Rf Corona Flash(#5), under jockey Gonzalo Gutierrez, winning the 17,500 Walter Merrick Memorial Stakes in Tulsa on Friday night.

© Coady Photography

TULSA, OK—JULY 27, 2018—At odds of 28-1, Rf Corona Flash was not expected to finish first in the $17,500 Walter Merrick Memorial Stakes in Tulsa on Friday night, but the 7-year-old gelding got a neck in front just at the wire in the 870-yard race. Gonzalo Gutierrez guided the son of Cartel Success home in 45.825 to earn a 96 speed index.

Rf Corona Flash ($59.00) was 10-1 on the morning line despite winning his most recent start, also at Fair Meadows and also at 870 yards, by over five lengths. Unlike others in the field, Rf Corona Flash had little stakes experience, and his previous win was in a claiming event. The Matt Whitekiller trainee has won three of his five career starts at Fair Meadows and is five for 21 lifetime. This was his third win around the turn.

Rf Corona Flash is owned by Joel Rod Pierce and Kyle Martin McGowen. He was bred in Oklahoma by Marvin and Pam Wilcox, out of the Special Effort mare Special Dream Baby.

A neck behind Rf Corona Flash was the 6-5 morning line favorite and even-money post-time favorite Blazen Panther, with Daniel Torres aboard. The pair gave up ground early but closed from sixth place to just miss at the wire.

The defending co-champion of the Walter Merrick Memorial, Blazen Panther is an 870-yard specialist with eight wins in 20 starts; he has finished in the money in 16 of those starts. Lifetime, he is nine for 34 with over $160,000 in earnings.

Blazen Panther a 7-year-old gelding by Panther Mountain, out of the Blazen Bryan mare Blazen Madie. He was bred in Oklahoma by B. Cockrell and L. Vanhoozer. Jonathan Chavira owns and trains Blazen Panther.

In last year’s running of this race, Admiral Zoomwalt and Blazen Panther finished in a dead heat for first. On Friday, Admiral Zoomwalt would have to settle for third place, beaten half a length at the wire despite leading for the first half of the race.

Admiral Zoomwalt and James Flores put nearly three lengths between them and the rest of the field in the gelding’s 13th start in an 870-yard event.

The 6-year-old gelding is trained by Amanda Tongay for owners Rogelio Marquez, Jr and Kathy Robinson. He was bred in Oklahoma by Mike Nobles and Christine Hudson, by Shazoom and out of Tellin It All, by First Down Dash.

Admiral Zoomwalt is a multiple stakes winner with over $150,000 in career earnings and 11 lifetime wins in 32 starts.

Completing the field were Marker Down Brown, Pb Classy Royal Snow, Srd American Achara, Eye Opening Legacy and Srd Red Bobcat.