Von Hemel looking forward to the future with Cosmic Burst

Cosmic Burst is back home at Remington Park following her win in the $250,000 Zia Park Oaks and her next move is still being determined, trainer Donnie Von Hemel said Saturday.

Von Hemel said following the Nov. 21 race in New Mexico that Cosmic Burst would either be put away for the season or make one more start this year, in the $100,000 She’s All In for fillies and mares on the final card of the Remington meet Dec. 16. He said she has emerged well from the Zia Oaks.

“She looks good so far,” Von Hemel said Saturday. “I don’t have any more insight into what we’re doing yet. She ate up after the race, got back to Oklahoma, and everything looks good so far.”

Cosmic Burst, who is owned by Norma Lee Stockseth and Todd Dunn, was winning her second stakes of the year behind the Grade 3 Honeybee in March at Oaklawn. In the Zia Oaks, she turned the tables on frequent rival She’s a Julie, the odds-on favorite whom she had run second to in the Grade 3 Iowa Oaks and third to in the Grade 3 Remington Park Oaks.

“I think we probably knew we had a big job to do as far as She’s a Julie was concerned,” Von Hemel said. “I was very proud of her effort.”

Cosmic Burst stalked the pace in the Zia Oaks and went on to a length and a quarter win under regular rider Richard Eramia. For her effort in the1 1/16-mile race she earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 83. Rose of Malibu finished second, while Sydney Freeman was third in a photo over fourth-place finisher She’s a Julie.

“I think the top four fillies are going to make nice 4-year-olds,” Von Hemel said.

Von Hemel also trains Sydney Freeman, who is now being pointed for the $65,000 Useeit, a mile race for 3-year-old fillies bred in Oklahoma. It will be run Dec. 16 at Remington. Sydney Freeman came into the Zia Oaks off a win over older rivals in the $145,000 Oklahoma Classics Distaff at Remington.

“I think, probably, she’s still getting better,” Von Hemel said. “If you look at her races, the last couple of races she’s moved up, and hopefully she keeps getting better next year.”

Sydney Freeman earned a career-high Beyer Figure of 82 in the Zia Oaks. She is by Tizway and out of the Grade 3-winning mare Peach Brew and she races for her breeder, Robert Zoellner.

Von Hemel added that he will begin moving horses into Oaklawn from his Churchill Downs division on Thursday. He will move horses from his Remington division after the Oklahoma City meet closes on Dec. 16. Oaklawn opens its stable area Monday.

► Jockey David Cabrera set a single-season earnings mark for a rider at Remington Park after a three-win card Nov. 23, according to track publicity. Cabrera's mounts at the meet have now earned $2,012,913, eclipsing the record of $1,978,896 that Ramon Vazquez set at the Oklahoma City track in 2017. Cabrera has a more than a 20-win lead in the rider standings at Remington.

► Lynah Rink will be looking for her fifth straight win when she runs in Wednesday night’s fourth race at Remington. Her streak has been built during the current meet. Floyd Wethey Jr. has the mount for Danny Caldwell and trainer Federico Villafranco.