The distance of Friday night’s $50,000 colts and geldings division of the Oklahoma Stallion Handicap at Remington Park is a question mark for 122-pound highweight Colonel Yorke and the capable Joe Offolter trainees Night Passage and Cajun Stoops.
The horses will all start as top betting choices, but none of them have won at the seven-furlong distance of the race, which is restricted to 3-year-olds by eligible stallions. The card also includes the $50,000 fillies division of the Oklahoma Stallion Handicap, led by Eireann.
Night Passage, who carries 119 pounds, is moving back into a restricted spot after finishing third in a second-level allowance at 5 1/2 furlongs on June 14 at Lone Star Park. His two career wins have come at that distance, both in Oklahoma. Night Passage will be racing beyond six furlongs for the first time Friday.
“I really thought he finished real strong against a pretty good bunch of older horses down in Texas,” Offolter said. “I really feel good about him. The seven-eighths doesn’t bother me. He finished strong last time.”
Cajun Stoops, weighted at 118, made his 3-year-old debut last out and was second by a length in an entry-level allowance at six furlongs on Aug. 14. Last year, he won his maiden over six furlongs and was stakes-placed at the same distance.
“That was his first out of the meet the other day and he kind of came up a little short on me,” Offolter said. “But he showed where he’d go seven-eighths. It would be good for him.”
Night Passage, a son of Mister Lucky Cat, will break from post 3 under Richard Eramia. Cajun Stoops, who is by Da Stoops, will start from post 6 under David Cabrera.
“Both of them will be pretty close to the lead,” Offolter said. “It depends on how fast anybody wants to go. But both of them will be pretty forwardly placed, I think.”
Colonel Yorke, whose five career wins have come at two turns, could be making his case in the later stages. He’s won back-to-back allowances in his last two starts, one an off-the-turf race at Lone Star and the other a turf route at Remington. Stewart Elliott has the mount on the son of Excaper for trainer Mindy Willis.
In the fillies division, Eireann is the 123-pound highweight as a multiple stakes winner. She will break from the rail in the field of seven and shows some strong five-eighths works for what will be her first start since a May win in an overnight handicap at a mile at Will Rogers Downs.
Eireann has won stakes at both one and two turns, and those victories have come over the main track at Remington. Freddy Manrrique has the mount on the daughter of Flat Out for trainer Mark Buehrer.
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