Warrant gives trainer Cox third consecutive Oklahoma Derby triumph
Warrant gave trainer Brad Cox his third consecutive win in the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby on Sunday when he drove to a 1 3/4-length victory over Flash of Mischief in the co-richest race of the meet at Remington Park.
It was another half-length back in third to Super Stock.
The Oklahoma Derby, which is worth $400,000 - like the track’s Springboard Mile that runs in December - was one of eight stakes on the card. The races were worth a cumulative $1.1 million.
Cox won the Oklahoma Derby in 2019 with Owendale, and returned last year to take the race with Shared Sense. The only other trainer to win three runnings of the Oklahoma Derby is Donnie Von Hemel, it was announced at Remington. Cox is the only trainer to win three consecutive runnings of the race that was previously called the Remington Park Derby.
Warrant ($8.40) settled along the rail in fourth early Sunday, as Flash of Mischief took the field through an opening quarter in 23.56 seconds and a half-mile in 47.95. Warrant moved up to join Flash of Mischief on the lead, and the pair raced together on the final turn, through six furlongs in 1:12.25. Warrant continued on strongly in the stretch, and was workmanlike to the wire, while covering the 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:50.76.
“The more I asked him, the more he was there,” winning rider Joel Rosario said during a post-race interview broadcast by Remington.
“It was a perfect trip inside.”
The Oklahoma Derby was the third stakes win on the card for Rosario, whose other victories also came for Cox. The trainer and rider won the $50,000 E.L. Gaylord Memorial with Sea Level and the $50,000 Flashy Lady with Cinnabunny.
Warrant is a son of Constitution who races for his breeders, Twin Creeks Racing Stables. He was winning his second career derby behind the $300,000 Texas Derby on May 31 at Lone Star Park, which is Remington's sister track.
Warrant won his maiden in February at Fair Grounds. He has now won 3 of 7 starts and the first-place check of $240,000 on Sunday pushed his career earnings to $634,700.
* Spooky Channel, at 5-2, won the sixth stakes race of his career when he rallied from off the pace to capture the $100,000 Remington Green. He covered the 1 1/8 miles on firm turf in 1:47.01 and paid $7.20. James Graham was aboard for NBS Stable and trainer Jason Barkley.