Wildcat Red heads probable starters for Oklahoma Derby
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Wildcat Red leads a large group of candidates for the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby that will be run on Sunday at Remington Park. He is one of 13 horses track officials are expecting for the 1 1/8-mile race that can have a maximum of 14 starters.
The Oklahoma Derby will anchor a card of seven stakes worth a cumulative $1,025,000. The program is the most prestigious of the meet and includes the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks and the $150,000 Remington Park Sprint Cup. The draw for the card is Thursday. Wildcat Red, the winner of the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth who more recently was third to Bayern in the Haskell, arrived in Oklahoma City last week from Gulfstream. His anticipated rivals include Edison, winner of the Grade 3 Canadian Derby; Tonito M., the third-place finisher in the $200,750 Los Alamitos Mile; Declan’s Fast Cat, runner-up in the Grade 2, $400,000 Super Derby; Charge Now, second by a head in the $100,000 Curlin at Saratoga; Rebranded, winner of both the Colorado and Ruidoso derbies; and Away Game, winner of back-to-back allowances at Saratoga.
“I’m really happy with the race. It’s a good, quality field,” said Mike Shamburg, racing secretary at Remington Park. “We’re very fortunate since we’re running just prior to the Indiana Derby, and of course, lots of horses just ran in Philadelphia. I’m happy with the field. It’s an evenly balanced field.”
Others expected for the race include Brother Stachys, Even Echo, For Goodness Sake, Ibaka, Louies Flower, and Tulum.
Don Thompson, stakes coordinator for Remington, said a Tex Sutton flight bringing horses from New York was due to arrive in Oklahoma City on Thursday. Those expected to be aboard are Away Game for trainer Rick Violette and Charge Now and America, runners from the barn of Bill Mott. America is a candidate for the Remington Park Oaks.
The Oaks, to be run at 1 1/16 miles, had a working list of seven names as of Tuesday morning, according to Thompson. In addition to America, the field is expected to include Awesome Jill, Divine Way, Haveyougoneaway, Lady Fifty Two, Redgrass Cat, and Thegirlinthatsong.
The Remington Park Sprint Cup, for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs, is led by Heitai, winner of the $300,000 Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint in his last start in late June.
“That’s really going to be a good race,” Shamburg said. “Some really fast horses in there.”
Others that Thompson expects include Alsvid, Castletown, Ghost Is Clear, Ivan Fallunovalot, Mico Margarita, Okie Ride, and Wine Police. A possible starter is Nates Mineshaft.