Remington Park will introduce a new race, the $250,000 Great West Turf Sprint, on Sept. 28, and officials hope the five-furlong tilt for 3-year-olds and up might attract prospects for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
The Great West will share a card with the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby at 1 1/8 miles and the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks. The races are part of a 32-race stakes schedule worth a cumulative $3.4 million, according to an announcement made by Remington on Monday.
“We believe the Great West will be a potential fit for horsemen looking for prep opportunities just over a month before competing in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint,” Matt Vance, the track’s executive vice president of racing, said in a press release. “The five-furlong distance of the Great West is the exact same distance as the [Breeders’ Cup] Turf Sprint at Del Mar this fall.”
Remington Park’s meet opens Aug. 8, more than a week earlier than usual, and will run through Dec. 20. The closing-day card features the $300,000 Springboard Mile, a Kentucky Derby points race that last year was won by eventual millionaire Coal Battle.
The local prep for the Springboard, the Clever Trevor, has been moved to the Oklahoma Derby Day card and its purse has been increased to $150,000.
Remington will open its stable area to horses July 9, while training will begin July 10. It is the sister track of Lone Star, which closes July 13.
◗ The $75,000 Mamie Eisenhower on Friday night at Prairie Meadows drew defending winner Miss Peach and Oaklawn allowance winner Demidanu. The six-furlong race is for fillies and mares bred in Iowa.
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