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VF RED SURPRISE PULLS UPSET IN $100,000 SOONER STATE STAKES
Vf Red Surprise (#6) runs down Sam Crow (#4) and Ajs High(#1) in Saturday night’s $100,000 Sooner State Stakes at Remington Park.
© Dustin Orona PhotographyOKLAHOMA CITY, OK—MAY 6, 2017—Older Oklahoma-breds were featured in Saturday night’s $100,000 Sooner State Stakes where VF Red Surprise pulled the upset as the longest priced runner on the board at odds of 21-1.
Rivals Sam Crow and AJs High were both at 3-2 odds, with Sam Crow the slight wagering favorite. The pair regularly face each other in Remington Park stakes action and were expected to battle to the 400-yard finish together.
However, AJs High had a slight stumble leaving the starting gate while Sam Crow received some contact from a rival to his outside. The issues of the favorites meant nothing to VF Red Surprise and her jockey James Flores, as they rolled from the outside post position.
"We had a great start and I just stayed out of her way the whole trip, for the most part," Flores noted. "She was running great and I didn’t see a reason to get after her. I could see the horses on the inside coming to me at the end of the racetrack. I rolled my stick over and asked her for a little more and we held on for the win."
VF Red Surprise crossed the finish in 19.776 seconds over a fast track, a head in front of Sam Crow who rallied to gain second. AJs High was a half-length behind the victor in third.
Owned by Cuadra Ladrilleros of Yukon, Okla. and trained by Stuart Steele, VF Red Surprise paid $44.40 to win, $14.20 to place and $4.60 to show. Sam Crow returned $3.60 to place and $2.20 to show. AJs High paid $2.40 to show.
A 4-year-old mare by First Prize Stanley from the Rolls Of Romance mare Red Temptress, VF Red Surprise won her fourth career race from 14 career starts with the Sooner State Stakes becoming her first stakes triumph. Bred in Oklahoma by Safari Racing, VF Red Surprise earned $59,400 in the Sooner State Stakes to increase her overall money to $120,964.
First Prize Stanley is a full brother to Grade 1 Remington Park Futurity winners First Prize Leesa and First Prize Robin, Grade 1 Heritage Place Futurity winner First Carolina and Grade 1-placed multiple stakes sire First Prize Perry. A son of Mr Jess Perry, he also a half-brother to leading sire Heza Fast Dash.
VF Red Surprise gave jockey James Flores his second career win in the Sooner State Stakes. He also won in 2015 aboard Gold Digging Ashley. This was the first Sooner State Stakes score for the rest of the connections of VF Red Surprise.
The super consistent Sam Crow races for owner Terry aber and is conditioned by Trey Wood. Ricky Ramirez rode the son of Valiant Hero out of Bourbonstreetchick by Chicks Beduino. Bred by Paris Wixom, Sam Crow has compiled a (19) 6-10-1 record while banking $980,177.
Also, a Grade 1 winner, Ajs High is a homebred son of leading sire Apollitical Jess racing for owner/breeder Michael Teel. Out of the Rare Form mare Regally Rare, Ajs High is trained by Charley Hunt and ridden by Stormy Smith. The 5-year-old winner of 13 races has earned more than $728,000.
Valiant Rogue, Ferrari James and Regard With Respect completed the field.