American Dubai has options

There’s a new leader in the handicap ranks in New Mexico.

American Dubai has now won two of the state’s three major races for the division and has his sights set on a sweep later this year in the Zia Park Distance Championship. But before then, the winner of the recent $200,000 Downs at Albuquerque Handicap could turn up at either Churchill Downs or Remington Park.

American Dubai emerged from his nine-length win in Albuquerque on Aug. 5 in good order, said trainer Rodney Richards, and he could make his next start in either the $175,000 Governor’s Cup on Sept. 24 at Remington Park or the Grade 3, $100,000 Ack Ack on Sept. 30 at Churchill.

“We might even try him on turf,” Richards said. “He kind of has turf action.”

Richards said to that end, American Dubai also would be considered for the $100,000 Remington Park Green on Sept. 24.

American Dubai won New Mexico’s first major handicap race of the season in April, when he darted to a four-length victory in the $150,000 Sunland Park Handicap. He returned to the state for the Downs at Albuquerque Handicap, capturing the 1 1/8-mile race with a Beyer Speed Figure of 97. American Dubai was prominent from the start and increased his advantage through the stretch to defeat a field that included millionaire Texas Chrome.

“He pulled away and kept on going and going and going,” Richards said.

Richards said the Governor’s Cup is a serious consideration because it will be run at the same 1 1/8-mile distance and would not be a far ship from American Dubai’s intended fall base of Zia Park. The Ack Ack is appealing for the chance at a graded win and a mile distance should suit American Dubai well, Richards said.

Richards said long range, the Zia Park Distance Championship, a race traditionally run over 1 1/8 miles in late November, is a goal. He noted Zia, located in Hobbs, N.M., is the home track for American Dubai’s owners, Richard and Sharon Keith.

“That’s their hometown,” Richards said.

Texas Chrome to Remington

Texas Chrome, who finished an uncharacteristic ninth as the favorite in the Downs at Albuquerque Handicap, emerged from the race in good order and is now settled in at Remington, trainer Allen Milligan said.

“He’s okay,” Milligan said. “I don’t know what happened. I’d be guessing. The main thing is he came out of the race good.”

Milligan said owner Danny Keene sent Texas Chrome to a veterinary clinic to have the horse checked out from “head to toe” and had blood pulled. There were no issues found, Milligan said.

Texas Chrome will continue to be pointed to the Governor’s Cup at Remington, Milligan said.

Princess back to $500,000

The purse for the Grade 3 Delta Downs Princess for 2-year-old fillies has been boosted to $500,000, the Vinton, La., track announced Monday. The mile race had been worth $400,000 the past several years, while some earlier runnings had a purse of $500,000.

The Delta Downs Princess will share a card with the Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot on Nov. 18. The races carry eligibility points to the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby.

The two headline races are part of a 32-race, $4.2 million stakes schedule for the 84-date meet that runs from Oct. 18-March 10.

Okie Ride dead at 10

Okie Ride, who won four runnings of the Oklahoma Classics Sprint to share a record with Highland Ice, died Aug. 9 following a workout at Remington Park. He collapsed shortly after finishing the half-mile drill. The incident was due to a suspected “pulmonary event,” according to a press release from Remington.

“All of us are just devastated,” trainer Kenny Nolen said. “He was just such a big part of us, and part of our family.”

Okie Ride won 16 races from 41 starts for earnings of $789,714 for his breeders, Richter Family Trust. He was 11 for 29 at Remington and last year at 9 won the Oklahoma Classics Sprint and the $50,000 Silver Goblin, the latter of which ended up being his final career start, on Nov. 18. Okie Ride first raced in June 2009.

“Right after his last race each season at Remington, we would pull his shoes and he would go home to the Richter’s place, where he would have a good, long vacation for a few months,” Nolen said.

◗ A Remington Park Racing Club is being launched, with the cost of membership for 2017 a one-time fee of $250. There will be a limit of 200 partners for a horse to be trained by Federico Villafranco. The horse will be purchased and managed by Remington’s perennial leading owner, Danny Caldwell. The meet opens Aug. 25.

◗ Oaklawn Park has raised its bottom-level claiming price from $5,000 to $6,250 for the 2018 season, which opens in January, the track announced. Oaklawn projects purses will total $30 million for the 57-date season that runs from Jan. 12-April 14.