Lone Sailor Sails to Victory in the G3 Oklahoma Derby

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK –  Lone Sailor flew up from the rear and got his nose to the wire in the nick of time in Sunday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park. This was the first graded stakes victory for the three-year-old son of Majestic Warrior and his first win since breaking his maiden more than a year ago.

Diamond King was the early leader and tried his best to win in wire to wire fashion before being upset in a photo for first. As they rounded the first turn and headed into the backstretch, Diamond King was joined by Sea Foam, Limitation, and Eisenstaedt as they set fractions of :23.21, :46.94, and 1:11.21. Into the second turn, the field bunched up and put the pressure on Diamond King, but he held them off and maintained his lead. It looked like Sea Foam would be the biggest threat as they hit the top of the stretch, but it was Believe in Royalty and Lone Sailor who flew up on the outside to challenge the leading Dimond King. As they hit the wire in a photo finish, it was Lone Sailor by a nose ahead of Believe in Royalty and Diamond King. Combatant finished fourth.

“I had no idea who of the three of us won when we hit the wire,” said James Graham, who rode Lone Sailor for trainer Tom Amoss. “But I did know this, I could feel my horse stretching his neck out, so I thought we had a chance.”

Lone Sailor earned $240,000 for owners G M B Racing, bringing his record up to 14-2-5-2 for a bankroll of $873,237.

“Yeah, and where are THEY (Justify and Good Magic) now?” asked Graham. “We may be the best 3-year-old running now.”

Lone Sailor returned $8.80 to win, $4.80 to place, and $3.40 to show. Believe in Royalty brought back $14.40 to place and $6.20 to show, while Diamond King paid $6.20 to show.