Friday is opening night of the 2023 Thoroughbred season at Oklahoma City’s Remington Park. First post is 8:07 pm ET and the track will be adding an early pick 5 to the betting menu beginning in the opening race. The Primetime Pick 4 (late pick 4) typically is the featured multi-race exotic on the card and includes the $100,000 Governor’s Cup as the main event.

Let’s get to work.

Remington Park | Race 6 | maiden

A lightly raced group of 2-year-olds may seem daunting to start, but consider that trainers Kari Craddock (#5 Ready) and Austin Gustafson (#8 Angel Kiss) are exceptional with rookies in Remington Park juvenile races the past few years. Kraddock is 6-19 (32%) and Gustafson is 7-22 (32%) here since 2020. Mix in the solid Canterbury debut runner-up #2 Short Stretch and feel covered.

Remington Park | Race 7 | allowance

#8 Too Much Action has a versatile running style that could come in handy. #1 Rowdy River is formidable on form and has rail gas, but some additional ‘cheap speed’ in this race from #6 Behind the Curtain and #9 Robert Who could muck it up for Rowdy River. It’s also difficult to split the Lone Star maiden breakers on the immediate class rise, so let’s single to #8 Too Much Action, whom I trust more.

Remington Park | Race 8 | $100,000 Governor’s Cup

The 2021 Oklahoma Derby winner #3 Warrant will be a strong favorite for Brad Cox in the stakes feature. But I’m not sure he’s in his best form as his Cornhusker effort at Prairie Meadows, a track and race that should play very similar to this, was subpar. I’m going to stand against, giving a chance to blow up the return on the ticket if he doesn’t bounce back. #4 Holden the Lute has dynamite speed for this distance and, if the stamina holds, is the most likely upsetter. Let’s add depth with #1 Kokokomo, #2 Presidential, #5 Number One Dude and #6 Sonneman

Remington Park | Race 9 | allowance

Steve Asmussen trainees win 23% on the Remington turf the past 5 seasons and Bret Calhoun a slightly better 24%. That’s strong for #4 Get Serious and #7 Lady Got Moves. #2 Run Slewpy Run is an obvious horse-for-course and local stakes winner of repute. #5 Love Tank has quality dirt company lines and bred to be a turf runner. I absolutely love inside closers on this grass course who rally up the opening for the chute in the final furlong. That’s my top pick.

The Ticket
5,8,2 with 8 with 4,1,2,5,6 with 5,2,4,7 = $30 for $.50 play