Hernandez records jockey four-bagger at Remington Park

OKLAHOMA CITY — Jockey Harry Hernandez moved into the top four among the riders’ colony at Remington Park on the first Monday of racing this meet, recording a four-bagger on the day. His victories moved Hernandez into sole possession of fourth place in the jockeys’ standings with 32, one ahead of Richard Eramia’s 31 wins for the season. Stewart Elliott leads the way with 66 victories, followed by Lindey Wade with 35 and Floyd Wethey, Jr., capturing 33 wins.

In the training standings, the all-time winningest trainer in North America racing history, Steve Asmussen, is firmly on top with 38 trips to the winner’s circle this meet. He is followed by Karl Broberg, last meet’s top trainer, in second with 24. Ronnie Cravens III is in third with 21 wins, followed by Mindy Willis in fourth place (18) and Austin Gustafson rounding out the top five with 16 wins.

Hernandez got things started in the third race of the day, scoring on Scarlet Position, the heavy 4-5 wagering favorite. That 7-year-old mare by Well Positioned (Awesome Again), out of the Powerscourt (GB) mare Scarlet Power, drew off by 5.75 lengths against $5,000 claiming fillies and mares, 3-years-old and older. Owners Colleen Davidson and Martin Riley of Grant, along with trainer Brent Davidson, had the mare claimed from them as Scott Corderman pounced for new owner Jerry Skinner.

Scarlet Position raced away from runner-up La Morena (3-1), who was another half-length in front of third-place finisher Diva de Kela (25-1). The winner paid $3.80 to win, $2.40 to place and $2.10 to show. She finished the 5.5-furlongs race in 1:05.39 on a fast track. She set every early fraction except the half-mile. The first quarter-mile was 22.62 seconds and then Chive Up (5-2 second favorite) hit the half-mile in front at 46.37 seconds before Scarlet Position took over and went five-eighths in 58.78 seconds. She was bred in Illinois by William Stiritz.

Hernandez won his second of the night in the fifth race aboard Sandy Creek for owners Mike Grossman and Francisco Bravo of Sulphur. Bravo also trains the 3-year-old filly sired by Wilburn (Bernardini), out of the Forestry mare Run Forestry Run. She scored in a maiden claiming $10,000 race at seven furlongs for Oklahomabred fillies and mares that were 3-,4- and 5-year-olds.

The 3-year-old Sandy Creek was a winner for the first time after tries of fourth, seventh and seventh against a tougher class of maidens every time. Hernandez booted her home a winner in gate-to-wire fashion, making every pole a winning one. She set interior fractions of 23.29 seconds for the first quarter-mile, 47.13 seconds for the half, and 1:12.97 for six furlongs until she hit the wire in front by a half-length at 1:26.7.

Sandy Creek was sent off at 7-2 odds and paid $9.40 to win, $5.20 to place and $3 to show. Seattle Wildcat (9-5 favorite) checked in second, 4.25 lengths in front of third-place finisher Gospel Spear (6-1).

Hernandez’s third victory of the night came in the saddle of odds-on favorite Northwind (3-5) in the eighth race for owner Silva Racing (Miguel Silva) of Shakopee, Minn. Silva also trains the 3-year-old gelding by Shaman Ghost (Ghostzapper), out of the Any Given Saturday mare Half Past Midnight. The winner paid $3.20 to win, $2.40 to place and $2.10 to show, hanging on for a three-quarter length victory over runner-up Dr Vinnie Boombatz (7-2), who ran better Monday with his blinkers taken off. Let Me Love You was one length back of him in third at 3-1 odds.

Northwind beat maiden claiming $7,500 non-winners, 3,4,5-year-old age, going 1-mile-70-yards. Northwind won in 1:46.09. Tahkodha Knight stopped the timer for the first quarter-mile in 24.37 seconds before Northwind took over, going 49.36 seconds for the half, 1:14.62 for three-quarters and 1:41.41 for the mile. He was bred in Kentucky by V. Gail Ray.

The fourth win was in the final race on the card, the 10th, aboard first-time starter Mo Winning living up to his name. Robertino Diodoro sent this first-timer by Mo Town (Uncle Mo), out of the Tapizar mare Infinite Grace, to the track following sharp workouts at a halfmile and five furlongs. Mo Winning breezed 48.27 seconds, the third fastest of 20 horses the morning of Nov. 8 and prior to that 1:01.58 handily from the gate on Nov. 1, the third-fastest of 14 that morning.

Mo Winning is owned by John Holleman and Randy Howg of Little Rock, Ark., and was bred in Kentucky by Reece Racing. The colt was a $50,000 purchase for Brookstone Farm in the Keeneland Breeders’ Stock Sale of November 2021, and that owner pinhooked him for the current owner for $100,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September Sale in Kentucky. The colt earned $20,400 from his career debut. The colt took control of the sixfurlongs race in the lone turn. Mo Winning was 5-2 in the wagering and paid $7.20 for the win.