Usually Wrong will attempt to remain unbeaten on turf Sunday, when he takes on 11 others in the new $250,000 Great West Stakes at Remington Park.
The five-furlong turf sprint for 3-year-olds and up makes its debut on the Oklahoma Derby Day card of eight stakes worth more than $1.3 million. The Great West was designed as a potential prep for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
“That’s definitely on our minds, for sure,” said Robertino Diodoro, who trains Usually Wrong. “But as the old saying goes, one step at a time.”
Usually Wrong is 6 for 7 in his career and he’s seeking to win his fifth straight race. He started running on turf three races back and has won all of those starts, including the Chamberlain Bridge Stakes and Grand Prairie Turf Sprint, both at Lone Star Park.
“I think he’s taken a couple of steps forward since he’s been on the turf,” Diodoro said. “He ran some very good races on dirt, but I think he stepped it up a couple of notches since we’ve been on the turf.”
The career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 96 that Usually Wrong earned winning the Grand Prairie Turf Sprint is also the best last-race number in the Great West. Diodoro said he has liked how Usually Wrong has done since that race, which was June 28.
“He’s been training very, very well,” he said. “It seems like about four months ago, he started filling out and he’s turned into a real racehorse.”
Ramon Vazquez has the mount from post 8.
“I think he’s shown he’s a little better horse sitting off of it,” said Diodoro.
High Front was second in the Grand Prairie Turf Sprint and has since gone on to run a close fourth in the Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Sprint at Ellis Park and second by three-quarters of a length in an allowance at Kentucky Downs. He will start from post 11 under Keith Asmussen.
“I think he got a good draw,” said trainer Steve Asmussen. “His last two races have been very strong, and in good company. Hopefully, he leaves there like he did at Kentucky Downs and I think he’ll have a say in the outcome.”
Mo Stash last raced at Kentucky Downs and was seventh in the same race as High Front. Trainer Victoria Oliver felt the Grade 3 winner did not handle the course. Prior to the start, Mo Stash launched his season with a fourth-place finish in an August allowance at Ellis.
“He needed the race first time back off the layoff at Ellis Park and then I ran him back at Kentucky Downs and I’m not sure he loves that course,” Oliver said. “I think he really doesn’t like the up and down hills. But this will be his third start off the layoff and I look forward to a big effort.”
Incanto, who won the Texas Glitter in March at Gulfstream Park, is also in the field.
Remington Park Oaks
So There She Was invades from Southern California for the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks.
The 1 1/16-mile race drew a field of seven. Runnin N Gunnin won the Sunland Park Oaks in February, while Lemon Zest is making her stakes debut after winning back-to-back races in Kentucky.
So There She Was last raced Aug. 30 and was second by a half-length in the Grade 3 Torrey Pines at Del Mar. It was the two-turn debut for the filly. So There She Was set the pace, fought on, and earned a career-high Beyer of 83.
“Long on the dirt is what we always kind of hoped she would be, and I thought that was arguably the best race of her life,” said trainer Doug O’Neill. “We’re hoping we can build off that this weekend.”
O’Neill said the Remington Oaks became a target because the connections wanted a straight 3-year-old route for the filly.
“This one just kind of fit on the calendar for us, and she’s been training well, so we’re going to see how it goes,” he said.
Ramon Vazquez has the mount from post 5.
“She’s a big filly,” O’Neill said. “She’s tall, covers a lot of ground, but she’s got some speed away from there, so I would imagine she’d be one-two-three early, unless there’s just sprinter-type speed horses in there. She’s got good route speed, so I would say she’d be forwardly placed.”
Clever Trevor
Fuel will meet winners for the first time in the $150,000 Clever Trevor for 2-year-olds at 6 1/2 furlongs. He owns the field’s best career Beyer, a 75 for his debut win Aug. 22 at Ellis.
“He beat a nice field at Ellis and I think he’s the right horse to get into the Remington 2-year-old series,” said Asmussen.
The Clever Trevor is a stepping-stone to the Springboard Mile. Erik Asmussen has the mount on Fuel from post 3.
David M. Vance
A couple of recent claims will meet millionaire Ryvit in the $100,000 David M. Vance at six furlongs.
Surveillance was a $75,000 claim out of his last start, when he ran fourth in the sprint at Saratoga. The 8-year-old has back class to call upon as a Grade 3 winner of $1.1 million. Jose Ortiz has the mount for trainer Mike Maker.
Big Effect was a $32,000 claim two races ago at Churchill Downs. He won that afternoon, and trainer Robertino Diodoro said there were a couple of reasons to claim him on behalf of Joseph Schumer.
“When I saw him coming over, I loved the looks of him,” Diodoro said. “And I thought on paper, he looked good.”
In his first start for his new connections, Big Effect ran second by a head in an Ellis allowance and earned a Beyer of 100.
“He ran a huge race,” Diodoro said. “His last work at Remington was very impressive. He’s going to have to step it up, but I’m really thinking he can.”
Remington Green
Gigante will make his local debut in the $75,000 Remington Green at 1 1/8 miles on the grass. The Grade 2 winner is seeking a return to the winner’s circle for the first time since this past winter, when he won back-to-back stakes at Fair Grounds.
“He’s a horse that’s made a million dollars by hooking some of the best turf horses in the country and he needs to get back to winning and hopefully this is the spot,” said Asmussen.
Jose Ortiz has the mount from post 6.
◗ Neom Beach, who emerged as the top filly or mare at the summer meet at Lone Star Park, must overcome post 9 in the $75,000 Ricks Memorial at 1 1/16 miles on turf. Erik Asmussen rides the multiple stakes winner.
“She’ll work out a trip,” said trainer Steve Asmussen. “Erik knows her and the filly responds well to him. Hopefully, it will be her day.”
◗ Hot Crazy Matrix, a half-sister to $6.6 million earner Accelerate, meets stakes winners Ritzphena and Lanaluah in the $50,000 E.L. Gaylord Memorial for 2-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.