Final Weekend of Remington Park Season Awaits, Springboard Mile Headlines

OKLAHOMA CITY – The final three days of the 2015 Thoroughbred Season at Remington Park is set for Friday thru Sunday, Dec. 11-13. The $250,000 Springboard Mile, the top 2-year-old race of the season, headlines the program on the final day.

The free nominations closed Dec. 4 with a group of 36 considering the Springboard Mile. The list includes 16 who have made their last race attempt or most recent workout at Remington Park. Trainer Donnie Von Hemel placed four on the Springboard nomination list including Clever Trevor Stakes winner Suddenbreakingnews and the undefeated Secret Passage.

Suddenbreakingnews crossed the finish first in his initial career race, only to be disqualified for interference in the stretch of a 7-1/2 furlong turf event and placed second. Since that late August mishap, the 2-year-old gelding owned by Samuel Henderson of Odessa, Texas broke his maiden in late September, ran second in allowance company beaten just a neck in October and then won the $100,000 Clever Trevor Stakes on Nov. 7. The Clever Trevor was the only start for Suddenbreakingnews that was not around two turns, instead at seven furlongs and one turn.

Secret Passage is perfect through two career starts after breaking his maiden in mid-October at one mile and then winning a 1 mile-70 yard allowance in mid-November. Owned by Pin Oak Stable of Versailles, Ky., Secret Passage is a colt by two-time Horse of the Year Curlin.

Royal Lion is another Remington Park-based runner to watch for the Springboard after he won the one-mile $75,000 Don McNeill Memorial Stakes for Oklahoma-breds on Nov. 27. Owned by 7 Cedars Farm of Barnsdall, Okla. and trained by Clinton Stuart, Royal Lion was a solid third just three-quarters of a length behind Suddenbreakingnews in the Clever Trevor Stakes.

Among those expected to travel to Oklahoma City for the Springboard is Pinnacle Peak, trained by Michael Stidham. Pinnacle Peak broke his maiden status in the Prairie Meadows Juvenile Mile in early August, winning by 10 lengths, with Royal Lion a distant second. He then traveled to Monmouth Park in New Jersey where he was third in the $100,000 Sapling Stakes. Pinnacle Peak tested Grade 1 waters in the $500,000 Breeders Futurity at Keeneland in early October, finishing 10th of 11 in that 1-1/16 miles test. He followed that with an eighth-place effort in the Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs on Nov. 1.

Trainer Brad Cox may send Uncle Brennie for the Springboard. He was the winner in the $75,000 Sunday Silence Stakes on the undercard of the Super Derby at Louisiana Downs in September, with Royal Lion running second in that one-mile turf outing. Uncle Brennie then finished sixth of 14 in the Grade 3 Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland over the turf in October before running third in the Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs.

The $250,000 Springboard Mile headlines a stakes-laden program that includes:
– $100,000 Trapeze Stakes, 2-year-old fillies, one mile
– $100,000 She’s All In Stakes, fillies and mares 3 and older, 1 mile-70 yards
– $50,000 Jim Thorpe Stakes, 3-year-old Oklahoma-breds, 1 mile
– $50,000 Useeit Stakes, 3-year-old Oklahoma-bred fillies, 1 mile

McMahon Holds Lead in Jockey Standings

C.J. McMahon, riding at Remington Park for the first time this season, enters the final three days of racing with 85 wins to his credit. That mark is five better than the 80 owned by Ramon Vazquez.

McMahon is trying to unseat Vazquez, the two-time defending leading jockey at Remington Park. The pair of young riders will compete for the Pat Steinberg Memorial Award, given to the season’s leading jockey by number of wins.

The final weekend of the 2015 Thoroughbred Season takes place Friday thru Sunday, Dec. 11-13. There are just four race dates left in the season.

Open 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 $250,000 Springboard Mile on Sunday, Dec. 13.

Tracked by over 88,000 fans on Facebook and 6,700 Twitter followers, Remington Park is Oklahoma City’s only Racetrack & Casino and is located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District. For more information, reservations and group bookings please call 405-424-1000, 866-456-9880 or visit remingtonpark.com.

Source: Remington Park