Chestnut Johnny catches front runners in Remington Park Turf Sprint

Oklahoma-breds were featured Friday night in the $50,000 Remington Park Turf Sprint with Chestnut Johnny catching the front-runners in the stretch before winning by a half-length.

 

Owned by Al and Bill Ulwelling of Elk River, Minn. and trained by Michael Biehler, Chestnut Johnny received a solid ride from jockey Alex Birzer who put the 4-year-old gelding into striking position early. Hustled from post-position number 11, Chestnut Johnny cleared the field in order to save ground in the five-furlong event. He chased pace-setting Perfect Majestic who set blistering fractions of :21.10 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and :43.69 seconds for a half-mile.

 

Chestnut Johnny moved outside of Perfect Majestic entering the stretch and grabbed the lead with just under a furlong to go.

Drowningndiamonds gained second while Okie Jazz rallied from next-to-last early in the race to get third, 3-1/4 lengths behind the winner. Chestnut Johnny crossed the finish in :55.35 seconds over the firm lawn, just .26 seconds off the course record.

 

Away at 5-2 odds, Chestnut Johnny paid $7.80 to win, $4.80 to place and $3.60 to show. Drowningndiamonds returned $10 to place and $5.20 to show. Okie Jazz paid $5.60 to show. Mr. N was the beaten wagering favorite, running fourth at 9-5 odds.

 

Chestnut Johnny won his sixth career race from 16 attempts, earning $29,643, moving his lifetime earnings to $148,430. A son of Mr. Nightlinger from the In Excessive Bull mare Rapid Bull, Chestnut Johnny was bred in Oklahoma by Terri Carter.

 

Chestnut Johnny provided Birzer with his second victory in the Remington Park Turf Sprint. He also won in 2008 aboard Laidbacklynny.