Trainer Steve Asmussen secured his fifth victory in the Remington Park Oaks on Sunday, September 27, with Rileytole, ridden by jockey Paco Lopez. The $200,000 race, spanning 1 1/16 miles, featured five three-year-old fillies, with Bank Shot entering as the 9-5 favorite. Rileytole took a wide position entering the first turn, trailing the front-runner Justified Gift, who used her inside post to save ground and set a brisk early pace under jockey John Velazquez. Justified Gift held the lead until the backstretch’s end when Bank Shot surged ahead.
Lopez guided Rileytole to the outside as they approached the final turn, moving four-wide into the stretch and seizing the lead once the straightened course began. Bank Shot and Krissy Star remained close, with the trio battling fiercely through the final yards before Rileytole stretched clear to win by 1 3/4 lengths in a final time of 1:45.72 on the fast track. Bank Shot finished second by a head over Krissy Star, who was the 2-1 second choice, while P R Stitch placed fourth, 13 lengths behind. Justified Gift, after leading much of the race, dropped back to last, finishing over 25 lengths behind.
Pace fractions saw Rileytole tracking the leaders through a quarter in :24.03 and a half in :47.81 before Bank Shot took charge, hitting six furlongs at 1:12.76. Rileytole regained the lead at the mile marker with a time of 1:39.03.
A Kentucky-bred filly by Mitole from the Bellamy Road mare Picolata, Rileytole went off at 2-1 odds and paid $6.60 to win, $3.20 to place, and $2.10 to show. The $120,000 winner’s share raised her career earnings to $265,115, marking her second win in six starts, alongside one second and one third. Rileytole was bred by Don and Jackie Duppenthaler, Wade Russell, and Donna Russell.
Asmussen’s previous wins in the Remington Park Oaks include Carlitta (1999), More Than Promised (2005), She’s A Julie (2018), and Lady Apple (2019). This marked the first Oaks triumph for owners William and Corrine Heiligbrodt of Houston and the first for jockey Lopez.
Remington Park’s live racing continues October 1-3, Thursday through Saturday, with nightly post time at 6:30 p.m. Central.
Remington Park has contributed over $426 million to Oklahoma’s general education fund since its casino opened in 2005. Located at the crossroads of Interstates 35 and 44, it is a key part of the Oklahoma City Adventure District. The 2026 Oklahoma Classics, the premier stakes event for Oklahoma-breds, is scheduled for Friday, October 16 at Remington Park. The venue also offers year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. Guests must be 18 or older to wager or enter the gaming floor. For more information, visit remingtonpark.com.
Originally published by Paulick Report on September 28, 2026, in the News section.
Fan Take: This exciting Remington Park Oaks win highlights the emerging talent and competitive spirit among three-year-old fillies, providing fans with thrilling finishes and fresh storylines in horse racing. Races like this showcase the sport’s depth and tradition, essential for engaging new audiences and sustaining horse racing’s enduring appeal.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
