Shotgun Kowboy Tackles OK Classics Cup

Oklahoma Derby (gr. III) winner Shotgun Kowboy will make history while seeking to add another stakes score to his resume Oct. 17, when he heads a field of six for the $175,000 Oklahoma Classics Cup at Remington Park. Should he ace this test, his connections will aim for a start in the Nov. 27 Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (gr. I) at Churchill Downs.

The Cup is the richest event on the $1 million night of Oklahoma Classics racing, restricted to Oklahoma-bred Thoroughbreds. The first of 10 races for state-bred runners is at 8 p.m. EDT. The Cup is the 10th and final race of the night, slated for 12:12 a.m. EDT.

Shotgun Kowboy will become the first winner of the Oklahoma Derby to take part in any of the Classics races. The series debuted in 1993, shortly after the only other Oklahoma-bred to win the Oklahoma Derby, Clever Trevor in 1989, had concluded his racing career.

Bred, owned, and trained by C.R. Trout, the 3-year-old Kodiak Kowboy gelding has been no worse than one third in seven starts, and owns five wins, all at Remington, three of them stakes.

"If everything goes well Friday night, the Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs in November is the next goal. After that, we'll pick and choose depending on what the horse tells us," Trout said.

Shotgun Kowboy is undefeated in 2015 although he has made just two starts, taking an August allowance before winning the 1 1/8-mile Oklahoma Derby Sept. 27 by half a length over Desert Dynamo. Regular rider Clifton Berry gets the mount from post 2 as part of a 119-pound impost as the dark bay runner faces elders going 1 1/16 miles. Shotgun Kowboy carried 124 pounds as part of his Oklahoma Derby assignment.

Trout gave his runner a half-mile breeze Oct. 8 at Remington to ready for the Classics Cup. Shotgun Kowboy handled the effort in :52 4/5 over a fast track. 

"He's training well, eating well, and feeling good," Trout reported. "This colt is on tilt right now. Cliff gave him a nice easy breeze the other day and he's ready. We like our draw and there are some quality horses in there so it will be a good race."