Remington Park Opening Weekend Preview

The Remington Park thoroughbred meet opens up this Friday night, but there is no doubting that the headliner for opening weekend will come on Saturday.  Alternation returns off a two month layoff in the $200,000 Governor’s Cup, as he looks to use the race as a springboard to some of the bigger New York races in the fall.  The 4-year-old colt has had several works over the local track, and looks to be ready to go.  His 2012 form has been excellent as he’s regarded as one of the top older horses in the country.  A win in this race would put Alternation over the one million dollar mark in total earnings.

Prayer for Relief will look to play the spoiler on Saturday night.  He is a millionaire in his own right, and also holds a victory over Alternation in last years Super Derby.  However, since that victory he’s lost eight in a row, including finishing behind Alternation in the Oklahoma Derby.  Prayer for Relief has been transferred to the Steve Asmussen barn so he can run in more dirt races, and I think this is very good spot for him.  This race should provide us with a really solid measuring stick of what level these horses are currently at.  Both will probably move on from this race to face tougher next time out.

Rounding out the field are three hard knockers in Stachys, Get in Da House, and Dreaminofthewin.  Stachys is probably the most accomplished horse of the bunch, and recently won an ungraded stakes at Canterbury.  Get in Da House has had very good form this year, hitting the board in two graded stakes races at Lone Star.  Dreaminofthewin ran some solid races last year, but has done next to nothing this year.  He does hold three victories over the Remington Park oval, but will have to improve tremendously to compete with this group.

Also on Saturday is the running of the David Vance Sprint.  That race is headlined by two 3 year olds: Apprehender and Alsvid.  Apprehender was recently transferred to the barn of Chris Richard, and looked very sharp winning an allowance at Prairie Meadows.  The horse has a ton of early speed, and Chris Richard is usually very good with sprinters.  Alsvid is a horse that won two stakes at Prairie Meadows, and looks to be at his best when sprinting.  He may hold a slight advantage over Apprehender simply because he is not quite as one dimensional.  If the 3 year olds fail to get it done, perhaps Okie Flash is worth a look.  He’s super at Remington Park, and doesn’t look to be out-classed against this field of open company horses.

Friday’s opening night card features an allowance race on the turf going seven and one-half furlongs.  She’s All In will be the heavy favorite in this one.  The Oklahoma bred has won six times in her career at Remington Park, and is easily the classiest horse in the field.  Like Alternation, She’s All In will be using this race as a springboard to bigger and better things.  First post time for both nights will be at 6:30 PM central time.