DAMN STRAIT WINS FEATURE FRIDAY AT REMINGTON PARK, AFTER PREVIOUSLY FACING FASTEST QUALIFIER OF HERITAGE PLACE OAKS

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – May 16, 2022 – Damn Strait came out of a stakes-caliber optional $50,000 claiming race against arguably the toughest 3-year-old filly on the grounds and followed the runner-up finish to her with a victory in Friday night’s allowance feature at Remington Park.

Damn Strait, an 8-year-old gelding lost to the 3-year-old filly Political Rose by a full length in the previous race on April 21. Upon closer review, that was a much more impressive second-place finish than it first appeared. Political Rose went on to be the fastest qualifier by a city block in the Heritage Place Oaks trials on May 8. She ran a :19.444 time in her 400-yard trial and received a 99-speed index. The second fastest time of the night in those trials was :20.040 for an 84.

Take into account that Political Rose won her Oaks trial by an astounding 3-3/4 lengths and that 1-length loss to her by Damn Strait starts to look more than impressive.

Damn Strait, trained by the red-hot Stacy Charette-Hill, at 5-1 odds, beat this strong field of allowance horses by a neck. They were 3-year-olds-and-older running under conditions of non-winners this year. My Midnight Candy was sent off the heavy 1-5 favorite after losing to multiple-stakes winner Charlies Fury the race before in the $68,000 Mr Jet Moore Stakes. He finished third, beaten a half-length by Charlie. On Friday night, however, My Midnight Candy could do no better than fourth. It was a blanket finish for the top four as Damn Strait beat JF Storm Wagon (45-1) by a neck, who was another neck ahead of a fellow longshot, Effortless Chic Desi (42-1) in third. That 50-cent trifecta returned $702.50 to those who were lucky enough to play it. The third-place horse was a neck ahead of the beaten favorite.

Damn Strait, a gelded son of Dominyun, out of the Jody O Toole mare Hottesticketintown, covered the 250 yards under jockey Cristian Esqueda in a swift :13.046 on the fast track. It was just a couple of ticks off the track record of :12.839 set in 2016 by Win Rabbits Fly. Damn Strait earned a speed index of 103 for the victory. He paid $13.20 to win, $5.60 to place and $4.20 to show. JF Storm Wagon returned $29.80 to place and $14.60 to show. Effortless Chic Desi was worth $23.60 to show.

The winner earned $15,684 for owner M.C. Stucks of Edmond, Okla., and improved his career record to 35 starts, seven wins, 14 seconds and three thirds for $226,640 earned. He was bred in Texas by Bobby D. Cox.

Remington Park live racing continues this week with Saturday and Sunday cards, beginning at 6 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively.

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Tracked by more than 170,000 fans on Facebook and 10,600 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $290 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 feature the $1,102,440 Heritage Place Futurity and the $250,000 Debbie Schauf Remington Park Championship on May 28. Simulcast horse racing is featured daily at Remington Park where the casino is always open! Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.