Familiar Faces in Winner's Circle at Remington
Familiar faces were in the winner’s circle throughout the Opening Night of the 2015 Thoroughbred Season at Remington Park, including a couple of record-setters.
Danny Caldwell, the six-time leading Thoroughbred owner at Remington Park, won the very first race of the season as his Kipper Keyrallied from last to first to win an allowance sprint worth $41,976. The Poteau, Okla. owner set a record for wins in a season last year when his horses won 39 races.
Jockey Cliff Berry, retiring from the saddle at the conclusion of the Remington Park season, added to his all-time local win total by taking the late daily double.
Kipper Key was last in the first race of the season after the first quarter-mile had been run. Under jockey Ramon Vazquez, the two-time defending riding champion in Oklahoma City, Kipper Key began to rally as the field entered the lone turn of the six-furlongs.Trained by Federico Villafranco, Kipper Key moved wide into the stretch with plenty of work left to gain the score.
Tango Bravo was clear by more than two lengths with a furlong to go but Kipper Key continued to make up ground. He was able to get up to win by a neck in the final strides, crossing the finish in 1:09.42 over a fast track.
An Oklahoma-bred gelding by Kipling from the Cryptoclearance mare Ethel, Kipper Key was 5-1 in the wagering and paid $12.20 to win, $6.20 to place and $4.60 to show. Tango Bravo held second to return $7.60 to place and $6 to show. Winter Scout was a distant third, 4-1/2 lengths behind the winner, paying $5.20 to show. The Lone Roo was the beaten betting favorite at 2-1 odds, finishing fifth.
The victory was the fifth from 21 lifetime attempts for Kipper Key who picked up $25,756 for the effort. His career earnings now stand at $97,512.
Berry rode Adrianne G ($6.60 to win) in race eight and then came home first aboard Perfectly At Home ($11.80) in the ninth and final race. The two wins increases his career Thoroughbred win total at Remington Park to 2,080.
Remington Park is celebrating the final riding season for Berry, rewarding fans every time he wins a race. Throughout August, a Remington Park guest in attendance for a Berry win will pick up $100 cash via drawing. All guests can enter the Berry Special Season drawing when they arrive for the races, beginning at 5pm nightly.
Remington Park will offer the first two stakes races of the 2015 Thoroughbred Season on Saturday, Aug. 15. The $175,000 Governor’s Cup and the $75,000 David M. Vance Sprint headline the program on the second night of the season. The first race nightly is at 7pm-Central.
The normal weekly schedule of racing at Remington Park will take place Wednesday thru Saturday, beginning on Aug. 19.
Open daily at 10:30am for casino gaming and simulcast racing, Remington Park features the Bricktown Brewery on the casino floor. Admission, general parking and valet parking are always free at Remington Park, home of the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby on Sunday, Sept. 27.
Source: Remington Park