Shotgun Kowboy Aims at Fourth Oklahoma Classics Cup Win

It's been six months since millionaire Shotgun Kowboy last raced, but the 7-year-old gelding will be back on his home track at Remington Park Oct. 18 as he tries to defend his title in the $175,000 Oklahoma Classics Cup Stakes.

Bred, owned, and trained by C. R. Trout, Shotgun Kowboy has the chance to rewrite Oklahoma's racing history. If he wins Friday night, he'll be the first horse to win the premier race for Oklahoma-breds four times.

"(Shotgun Kowboy) is pretty special," Trout said. "He runs pretty hard every time you ask him. I think he is my favorite. Maysville Slew has a special place in our hearts because we had him first, but this horse has surpassed him in ability and soundness."

The son of Kodiac Kowboy first won the Cup in 2015, then in 2017 and 2018. He is only the third horse to win it three times, following Zee Oh Six (2002, 2005-06) and Mr Ross (1999-2001).

The Cup anchors a night of 10 stakes (counting two starter-condition stakes) for Oklahoma-breds. Ten horses are entered for the main event, which is 1 1/16 miles on the main track for 3-year-olds and up. 

Shotgun Kowboy has won six stakes at Remington, including the Oklahoma Derby (G3), Clever Trevor Stakes, and Oklahoma Classics Juvenile Stakes. He also captured the 2018 Lone Star Park Handicap (G3) at Lone Star Park.

Also entered are last year's runner-up, Rowdy the Warrior; recent Parx Racing stakes winner Deal Driven; and last month's Oklahoma Stallion Stakes winner, D Toz.

Fillies and mares 3 years old and up will be in the spotlight for the $145,000 Oklahoma Classics Distaff Stakes. The 2017 winner, Inagoodway, is entered in the one-mile-and-70-yard event, which drew eight entries. Trainer Karl Broberg claimed the 6-year-old daughter of Save Big Money for GK Racing Aug. 24 at Remington when she won a one-mile claimer on turf and was picked up for $17,500.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen entered Clark Brewster's Tickle Bunny, a 4-year-old Shackleford  filly who broke her maiden by nine lengths over this track and distance Sept. 29. Last year's Oklahoma Classics Lassie Stakes winner She's Shiney, a homebred Save Big Money filly for Adios Reality Farms, is another returning for Classics Night. Lori Bravo homebred Lady Orchid is the even-money morning-line favorite off a perfect record in three starts, including a recent win in the Oklahoma Stallion Fillies Stakes at Remington.

Four Oklahoma Classics stakes carry a $130,000 purse—the Distaff Turf, 1 1/16 miles on the grass for fillies and mares 3 years old and up; the Sprint, six furlongs for 3-year-olds and up; the Distaff Sprint, six furlongs for fillies and mares 3 years old and up; and the OKC Turf Classic, 1 1/16 miles on the grass for 3-year-olds and up.

Five of the seven entered in the Distaff Turf were top-five finishers in the Sept. 27 Bob Barry Memorial Stakes run at 7 1/2 furlongs on Remington's lawn. The winner, Alternative Slew, enters Friday's event off two consecutive victories. The Bob Barry marked the stakes debut for the 3-year-old Alternation  filly. Hawaiian Typhoon and Sunday Night Miss were second and third, respectively, in the Bob Barry. The latter was second in last year's Distaff Turf.

Welder, a winner of 19 of 29 starts and earner of $850,998, will face seven others as he tries to defend his Sprint title. The 6-year-old The Visualiser gelding enters off a 3 1/4-length repeat victory in Remington's Sept. 29 David M. Vance Stakes. He completed the six furlongs in 1:08.13, just missing the track record of 1:08 set by Smoke of Ages in 1991.

The 1-2 finishers from last year's Distaff Sprint—Three Chords and Okie Diva—will be back at it again Friday along with eight others. This year, Three Chords has won two of five starts, all in allowance optional claiming company. Okie Diva returned in August from a 10-month layoff and has made two starts this year, finishing second in Remington's Sept. 29 Flashy Lady Stakes.

Carl R. Moore Management's Ezmosh, a 4-year-old Tizway gelding, is one of 10 OKC Turf Classic entries. The Joe Sharp trainee was a $135,000 purchase from ELiTE's consignment to the Keeneland April Sale. Ezmosh's biggest score came as a sophomore in the Arlington Classic Stakes (G3T) at Arlington International Racecourse.

Friday night will also feature two Oklahoma Classics juvenile stakes worth $100,000 each—the Juvenile, six furlongs for colts and geldings, and the Lassie, six furlongs for fillies.

L and N Racing's Rowdy Yates, winner of the Aug. 18 TwinSpires Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes, will cut back to sprint distances after finishing fifth in his two-turn debut, the Sept. 14 Iroquois Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs. Asmussen trains the Morning Line colt. Topping the other seven entries is Fly to the Bank, a Euroears gelding who is unbeaten in two starts after winning the Kip Deville Stakes Sept. 29 over this course and distance.

In the Lassie, which attracted a field of 12, Princess Asya is scheduled to make her second start after rallying to a 2 3/4-length victory on debut Sept. 28. That effort gave the Pollard's Vision daughter experience over Friday's course and distance. Coming from Canada is Catchacougar, a Proud Citizen filly who has won three of four starts, including the black-type Spaghetti Mouse Stakes at Hastings in July.

Friday night's racing begins with the $40,000 Oklahoma Classics Filly and Mare Starter Stakes, followed by the $40,000 Oklahoma Classics Starter Stakes. Both races are seven furlongs. First post is 7:07 p.m. CT.

Entries: Oklahoma Classics Distaff S.

Remington Park, Friday, October 18, 2019, Race 4

• STK
• 1m 70y
• Dirt
• $145,000
• 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 8:34 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Lady Orchid (OK)	Iram Vargas Diego	113	Francisco Bravo	1/1
2	2Flatoutcountry (OK)	Walter De La Cruz	115	Clinton C. Stuart	20/1
3	3Dicey (OK)	Stewart Elliott	113	Patrick E. Swan	9/2
4	4Inagoodway (OK)	David Cabrera	118	Karl Broberg	10/1
5	5Cuando Again (OK)	Floyd Wethey, Jr.	120	Victor Hanson	15/1
6	6Little Bit Okie (OK)	Luis S. Quinonez	118	Danny Pish	20/1
7	7She's Shiney (OK)	Jose Angel Medina	115	J. Alan Williams	2/1
8	8Tickle Bunny (OK)	Richard E. Eramia	120	Steven M. Asmussen	20/1

Entries: OKC Turf Classic S.

Remington Park, Friday, October 18, 2019, Race 8

• STK
• 1 1/16m
• Turf
• $130,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 10:33 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Hallelujah Hit (OK)	David Cabrera	119	C. R. Trout	4/1
2	2Cowboy Mischief (OK)	Richard E. Eramia	114	Kenneth Nolen	9/2
3	3Pacific Typhoon (OK)	Kevin Roman	119	Veronica Griggs	30/1
4	4Perfect to Please (OK)	Bryan McNeil	119	Veronica Griggs	6/1
5	5Timely Reply (OK)	Freddy Jose Manrrique	119	Randy E. Swango	5/1
6	6Daaher's Success (OK)	Stewart Elliott	119	C. R. Trout	30/1
7	7Ibaka (OK)	Ramon A. Vazquez	121	Francisco Bravo	7/2
8	8Gospel Cherokey (OK)	Luis S. Quinonez	119	Steve F. Williams	20/1
9	9Ezmosh (OK)	Lindey Wade	119	Joe Sharp	3/1
10	10Morhawk (OK)	Walter De La Cruz	119	Austin Gustafson	30/1

Entries: Oklahoma Classics Cup S.

Remington Park, Friday, October 18, 2019, Race 9

• STK
• 1 1/16m
• Dirt
• $175,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 11:02 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Shotgun Kowboy (OK)	David Cabrera	119	C. R. Trout	8/5
2	2Rowdy the Warrior (OK)	Luis S. Quinonez	119	Donnie K. Von Hemel	10/1
3	3D Toz (OK)	Lane J. Luzzi	114	Danny Pish	5/1
4	4Quality Rocket (OK)	Jose Angel Medina	124	Boyd Caster	12/1
5	5Gospel Abe (OK)	Stewart Elliott	119	Federico Villafranco	20/1
6	6Deal Driven (OK)	Roberto J. Rosado	124	Robert Mosco	2/1
7	7United Patriot (OK)	Lori Keith	124	Michael E. Biehler	8/1
8	8Tuff Kid (OK)	Richard E. Eramia	121	Karl Broberg	12/1
9	9Dobbins G (OK)	Ramon A. Vazquez	119	Austin Gustafson	15/1
10	10Fearless Will (OK)	Alex Birzer	114	Francisco Bravo	30/1

Entries: Oklahoma Classics Lassie S.

Remington Park, Friday, October 18, 2019, Race 10

• STK
• 6f
• Dirt
• $100,000
• 2 yo Fillies
• 11:31 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Special Treasure (OK)	Freddy Jose Manrrique	114	Michael R. Whitelaw	20/1
2	2Princess Asya (OK)	Luis S. Quinonez	116	Donnie K. Von Hemel	5/2
3	3Polly Tiz (OK)	Jason R. Eads	116	Steve Martin	6/1
4	4Gp's Amazing Grace (OK)	David Cabrera	116	Patrick E. Swan	20/1
5	5Catchacougar (OK)	Amadeo Perez	120	Philip Hall	10/1
6	6Sweet Mary M (OK)	Iram Vargas Diego	114	Kari Craddock	9/2
7	7Queen of Alva (OK)	Richard E. Eramia	116	Kenneth Nolen	12/1
8	8Jensen Grace (OK)	Alex Birzer	116	Kenneth Nolen	6/1
9	9Sooner Express (OK)	Walter De La Cruz	114	Joe S. Offolter	30/1
10	10Zapit (OK)	Ken S. Tohill	114	Timothy E. Martin	30/1
11	11Machos Vision (OK)	Lori Keith	116	Michael E. Biehler	4/1
12	12Diamonds N Spurs (OK)	Stewart Elliott	116	Randy L. Morse	20/1