Welder the home-state hero in Silver Goblin Stakes

It’s an event in Oklahoma when Welder runs, and on Friday night the state’s reigning horse of the year will be looking for his 20th win in Oklahoma in the $70,000 Silver Goblin at Remington Park.

The 6 1/2-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up is one of three Oklahoma-bred stakes on the card. Rowdy Yates and Fly to the Bank meet in the $75,000 Don McNeill for 2-year-olds, while Zapit enters the $75,000 Slide Show off a stakes win at 94-1.

Welder launched his career in Oklahoma on Nov. 5, 2015, finishing second by a head in a maiden special weight at Remington. He won at the track one start later, one of 10 victories he’s had at Remington from 14 starts there. Welder also has won nine races from 10 starts at Will Rogers Downs.

Trainer Theresa Luneack said she gets lots of racegoer comments on Welder.

“They really call him Oklahoma’s horse,” she said. “He really has a fan club. When this horse runs, there’s always people at the races. He was born right here in Oklahoma. He’s by an Oklahoma stallion. He’s out of a mare that lived here in Oklahoma. His whole foundation is here. He runs here. They truly love him here.”

Welder is a 6-year-old gelding by The Visualiser who is based at a farm near Tulsa. The 13-time stakes winner is owned by Ra-Max Farms and was bred by the same Center Hills Farm operation that bred Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Kip Deville. Welder, an earner of $928,998, enters the Silver Goblin off three straight wins at Remington – an allowance, the $150,000 David M. Vance, and the $130,000 Oklahoma Classics Sprint.

“He’s really hitting his prime,” Luneack said. “He’s matured so much, filled out even more, and has just gotten stronger. He’s just really the best he’s ever been. He’s on top of his game.”

Welder has won his last eight starts at Remington and is moving closer to the record of 11 straight by Slide Show in the mid-1990s, according to Remington publicity. Welder’s streak started in 2017, in the Silver Goblin.

It briefly looked like it might be in jeopardy last out in the Classics Sprint. Welder has raced with the pace in most of his starts and found himself in the back of the pack under regular rider David Cabrera.

“He missed the break,” Luneack said. “He spotted them about five lengths coming out of the gate. Then he was just was very patient. David said all the sudden, [Welder] just said, ‘Let’s go!’ ”

Welder circled the field en route to a 4 1/4-length win, with a Beyer Speed Figure of 97 that is the best last-race number in the Silver Goblin. Cabrera again has the mount from post 6 in the field of eight Friday.

Welder was Remington’s horse of the meet last year, when he won four stakes in his four starts at the track, including a second Silver Goblin. Friday’s race will be his fourth start of this year’s meet and he could make a fifth. The season runs through Dec. 15.

“We still have another month, and there’s another sprint,” Luneack said of race options. “If we can’t, that’s fine. He enjoys running and gets a break at the end of Remington.”

Rowdy Yates will be looking for the third stakes win of his young career in the Don McNeill at a mile. He won the $100,000 Oklahoma Classics Juvenile last month at Remington and the Ellis Park Juvenile earlier this year. Richard Eramia has the mount for L and N Racing and trainer Steve Asmussen.

Zapit, who won her maiden in the $100,000 Oklahoma Classics Lassie, could go favored when she stretches out to a mile for the Slide Show.