OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – June 4, 2023 – In perhaps the most competitive stakes race of Champions’ Night at Remington Park on Saturday, Take a Swig of This (*Heritage Place Sale Graduate) showed the Heritage Place Derby trials were not a true indicator of talent, winning the Grade 2, $268,750 Heritage Place Derby.
Seventh-fastest qualifier was the golden spot for the trials as he was seventh of 10 on trials night May 13, just like the winner of Saturday’s Heritage Place Oaks, Mrs KVN, who was the seventh fastest on her trial night (May 14) as well.
Take a Swig of This was one of two Monty Arrossa trainees in the Derby. He won and also ran third with the post-time favorite, Eye On the Card (3-2 odds). Take a Swig of This had a legitimate excuse in the trials, rearing in the air at the break and still running third, beaten only a length. Prior to that he had won the $183,000 Los Alamitos Winter Derby by two full lengths in California on Feb. 18 this year. Take a Swig of This also ran second, losing by only a nose to Tres Crystals in last year’s $1.1 million Heritage Place Futurity at Remington Park. He may have a thing about closing nights at Remington Park.
“He didn’t get the best of breaks in the trials,” said Calderon. “Breaking from the gate was my concern tonight. I just have to credit Monty for getting him ready for tonight.”
Arrossa said it was just a matter of getting him enough reps to get him into a routine.
“I stood him in the gate a couple of more times than normal to get ready for this and he was fine,” said Arrossa. “He is one of a kind. Very special. I can’t thank the team enough for this win, everyone back at the barn.”
Take a Swig of This was one of five wins on the Champions’ Night for Calderon, propelling him from second place in mount earnings among jockeys to first. He started the night with his horses earning $946,728 and ended the evening as the top jock with horse earnings of $1,576,374. His horses on Saturday, in one night, banked an incredible $629,646.
Calderon won the Grade 1 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Stakes aboard Livewires Turnpike, the Heritage Place Juvenile Stakes aboard One Valiant Love, the Heritage Place Derby aboard Take a Swig of This, and the Grade 1 Debbie Schauf Remington Park Championship aboard 2021 World Champion Danjer. If that weren’t enough, he ran second on a longshot in the $1.2 million Heritage Place Futurity with Deep Blue. Second place in that race was worth $205,299 from the purse.
In the saddle of Derby winner Take a Swig of This, Calderon burst to the front out of the gate and was never headed, holding sway to the finish line by a half-length as the 5-2 second wagering favorite in the race. Third favorite Hooked N Gone (7-2), winner of the Remington Park Derby earlier in the meet checked in second, a half-length ahead of third place finisher and post-time favorite Eye On the Card.
Running time for the winner at 400 yards was :19.318 for a 104 speed-index on the fast track, just a tad better than Hooked N Gone’s 102.
Take a Swig of this paid $7.60 to win, $4.20 to place and $2.80 to show. He was purchased for $40,000 at the 2021 Heritage Place September Yearling Sale by owner Dunn Ranch of Wynnewood, Okla. He earned $112,875 for the derby win and improved his record to eight starts, four wins, one second and one third for $394,583 in earnings and easily earning his keep.
The remaining order of finish in the Heritage Place Derby was: Tha Duke (4th), War Admiral (5th), FDD Cloud (6th), King Of Woodbridge (7th), Tyger King (8th), Everythingyouneed (9th) and Sir James (10th).
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Tracked by more than 175,000 fans on Facebook and 10,700 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $320 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 will begin the 2023 Thoroughbred Season on Aug. 18. Remington Park presents simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.