Well-known Asmussen trio a go for Remington's Governor's Cup

Friday's opening night program for the 2019 Remington Park Thoroughbred Season has been compiled, led by a nine-race card featuring the $175,000 Governor’s Cup.

A field of six entered the 1 1/8-mile Governor’s Cup, for 3-year-olds and older, with Mocito Rojo installed as the 9-5 morning-line. Owned by Wayne Davis of Miami, Okla., and trained by Shane Wilson, the 5-year-old Mocito Rojo will make his second Remington Park start after running third in the Jeffrey Hawk Memorial in December 2018.  

The winning streak for Mocito Rojo started with the $60,000 Owner Appreciation Cup Stakes at Delta Downs in Vinton, La., in March. The son of Mutadda from the Orientate mare Blushing Royale then won the Grade 3, $300,000 Steve Sexton Mile at Lone Star Park in April. In June, Mocito Rojo captured the Evangeline Downs Mile to make it three straight stakes triumphs. Jockey Gerard Melancon has been named for the mount.

A Steve Asmussen-trained trio will be in to take on the favorite, including Hence, who returns to defend his Governor’s Cup win from 2018. A 5-year-old by Street Boss from the A.P. Indy mare Floating Island, the Calumet Farm-owned Hence is attempting to become the first horse to win the Governor’s Cup in consecutive years since millionaire Oklahoma-bred Mr. Ross managed the feat in 1999-2000. Richard Eramia has the mount on Hence, who is at 7-2 odds in the morning-line.

Millionaire Lookin At Lee is set for his local debut in the Governor’s Cup. Owned by L and N Racing, Lookin At Lee won the $200,000 Downs at Albuquerque Handicap in his last start on Aug. 3. Now 5, Lookin At Lee was second, beaten 2-3/4 lengths by Always Dreaming, in the 2017 Kentucky Derby. If he starts at Remington Park, Lookin At Lee would become the highest placing finisher of a Kentucky Derby to compete in Oklahoma City.

A horse by Lookin At Lucky from the Langfuhr mare Langara Lass, Lookin At Lee has total earnings of $1,327,945 from 25 career starts with four wins, six seconds and three thirds. Alfredo Juarez, Jr. was up for the win at Alburquerque and will travel to Oklahoma City to keep the mount on Lookin At Lee who is at 6-1 odds in the morning-line.

Limation, the 2018 Super Derby (G3) winner, will be seeking his first victory since then. Asmussen's third contender is the longest shot in the six-horse field and will be making his second stakes start this season.

The Governor’s Cup, Race 8 on Friday's card, is set for 10:23 p.m. CT. First post time is 7 p.m.

1.    Popularity: Joe Offolter, Walter De La Cruz, 3-1

2.    Believe In Royalty: Larry Jones, Gabriel Saez, 4-1

3.    Hence: Steve Asmussen, Richard Eramia, 7-2

4.    Lookin At Lee: Steve Asmussen, Alfredo Juarez, Jr., 6-1

5.    Mocito Rojo: Shane Wilson, Gerard Melancon, 9-5

6.    Limation: Steve Asmussen, Ramon Vazquez, 20-1