Redeemed takes Oklahoma Derby

Redeemed took his game to a new level on Sunday, when he closed with authority to win the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby over Grade 2 winners Alternation and Prayer for Relief. It was the first stakes win and first win at two turns for the rapidly improving  Redeemed, who added blinkers one start after finishing second in the $300,000 Smarty Jones at Parx Racing.

The Oklahoma Derby was the richest race of the Thoroughbred meet and it was supported by the $250,000 Remington Park Oaks that was won by Tourmaline ($52) and the $125,000 Remington Green won by Cherokee Lord ($4.40).

Redeemed ($12.80) settled about three lengths off the pace in the early stages of the Oklahoma Derby, as Socialsaul took the initiative from the start and led the field through fractions of 23.44 seconds for the opening quarter, 45.43 for the half-mile, and 1:11.96 for six furlongs. Redeemed foraged his way through a wall of horses on the final turn, angled out into the stretch, and closed strongly to overtake Alternation by a head. It was another three-quarters of a length back in third to Prayer for Relief. Redeemed covered the 1 1/8-mile  on a track rated fast in 1:49.20.