It’s a big day at Remington Park, and the centerpiece of the card is the Grade III Oklahoma Derby, for three year olds going at a nine furlong trip. The Co-Feature is the Grade III Remington Park Oaks, which has a compact four-horse field at a mile and one sixteenth, in a race in which, despite the short field, should be an interesting event, with all four fillies having a reasonable opportunity to win. Let’s take a look at them:
#1 – Classic Fit Jockey: Stewart Elliot Trainer: Michael Stidham
She has run only twice in 2019 after showing some promise as a two year old. In her come back race, she was allowed to dictate a very slow pace and hanged on for a solid second in the Grade II Mother Goose, only behind then Grade I winner Dunbar Road, one of the best fillies in the country. Then her trainer shipped her to the Torrey Pines at Del Mar and she just was not able to have things her way, and was trounced by lesser quality fillies. I think we can draw a line over that race and trainer Stidham returned her to familiar surroundings, and her works leading up to this race indicate that she has recovered from her Del Mar failure. I see a reasonable amount of speed between the four participants, so maybe Elliot can sit right off that early fray and come with a late run, as she will not be able to do what she did in the Mother Goose.
2 – Gold Standard Jockey: Shaun Bridgmohan Trainer: Brad Cox
This filly started her career in the grass, burning some money both times as even money favorite. After this, she won an off the grass race at Churchill and them dominated two allowance optional claiming events at Ellis park, beating competition that doesn’t compare with the fillies she is facing today. So this will be her first real test of her talent. Numbers wise, she fits with this bunch, but the jury is still out on how she will perform against most seasoned fillies. She will be part of that first flight, maybe just tracking the speed of She’s Shiney, who should be the early leader. Bridgmohan will have the chance to draw first blood on the speedster of the group, let’s see how well she can with stand the pressure of the come from behind horses. Don’t take too short of a price on her.
3 – She’s Shiney Jockey: Jose A. Medina Trainer: Alan J. Williams
Very fast filly that should provide the early speed in this race, coming from running seven panels in her most recent effort. This gal has won three stakes races so far, but versus much lesser competition, and she has competed exclusively against Oklahoma breds. So, it is clear that the stakes are extremely higher now, and she will need to step up a notch or two to have a chance in this race. I suspect jockey Medina will try to open a sizable earl lead and try to take this field wire to wire. That’s about the only chance I see for this filly, and her 7/2 morning line its, in my opinion, very low. So if you like her, my recommendation is to get at least 5/1 on her.
4 – Lady Apple Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr. Trainer: Steven M. Asmussen
Without a doubt, she is the filly that has run against the better fillies, having competed in the Kentucky Oaks and Alabama, amongst others, and being a Grade III winner twice already. She has earned more money than her three opponents combined, so you get the idea she is the classiest one of the group. That most recent effort in the Alabama can be forgiven, as it was in a sloppy track, definitely not of her liking. If she can replicate any one of her performances before that race, she will be a tough cookie to chew for her rivals. I expect Ricardo Santana to send her right off the initial pace and come with her run from the three-sixteenths pole on. She has been installed as the deserving 8/5 morning line favorite, and she will take a ton to be beaten.
Prediction:
Lady Apple should win this race, and I will play the Exacta with Classic Fit, hoping for some return on investment.
The Play: Cold Exacta 4-1, with at least $20.00