Remembering Rita Springs 19-1 Upset in Cornhusker 'Cap
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Photo: Coady Photography
Jockey Alex Birzer and trainer Doug Anderson celebrate after Remembering Rita's victory in the Cornhusker Handicap
Something changed when Jeral Keith Adams' Remembering Rita arrived at Prairie Meadows in the spring.
An 0-for-8 maiden entering the meet at the Iowa track, the 4-year-old Spring At Last colt broke through for an 11 1/4-length maiden special weight victory in his first start at Prairie Meadows May 25. Then came an 11-length optional-claiming allowance score at the same mile-and-70-yard distance.
But entering his first stakes start in the $300,000 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (G3) July 6, the question was his class. The Doug Anderson trainee answered pretty clearly Friday night.
With a pressing trip under jockey Alex Birzer, Remembering Rita wore down pacesetter Dalmore in the stretch and pulled away late to win the 1 1/8-mile test by 1 1/2 lengths at odds of 19-1, in a final time of 1:49.36.
"He's run good over this racetrack and his numbers have been been super over here and we thought, 'What the heck? We've got to take a shot at $300,000 on our home track,'" Anderson said of Remembering Rita, who was a $50,000 claim by the trainer out of a maiden race at Churchill Downs in November of 2016. "Everything has worked out perfect."
Dalmore set fractions of :24.24, :48.98, and 1:12.65 through six furlongs, with Remembering Rita just a head behind. On even terms at the top of the lane, Remembering Rita put his head in front at the furlong pole and widened his margin to the wire.
"The race just set up perfect for us," Birzer said. "I was able to sit right off the speed. It was a perfect race."
Favored McCraken finished a nonthreatening third, three-quarters of a length behind Dalmore, and was followed by Thirstforlife, Matrooh, Hence, and Irish Freedom, to complete the order of finish. Krewe Chief stumbled at the start and unseated jockey Chris Landeros.
Bred in Kentucky by Dapple Bloodstock and Lisa McNamara, out of the Unbridled's Song mare Deep South, Remembering Rita now has a 3-1-4 record from 11 starts and $254,946 in earnings.