Racing


Separatist Sires 1-2 Finishers, Myst Fit Wins Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park
Myst Fit (#2), under champion jockey Ricky Ramirez, gets up over Famousist (#1) in the Grade 3 $251,000 Oklahoma Derby.

© Dustin Orona Photography
Separatist Sires 1-2 Finishers, Myst Fit Wins Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—MARCH 25, 2017—Leading sire Separatist, who moved to Oklahoma from the West Coast only a couple of years ago, sired the top two finishers in the $251,000 Oklahoma Derby(G3) Saturday night at Remington Park.

Myst Fit broke alertly and battled Famousist admirably to win the Grade 3 Derby over a fast track in a time of 17.382 seconds. He earned $100,400 for the owner partnership of Newman Cattle Company and Bobby Simmons of Stanton, Texas.

Remington Park General Manager Scott Wells (center) presents winning owners Newman Cattle Company and Bobby Simmons, trainer Trey Wood and jockey Ricky Ramirez the Oklahoma Derby stakes trophy.
© Dustin Orona Photography
Sent to the post at 5-2 odds, the three-year-old gelded son of Separatist is out of the Mr Jess Perry mare, Mystifying and was bred in California by Steve D. Burns, DVM.

Winning jockey Ricky Ramirez had a brief moment of uncertainty just before the gates opened, "He kind of sat back on the rig (flipping halter) for a few moments before they kicked it. Then he sat up and just broke beautiful. I just kind of waited on him and whenever he went to go, I just sent him. He’s the kind of horse if you try to rush him early, he won’t run for you. So I just stayed chilly on him and he finished strong. That 1 horse (Famousist) had me worried pretty much the whole race, until that last hundred yards," said Ramirez.

Winning trainer Trey Wood had to deal with some surprise health issues last year when Myst Fit was a two-year-old.

Myst Fit, under champion jockey Ricky Ramirez, returns after winning the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park. © Dustin Orona Photography
"He had a lot of soft tissue issues when we got him last year. When we got to Ruidoso (Downs, N.M.), he actually had a throat issue that we didn’t know about until we ran him. Once we ran him, he got really sick and we had to do surgery on him. Luckily he came back good, and he’s a nice horse," Wood said.

Part owner Bobby Simmons was very grateful for what trainer Woods has done with his horse.

"We’ve been surrounded by a good team. Trey has been wonderful since we started training with him last year. It’s hard for me because I’m pretty, impatient. So, Trey’s been very good at helping me be patient and not do too much," Simmons said.

Myst Fit has now won three career races from just five attempts. The derby check for first place moves his overall earnings to $117,023. The Oklahoma Derby win is the first in the race for all of the connections of Myst Fit.

Also a Steve Burns' California-bred, Famousist races for Denis and Julie Schoenhofer. Jose Gamez saddled the Separatist gelding out of Ought To Be Famous by First Down Dash. Mario Delgado had the riding call. He picked up $42,670 to bring his earnings mark to $60,843.

The lightly-raced Miss Racy Runaway races for owners Terry and Irene Stennett. Also saddled by Trey Wood, the Apollitical Jess filly is out of the Dashin Bye mare Dashin Vike. Ridden by Edwuin Lujan, the sorrel filly earned $27,6120 for the effort.

Myst Fit paid $7.60 to win, $4.40 to place and $3.40 to show. He prevailed by a head decision over 18-1 runner-up Famousist, who paid $14.80 to place and $8.40 to show. Miss Racy Runaway checked in third at 24-1 odds, to pay $10.60 to show.

Jess Kool Lady, Cropped Top, Bellissima Chocolata, Desert Trail, Bp Jess Fast, Tommy The Train and Teardrops At The Bar completed the field.

The 2017 American Quarter Horse Season at Remington Park continues Sunday, March 26 with the first race at 1:30pm.

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Tracked by over 119,000 fans on Facebook and 8,400 Twitter followers, Remington Park is the home of the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Futurity on Saturday, March 25. Remington Park has provided over $165 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Open daily at 10:30am with free parking and admission, Oklahoma City’s only Racetrack & Casino 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.