by Richard Linihan | Photo Dustin Orona/Remington Park
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – June 1, 2024 – Deep Blue won her third race in a row and fourth in her past five starts, but it was the first time she would go to the winner’s circle as a stakes winner. She scored in the third running of the Grade 2, $296,940 Heritage Place Oaks on Saturday at Remington Park.
The 3-year-old American Quarter Horse filly was the fastest qualifier in the trials for the Oaks on May 12, and even though she had never won a stakes race before, her second-place finish in last year’s $1.2 million Heritage Place Futurity was as impressive as any race from these filly competitors.
Deep Blue, a daughter of A Revenant, out of the Corona Cartel mare Blues Girl Too, was only beaten by three-quarters of a length in the 2023 Heritage Place Futurity by San Lencho in the biggest race of the meet for juveniles. So, it was no surprise when she came up the fastest qualifier for the Oaks trials. She doubled down on her trial run with an extremely fast win at 400 yards in the final. Her time in the trials was :19.829 and she followed that up Saturday, covering the distance in :19.558 for a 97 speed-index under jockey Ali Rivera over a fast track.
Trainer John Stinebaugh had her ready to roll and she did not disappoint as the 8-5 favorite. Deep Blue outlasted them all, winning by a neck over Running to the Moon (7-1). She earned $124,715 for owner RDS Legacy Racing of Manchester, Iowa. Deep Blue improved to eight starts, five wins and two seconds for earnings of $370,359. She was bred in Oklahoma by Lucky Seven Ranch. Her owners were thrilled with the victory and said this operation has been a family business for 40 years now.
The start of the race had Stinebaugh on edge.
“When she got bumped from both sides, I was nervous,” said Stinebaugh. “But she wanted to win. I knew she would be heading to me at the wire. I believe we will be heading to the Ruidoso Oaks (in New Mexico) after this.”
As the 8-5 betting favorite, Deep Blue paid $5.20 to win, $3.40 to place and $2.60 to show. Running to the Moon (7-1) was a neck back in second, followed by third-place finisher Tempting Scout (7-1) in a blanket finish at the wire (*Heritage Place Sales Graduate). The rest of the order of finish was Alliekat Dynasty (2-1) fourth, San Lorenzo Blood (5-1) fifth, Rustys Cowgirl (58-1) sixth, Relentless Fantsy (60-1) seventh, Midnight Ryde (15-1) eighth, Seperate Heart (43-1) ninth and Shez My Chick (26-1) 10th.
The win by Deep Blue was the first in the Heritage Place Oaks for all of her connections.
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Remington Park has provided more than $349 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District, Remington Park presents simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. The 2024 Thoroughbred Season will begin on August 16. Must be 18 or older to wager on