Remington Park-Based Trio Preparing for Oklahoma Derby
The state’s richest Thoroughbred race, the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby, will be contested Sunday, Sept. 27. The race will begin to take more shape in the coming days but as of now, a trio of horses stabled at Remington Park all have the race circled on their agendas.
Poseidon’s Way, Hillbilly Royalty and Shotgun Kowboy have each started once this season and all are still on-track for the 27th Oklahoma Derby. Trainer Donnie Von Hemel, the only conditioner to win the Oklahoma Derby three times, is planning on saddling both Poseidon’s Way and Hillbilly Royalty from his barn. Trainer C.R. Trout has confirmed that Shotgun Kowboy is also on track for the race.
Poseidon’s Way and Hillbilly Royalty
Poseidon’s Way edged his fellow resident in the Von Hemel barn, Hillbilly Royalty, by a head in an allowance event here on Aug. 22. It was the second time the pair of 3-year-olds had squared off this year. The first instance was Oaklawn Park’s $100,000 Northern Spur Stakes on April 11 when Hillbilly Royalty finished second, seven lengths ahead of Poseidon’s Way. Hillbilly Royalty was 1-3/4 lengths behind the winner Wolf Man Rocket in the Northern Spur. Von Hemel has performed a delicate balancing act with the pair to this point, trying to separate them for the most part when they compete.
“They will both most likely go in the race,” Von Hemel said. “It is a little tough at times as you try to consider both of your owners and keep talented horses away from each other. It can be a little tricky. We were considering the Super Derby at Louisiana Downs as a possible race for at least one of them but that race is this weekend and we really liked the time between their race and the Oklahoma Derby better.”
Poseidon’s Way followed up his second career win from five starts with a five-furlong workout at Remington Park on Sept. 2, traveling in 1:02.24 handily. Owned by Pin Oak Stable of Versailles, Ky., Poseidon’s Way broke his maiden status at first-asking in Oklahoma City in November 2013, in a 6-1/2 furlong event.
Owned by Dream Walkin Farms of Norman, Okla., the breeding and racing operation of musician Toby Keith, Hillbilly Royalty had a five-furlong breeze in 1:03.50 on Sept. 4. Hillbilly Royalty also broke his maiden at first-asking, winning a one-mile race at Remington Park in November 2014. He has two other wins to his credit, including the $75,000 Prairie Meadows Mile at that Iowa venue in late June.
Von Hemel noted that both of his derby hopefuls will have at least one, and maybe two, workouts before Oklahoma Derby Day. He is pleased with their progress and has high aspirations for them going forward.
“They have each had different paths in getting to this race but both are quality horses and will represent themselves well. I really think that both of them will also be very nice in the future as older horses as they continue to mature in their ability.”
Clever Trevor (1989) and Queen’s Gray Bee (1991) gave Von Hemel his first two Oklahoma Derby wins, back when the race was known as the Remington Park Derby. He won again in 2007 with Going Ballistic for his third score in the race.
Shotgun Kowboy
A standout as a 2-year-old at Remington Park in 2014, Shotgun Kowboy finished second in the richest local race for those in their first year of competition, the $250,000 Springboard Mile. He was just a head behind the winner Bayerd in Springboard, leaving owner, trainer and breeder C.R. Trout hopeful of a big 3-year-old campaign. However, those dreams were dashed when the gelding developed a minor issue and a small bout with colic.
Time and proper attention helped Shotgun Kowboy get back to action on Aug. 29 when he lit up Oklahoma-bred allowance foes in a race for 3-year-olds at 6-1/2 furlongs, winning by an easy 11-1/4 lengths. Shotgun Kowboy remains on the derby path according to Trout.
“He’s been fine since his comeback. He’s eating well and came out of the race like a bear,” Trout said. “We have two workouts planned for him before the Derby and we think he’ll be ready.”
The 1-1/8 miles Oklahoma Derby is the headline race of seven stakes events on Sept. 27 that will total more than $1,000,000 in purse money. Also included are the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks, the $150,000 Remington Park Sprint Cup, the $100,000 Remington Green Stakes and the $75,000 Kip Deville Stakes, among others. The Kip Deville begins the series of 2-year-old stakes races that culminate in the Springboard Mile in December. The first race on Oklahoma Derby Sunday is 1:30pm.
Remington Park Thoroughbred racing will resume Thursday thru Saturday, Sept. 10 thru 12. The feature race of the week is the $50,000 Remington Park Turf Sprint Stakes on Friday evening for three-year-olds and older at five furlongs over the course. The first race nightly this week is at 7pm-Central.
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