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FAVORED SPECIALS JESS EASILY WINS BOYD
MORRIS MEMORIAL AT REMINGTON PARK
Specials Jess, under jockey Roberto Valero, winning the $70,000 Boyd Morris Memorial Sunday afternoon at Remington Park.
© Dusitn Orona PhotographyOKLAHOMA CITY, OK—MAY 29, 2016— After a pair of failed stakes attempts earlier in the Remington Park season, Specials Jess romped in Sunday’s $70,000 Boyd Morris Memorial for 3-year-olds and older.
Owned by Alexia Mehrle of Tulsa, Okla. and trained by Kasey Willis, Specials Jess was ridden for the first time by Roberto Valero. He was second in the 550-yard SLM Big Daddy Stakes in March, then fourth in the Mr Jet Moore Stakes behind AJs High in April. The May stakes attempt fit the bill as the 4-year-old gelding rolled to win by 1-1/4 lengths in the 400-yard race, crossing the finish in :19.492 seconds over a fast track.
Tempting Valor was second, a neck better than 11-year-old Finche who was third.
The betting favorite at 2-1 odds, Specials Jess paid $6.80 to win, $3.40 to place and $3 to show. Tempting Valor returned $7.40 to place and $5.60 to show. Finche paid $7 to show.
Bred in Oklahoma by A.C. Taylor, Specials Jess is by Spit Curl Jess from the Make It Anywhere mare Special Anywhere. The Boyd Morris win is his fifth from 12 attempts and his third at Remington Park. The winner’s share of $39,000 increases his career earnings to $105,505.
Matt Ratliff and Vicki Tebow's Tempting Valor pushed his earnings total to $93,278 after pocketing $13,00 for second. Stacy Charette-Hill conditions the Tempting Dash 4-year-old out of Thanks Jens, by Strawfly Special. Luis Gerardo Aguirre bred the gelding in Oklahoma. Jorge Torres was riding.
Trainer Larry Abney saddled Finche for himself and Chris Sheehy. Oscar Delgado was aboard the Tres Seis 11-year-old out of Doctor Prospector by Bully Bullion. He earned $7,150 for the effort.
Novas Gold, Bp Run Cartel Run, Sexy And I Know It B, Blazin Hero, Rocketair, Load Your Guns and Admiral Zoomwalt completed the field.
The Boyd Morris Memorial is named after the famed Quarter Horse jockey who won the 1964 All American Futurity on Decketta. The Blanchard, Okla. jockey went on to be a prominent trainer of both Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds once his successful riding career ended. He was a mainstay from the beginning at Remington Park prior to his passing.
The holiday racing week at Remington Park continues Memorial Day Monday, May 30. The first race Memorial Day is at 1:30pm - Central.
Open daily for casino gaming and simulcast racing, Remington Park features the Bricktown Brewery on the casino floor. Admission, general parking and valet parking are always free at Remington Park, home of the historic $414,000 Oklahoma Futurity. The 75th running of the oldest futurity in Quarter Horse racing takes place on Saturday, March 26, 2016.
Tracked by over 94,000 fans on Facebook and 7,000 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided over $146 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Oklahoma City’s only Racetrack & Casino and is located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District. For more information, reservations and group bookings please call 405-424-1000, 866-456-9880 or visit remingtonpark.com.