Local talent took center stage at Remington Park on Sunday as Eakly triumphed in the $250,000 Great West Turf Sprint, besting some of the nation’s finest turf sprinters. This 6-year-old Oklahoma-bred gelding, sired by Caleb’s Posse and out of the Lonhro mare Vian, is conditioned by Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Famer Donnie Von Hemel and owned by Cheyenne Stables’ Everett Dobson from Oklahoma City. Eakly narrowly defeated Runnin’ Rocket—ridden by Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez—and last year’s champion, Jackman’s Ride, both by a neck. Notably, Eakly and Jackman’s Ride outpaced competitors who had proven themselves at major racing venues such as Del Mar, Saratoga, and Churchill Downs.
Having previously secured the $50,000 Cliff Berry Turf Sprint Stakes in September as preparation, Eakly has clearly found his sweet spot at five furlongs on grass, achieving his fourth victory over this distance in ten starts, along with multiple placings. Dobson expressed gratitude toward Remington Park for hosting this race and praised Von Hemel and jockey David Cabrera for a thrilling performance. A seasoned owner since 1996, Dobson has collaborated with top trainers like Todd Pletcher and Kiaran McLaughlin and has accumulated over $13 million in earnings solely through Cheyenne Stables.
Entering the race at 4-1 odds, Eakly returned $10.60 to win, earning $150,000 and improving his career record to 8 wins, 10 seconds, and 5 thirds in 29 outings, with total winnings reaching $629,819. Bred by Candy Meadows in Oklahoma, Eakly demonstrated determination by taking the lead at the top of the stretch and holding off a late challenge at the wire. Cabrera acknowledged the importance of a strong getaway, crediting the gate crew’s efforts with helping Eakly start quickly. The final time of 55.16 seconds set a new stakes record, surpassing last year’s mark set by Jackman’s Ride.
The finish behind Jackman’s Ride saw Let’s Go Mark in fourth, the 5-2 favorite Governor Sam in fifth, followed by High Front and Virat.
In the $150,000 Clever Trevor Stakes for 2-year-olds at Remington Park, the betting public zeroed in on a duel between Grand Yaupon and Iamkirk, and the race unfolded just as expected. Grand Yaupon, a Kentucky-bred colt by Yaupon out of Media Circus, edged out Iamkirk, another Kentucky-bred colt by Tiz the Law, with a determined half-length victory. Ridden by Erik Asmussen, Grand Yaupon momentarily trailed before powering through to the finish against Ramon Vazquez’s Iamkirk.
Favored at 3-5 odds with Iamkirk at even money, the two horses clearly outclassed the rest of the field, where the next best was Airship at 19-1. Grand Yaupon finished three lengths ahead of third-place Fate of War, who in turn outpaced the remaining horses by more than eight lengths. The remaining order included Dear Admiral, Rooster Road, and Stacy’s Dream.
Asmussen, riding Grand Yaupon for the first time, credited his brother Keith for helpful insights on the horse’s preferences. The colt completed the 6 1/2-furlong sprint in 1:17.00, taking control after the half-mile mark and winning comfortably. Purchased for $560,000 at the 2025 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Grand Yaupon is owned by the Estate of Mike McCarty and trained by Steve Asmussen, the winningest trainer in North American history. This marked Grand Yaupon’s first stakes victory following a runner-up finish in the $250,000 Juvenile Stakes at Ellis Park and a maiden win at Saratoga.
The Clever Trevor Stakes honors the great Oklahoma-bred horse who won the first Oklahoma Derby in 1989 at Remington Park and earned over a million dollars in his career before passing away at age 30 in 2016.
Racing continues at Remington Park from October 1-3, with post time at 6:30 p.m. Central. Since opening its casino in 2005, Remington Park has contributed over $426 million to Oklahoma’s general education fund and remains an important hub for thoroughbred racing and gaming.
Fan Take:
Eakly’s triumph as a local champion against cross-country competition highlights the rising quality of racing talent bred and trained in Oklahoma, signaling a bright future for regional racing circuits. Meanwhile, Grand Yaupon’s breakthrough stakes win underscores the excitement and potential packed into the new generation of young horses, keeping fans tuned in and hopeful for the sport’s ongoing growth and vibrancy.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
