Welder Forges Name Into Remington Park Records
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Photo: Dustin Orona Photography/Remington Park
Welder wins the Silver Goblin Stakes at Remington Park
Remington Park records were rewritten Nov. 13 when Welder became the winningest stakes horse in track history with 11.
He had been in a tie for first with Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Famer Okie Ride going into the $70,000 Silver Goblin Stakes, a race he captured by 5 1/2 lengths Friday night. That gave him his fourth Silver Goblin, another record, in the popular millionaire's 25-for-37 racing career.
"I'm obviously never going to see another horse in my lifetime like this," said trainer Teri Luneack. "In fact, we probably won't see another horse at Remington Park like this in our lifetimes."
Welder, owned by Clayton Rash's Ra-Max Farms of Claremore, Okla., finished the 6 1/2 furlong-race in 1:15.49 on a muddy track and wasn't even breathing hard returning to the winner's circle. Jockey David Cabrera never asked him to run.
"I mean what horse goes out in :44 and change for the half-mile and just drives away without David (Cabrera) ever having to cock the stick? It's craziness," Luneack said.
The 7-year-old gelded son of The Visualiser out of the Tiznow mare Dance Softly is a two-time Oklahoma-bred Horse of the Year and the only horse in Remington Park history to be voted two-time Horse of the Meeting. He also won for the 14th time at the Oklahoma City track. That puts him one win behind Highland Ice and Elegant Exxactsy.
Bred by Center Hills Farm's division of Mighty Acres Ranch in Pryor, Okla., Welder was purchased as a yearling for $6,400 by Rash, according to Remington Park publicity.
Luneack said Welder would be back to race in 2021 as long as he stays sound. It's possible he could face Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Whitmore at Oaklawn Park next year. Whitmore beat Welder by two lengths in the 2019 Hot Springs Stakes when Welder settled for the show.
"It's such a blessing to have this horse," Luneack said as she held her grandbaby Ava in the winner's circle.
Welder also won three Oklahoma Classics Sprints Stakes, two David M. Vance Stakes, and two Remington Park Turf Sprint Stakes at Remington Park.
With earnings of $1,179,018, he is one of eight horses bred in Oklahoma to earn seven figures, a list headed by four-time grade 1 winner Kip Deville, who is followed by Horse of the Year Lady's Secret.
The Silver Goblin Stakes is named after the gray Oklahoma-bred millionaire who won multiple stakes races at Remington Park and numerous graded stakes events around the nation from 1993-99.