who owns the race’s best collection of Beyer Speed Figures, is owned by her breeder, Richter Family Trust.

Z Rockstar will be cutting back to 6 1/2 furlongs for the Silver Goblin after finishing second by a neck in the $169,000 Oklahoma Classics Cup at 1 1/16 miles Oct. 21 at Remington.

“His best distance may be seven-eighths, so six and a half is a good distance for him,” Von Hemel said. “There’s a bunch of tough old birds in there, though.”

The Silver Goblin cast includes Imahit and Johnny Whip, a pair of 7-year-olds who are each closing in on $500,000 in earnings, and Okie Ride, a 9-year-old who won a fourth Oklahoma Classics Sprint in his last start Oct. 21. Adding further depth is Ibaka, a winner of four of his last five starts.