TRAINER SAM HOWARD’S 2-YEAR-OLD FILLY, TEDDIE VEDDER, RAMPS UP VOLUME WITH FASTEST TIME OF DAY IN 13 TRAINING RACES

OKLAHOMA CITY – February 23, 2021 – Horsemen took advantage of the initial training races of the year Tuesday at Remington Park after nearly two weeks of the track being shut down for intense winter weather that kept the track frozen.

A total of 85 horses – Quarter Horses, paints and appaloosas – went to the gate in 13 training races to prep them for the upcoming meet that begins Sunday, March 7. The opening night was moved back from March 4 due to the lack of opportunities for the trainers to get their horses prepped for the meet. Opening weekend is now Sunday at 6 p.m., followed by racing Monday and Tuesday, March 8-9, with a 3 p.m. first post.

The most amazing stat of the training race days was that it was 83 degrees higher than the low of minus-11 on Feb. 16, just a week ago.

The fastest time of the day in the training races came from 2-year-old Quarter Horse filly Teddie Vedder, out of trainer Sam Howard’s barn. Howard hails from Gordonville, Texas. He used the services of rider Uriel Cervantes for the win in the schooling race. Teddie Vedder shredded the field, outlasting Eye Catchin Corona Z, by a neck at the wire in 13.757 seconds for 250 yards, earning a speed index of 70. The times, slower, than usual for training races here, may have been affected by a strong head wind coming out of the South for the majority of the day. It was 17 mph during Teddie Vedder’s race.

“I’m standing here looking at her,” said Howard, at the end of the race day, “and she looks like she might be something.”

Her sire, Ivory James, won 5-of-11 starts in his racing career, earning more than $200,000. Teddie Vedder’s maternal grandsire, Mr Eye Opener, won 9-of-15 starts with more than $200,000 in earnings. He ran second in the Rainbow Futurity in 1992.

Other training race winners (Quarter Horses unless otherwise noted) on the day in race order were: Dashin Approach (13.930 seconds, 63 SI); JR What You Mean (13.809, 67); A Painted Zevi (Paint, 14.273, 49); Jess Coronas (13.957, 62); Mr C Cartel (13.799, 68); I Ama Travelin Apple (Paint, 13.841, 66); Peves Charley (13.854, 66); Rolling Country Girl (13.913, 63); Shez Wired Up (13.776, 69); Furrst String (13.855, 66); Bionic (13.998, 60), and Rio Grande Rocket (13.992, 60).

Three trainers – Matt Whitekiller, Michael Joiner and Clint Crawford – had two wins apiece during the school races. Training races are again scheduled for Wednesday, beginning at 11 a.m. The upcoming meet runs through May 29.
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Tracked by more than 164,000 fans on Facebook and 10,400 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $258 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 is open daily for casino gaming and simulcast horse racing. Live racing returns with the start of the 2021 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season on March 7. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.