13 to Tackle Wildcat Red in Oklahoma Derby

Wildcat Red, seeking his first graded stakes win since the Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) in February, heads a wild and wooly group of 14 sophomores entered for the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby (gr. III) Sept. 28 at Remington Park.



Following a fifth-place finish in the Ketel One King's Bishop (gr. I) Aug. 23, Honors Stable's son of D'wildcat   returns to routing in Sunday's 1 1/8-mile Oklahoma Derby. The race headlines a stakes-filled card at the Oklahoma City oval that includes the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks, the $150,000 Remington Sprint Cup, and the $100,000 Remington Green. The Oklahoma Derby is the eighth of 10 races on the program and is scheduled for a 4:46 p.m. CDT post.



Wildcat Red has experienced an eventful year for trainer Jose Garoffalo while facing the best competition of his generation. He should appreciate a softer group in this spot. Among his opponents in the Oklahoma Derby is recent Canadian Derby (Can-III) runaway winner Edison and locally-based Ibaka, on a five-race win streak for trainer Bret Calhoun.



In addition to victories in the Hutcheson (gr. III) and Fountain of Youth at his home track at Gulfstream Park this season, the speedy Wildcat Red ran second in the Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I), missing by a neck to Constitution.



After a roughed-up effort in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) when he finished 18th, the bay colt went to the sidelines to recuperate for nearly two months. He returned in fine stye with a 10 1/4-length romp over an overmatched field in Gulfstream's Quality Road Stakes June 28.



A month later, he took on an all-star lineup in the William Hill Haskell Invitational (gr. I) at Monmouth Park, tiring after chasing front-running Bayern into the stretch and finishing third. In his next start, the seven-furlong King's Bishop Aug. 23 at Saratoga, Wildcat Red struck the gate at the break and endured a wide trip before fading out of the money.



For the year, Wildcat Red has posted a 3-2-1 mark in eight starts while banking $785,000. With a win in the Oklahoma Derby, he would surpass $1 million career earnings.



Edgard Zayas, who has not been aboard Wildcat Red since they teamed to win three consecutive races late last year, regains the mount. Wildcat Red, who breezed five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 at Gulfstream Sept. 16 before shipping to Remington the following day, drew post 5.



Trainer Robertino Diodoro and jockey Rico Walcott combined to win last year's Oklahoma Derby with Broadway Empire. They appear poised to give it another solid run with Edison, on a three-race win streak for owners Fouad El Kardy, Bob Butz, and Rick Running Rabbit.



The stalking son of Bernardini  , a $950,000 Fasig-Tipton Florda March 2-year-old select purchase who was previously trained by Todd Pletcher for Coolmore, demolished the Canadian Derby field by 11 1/2 lengths at Northlands Park Aug. 16. He'll be cutting back two furlongs for Sunday's race and is slotted in gate 4, just inside of the favorite.



Doug Wall's Ibaka steps into graded company while 5-for-5 in 2014 for Calhoun. Among his victories this season are the Texas Heritage Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park in March. Lindey Wade has the return mount.



Hall of Fame trainers Bill Mott and Jerry Hollendorfer are also represented.



Mott ships in two-time winner Charge Now, a half brother to Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Super Saver for WinStar Farm. The Tiznow   colt was most recently seventh in the Travers Stakes (gr. I).



Hollendorfer entered Tonito M., a star in Puerto Rico who is winless in five starts since transferring to Southern California earlier in the year. The son of Rock Hard Ten was most recently third in the Los Alamitos Mile Sept. 6.



Away Game arrives from New York on a two-race allowance win streak, making his stakes debut for Rick Violette, while Louisiana invader Declan's Fast Cat comes in off a distant second at 88-1 to Vicar's In Trouble in the Super Derby (gr. II) Sept. 6.