Bobwhite Bobby fights to the wire for win at Remington Park

OKLAHOMA CITY — Bobwhite Bobby and Grandsonsam weaved their way through the stretch together and when the smoke had cleared, the former outlasted the latter, giving Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame trainer Donnie Von Hemel yet another victory at Remington Park on Monday afternoon.

Both Oklahoma-bred 3-year-olds were biding their time down the backstretch in fourth and sixth, respectively, while Smackzilla (9-2) and Excaping the Blues (31) fought viciously on the front end in the one-mile race over the muddy track. Smackzilla jumped in front by two lengths in the first half mile, going 48.34 seconds. By the time three-quarters of the race was over, Smackzilla had faded to third and would finish last, as Von Hemel’s other entered horse in the race. Papa Bill (11-1) had taken over by that point, but Bobwhite Bobby and Grandsonsam were beginning to find their faster gears and were beginning to gobble up ground. Papa Bill went six furlongs in 1:14.47. Seven furlongs went in 1:27.74 as Bobwhite Bobby and Grandsonsam had hooked horns up front. Bobwhite Bobby, the even-money favorite under jockey Richard Eramia, hit the finish line in front by a head. Grandsonsam (5-1) was the runner-up, two lengths in front of Papa Bill. Bobwhite Bobby’s winning time for the mile was 1:41.

Bobwhite Bobby, a 3-year-old gelded son of Successful Appeal (Valid Appeal), out of the Brian’s Time mare Schedule (GB), paid $4.20 to win, $2.40 to place and $2.10 to show. He earned $20,898 from the $35,000 allowancenon- winners-of-two career races, restricted to Oklahoma-breds. Owner Dream Walkin Farms (Toby Keith) of Norman pocketed the money and Bobwhite Bobby improved his record to six starts, two wins, one second and one third for $51,357 in earnings. He is a home-bred for Dream Walkin Farms.