by Jeremy Plonk
October 17, 2024
Remington Park hosts Friday night’s 32nd renewal of the Oklahoma Classics, a full-card celebration of the state’s best Thoroughbreds, and we’ve got your express preview and picks for the 10 coming attractions. 1/ST BET and Xpressbet players enjoy 10X 1/ST Rewards Points on all Remington Park wagers Friday.
Here goes (in chronological order):
1. Remington Park Race 1, 7:30 pm ET | #9 Artistic Vision and #12 Smart Okie split the local preps for the OK Classics Filly & Mare Starter Stakes, but give a look to #1 Gee Gee (10-1 morning line), who goes second off the layoff and exits a tough foundation builder.
2. Remington Park Race 2, 7:59 pm ET | Now age 8, #5 Absaroka (3-1 morning line) fits better in the OK Classics Starter Stakes than the main event, the Classics Cup, a race he won in 2021 and was third in a year ago.
3. Remington Park Race 3, 8:28 pm ET | With 3 races under her belt, including a win vs. open company allowance sprinters 9 days ago, #9 Afternoon Diva (6-1 morning line) has more foundation than her OK Classics Lassie rivals for the 6-furlong extension.
4. Remington Park Race 4, 8:57 pm ET | The OK Classics Juvenile cast includes several light work tabs since these prospects’ last races, but that’s not the case for hard-trained #11 Cold Fact (6-1 morning line) for local dominators Stewart Elliott-Steve Asmussen.
5. Remington Park Race 5, 9:27 pm ET | Six of the 7 OK Classics Distaff Turf competitors exit the Bob Barry Memorial Stakes, but the new face in the race could quicken the tempo, which would most help the improving #6 C W Charm (5-1 morning line).
6. Remington Park Race 6, 9:57 pm ET | #7 Nice Neighbor (5-2 morning line) was runner-up in last year’s OK Classics Distaff Sprint and holds the edge over #4 Take Me Serious while benefitting from a cozy, outside draw.
7. Remington Park Race 7, 10:26 pm ET | The headline horse on the card goes in the OK Classics Distaff as #6 Miss Code West (3-5 morning line) was 2023’s Horse of the Meeting and returned here last month for a clear second in the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks vs. open company.
8. Remington Park Race 8, 10:58 pm ET | #2 Fly to the Bank aims for a third straight OK Classics Sprint title, but he’s been the bridesmaid more often than not lately, opening the door for the lightly raced upstart #5 Breakable Code (7-2 morning line).
9. Remington Park Race 9, 11:30 pm ET | Discovery Handicap runner-up Winters Lion ships in from Kentucky for Joe Sharp, but #2 C W Prize (6-1 morning line) has been the best state-bred sprinter on the grounds this season, and I like the bold try to go for the $175,000.OK Classics Cup with a chance to be loose on the lead over 1-1/16 miles.
10. Remington Park Race 10, 12:02 am ET | The OK Classics Turf should be a showdown of last year’s winner #7 Eakly and 2022 winner #4 Tap the Dot (2-1 morning line), the latter a rallying head better in the local prep and likely to enjoy the additional distance Friday night.