Racing Dudes Three Stars of the Week: Welder Wins Again at Remington

It was a slower week for stakes racing, so we are going to do something a bit different this week. We’re honoring two of our favorite horses in training who both won stakes over the weekend, as well as a very special maiden special weight winner who is near and dear to the hearts of several Racing Dude members: 

1. Welder 

The big gray was at it again last Saturday night, taking home his second straight Oklahoma Classics Sprint Stakes victory. This year’s was a bit of an adventure, though, as Welder broke poorly out of the gate and dropped to the back of the pack early. This was worrisome for a horse who likes to be near the lead. However, he quickly began making up ground on the back side while racing very wide. Turning for home, he had drawn within range of his rivals, then flew home to a 4 1/4-length victory. He earned a 97 Beyer speed figure for his win, the 20th of his career. His career earnings have now grown to $928,998, and he has run off the board just twice in 30 lifetime starts. 

2. Wayne O 

This may have been the most popular maiden special winner of the year when it comes to this website! Content Editor Curtis “Magic” Kalleward, writer Mike “Saratoga Slim” Spector, and handicapping wizard Mike Somich all own a piece of Wayne O, who came home a winner last Saturday afternoon at Keeneland. After racing forwardly and wide throughout, the colt dug down deep for his connections in the stretch, just pressing clear at the wire for a neck victory.  The win was his first in three lifetime starts after showing speed and fading in his previous two attempts. After a win like this, a stakes race could be next, and I’m sure that the guys at Racing Dudes are already dreaming of the Kentucky Derby next spring. The victory also means that Wayne O is a lock to be drafted in our next fantasy draft this coming December. 

WATCH → Another close race with (8) Wayne O prevailing over (7) Gold Street in #Race7 by a bob today at #Keeneland. pic.twitter.com/j5D705hOYT

— Keeneland Racing (@keenelandracing) October 19, 2019

3. Shotgun Kowboy 

To round out our horse crush version of the Three Stars of the Week, we go back to Remington Park, where local favorite Shotgun Kowboy dominated his competition to a 6 3/4-length win in the Oklahoma Classic Cup. He basically turned this race into a laugher, pressing the pace in third before kicking clear on the turn under mild urging. This victory was his third straight and fourth overall in the race and his ninth at the track. Shotgun Kowboy also captured the Oklahoma Derby (G3) here in 2015 and has pushed his career earnings to $1,508,241.