Eakly wins Oklahoma Classics Night race Friday at Remington Park

OKLAHOMA CITY — Eakly helped Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame trainer Donnie Von Hemel to pad his incredible lead among trainers on Oklahoma Classics Night by winning the Turf in a mild upset.

This trip to the winner’s circle for Von Hemel was his 31st time he has won on this epic Oklahoma-bred night. C.R. Trout is a distant second on that list with 16, followed by the now-retired Roger Engel with 11, Steve Hobby with 10 and Kari Craddock with nine. It was the sixth time Von Hemel has won the Turf.

Jockey Richard Eramia booted Eakly to the lead in the 1-1/16th-mile race on the firm grass course, as he dueled with Rowdy Rascal throughout the race. Eakly sustained his drive to the wire, holding off Rowdy Rascal (8-1) by a half-length at the finish line.

Eakly went off at 6-1 odds and paid $15.40 to win, $6.80 to place and $4.20 to show. It was Eramia’s 12th win in the Oklahoma Classics and his seventh year in a row he has won at least one race in this series. His other victories came atop She’s All Wolfe in 2021 and 2022, Number One Dude, Three Chords and She’s All Wolfe in the Juvenile, Distaff Sprint and Distaff, respectively, in 2020, Cowboy Mischief in the 2019 Turf and Rowdy Yates in the 2019 Juvenile, Charlie Webb in the 2018 Turf and Shotgun Kowboy in the 2017 Classics Cup. Prior to that, he had two other Classics winners — Picaso in the 2007 Juvenile and Charlie Sioux in the 2006 Lassie.

Eramia sits in fifth on the all-time Classics jockey list, behind four Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Famers — Cliff Berry (26 wins), Luis Quinonez (22), Don Pettinger (21) and Tim Doocy (14). This was the third time Eramia has won the Turf.

“I really liked the way (Eakly) ran last time out on the grass,” Eramia said. “Today, we made the money. We just laid back, waiting. When I asked him, he really took off. It worked perfect.”

Eakly, a 3-year-old colt by Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner for Von Hemel, Caleb’s Posse, out of the Lonhro (AUS) mare Vian, set every interior fraction but one, taking the lead at the quarter-mile in 24.51 seconds, then falling back to second behind Rowdy Rascal by a head at the half-mile in 49.99 seconds. From there, Eakly set the pace the rest of the way, doing three-quarters of a mile in 1:15.09 and 1:39.57 for the mile. His winning time was 1:45.99.

Eakly paid $15.40 to win, $6.80 to place and $4.20 to show. Running third, three-quarters back of Rowdy Rascal was Spirit of Spoatie (23-1). The completed order of finish was post-time 1-2 favorite Dark Afternoon in fourth place, Kodaline (20-1) in fifth, Inca Empire (44-1) in sixth, Just a Irish Lad (8-1) in seventh, Gospel Musketeer (84-1) in eighth, Rachel’s Caper (23-1) in nint, Rowdy River (31-1) in 10th and Sweet Medicine (45-1) in 11th.

Eakly earned $59,760 from the purse for owner Cheyenne Stables (Everett Dobson) of Oklahoma City and improved to 12 starts, three wins, three seconds and two thirds for a lifetime bankroll of $153,824.