Politicallycorrect, rallying way wide through the homestretch for Kent Desormeaux, caught favored Willy Beamin in the final few strides to post an upset in the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby Sept. 30 at Remington Park (VIDEO).
On the biggest day of the season at the Oklahoma City track, the homebred Politicallycorrect gave owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey and trainer Wesley Ward their second Oklahoma Derby victory in three years. They won the 2010 renewal with Pleasant Prince.
Earlier on the card, Sticks Wondergirl upset even-money choice Jemima's Pearl by three-quarters of a length in the $250,000 Remington Park Oaks.
Politicallycorrect, a Kentucky-bred 3-year-old son of Kitten's Joy out of the winning Tale of the Cat mare Exceedexpectations, registered his first stakes win at odds of 10-1.
Last of seven in the 6 1/2-furlong Amsterdam Stakes (gr. II) in his most recent start July 29 at Saratoga Race Course, Politicallycorrect appreciated a return to two turns in the Oklahoma Derby. Reserved off the pace by Desormeaux, Politicallycorrect bid six wide off the final turn. He gradually wore down his rivals to edge 2-1 shot Willy Beamin by a three-quarters of a length in a time of 1:50.23 on a track that was upgraded to fast before the race.
"He gave me a great ride until I swung him out," Desormeaux said. "When I swung him out, he did explode and take off but he was drifting on me. When I tried to correct him, he slowed down so I didn't do that again. As long as he was progressing and I felt like we were going to get him (Willy Beamin), I was just going to let him drift. I was thankful there was no one on the outside."
Willy Beamin, winner of the Foxwoods King's Bishop (gr. I) at Saratoga Aug. 25, held off Called to Serve by a head for second, with Suns Out Guns Out fourth in the field of 10 sophomores.
Second in the Ohio Derby (gr. II) at Thistledown prior to the Amsterdam, Politicallycorrect won for the second time in eight starts this year.
Master Rick broke best to take the early advantage over Willy Beamin, who broke well for Edgar Prado from the far outside and successfully angled over to pressure the leader through quarter mile splits of :23.30, :47.58, and 1:12.29. Willy Beamin took the lead in the stretch from Master Rick to lead by one length at the furlong mark as Prospective , Suns Out Guns Out, and Called to Serve rallied.
But Politicallycorrect, in spite of giving ground rounding the final bend extremely wide, came home from sixth at mid-stretch on the grandstand side to get up in time.
The victory improved Politicallycorrect's career record to 3-3-2 in 12 races with earnings of $351,375. The lucrative Oklahoma Derby was worth $240,000 to the winning connections.
Under equal weights of 124 pounds, Politicallycorrect paid $22.20, $9.20, and $6 as the sixth choice. Willy Beamin returned $4.20 and $3 while completing a $106.60 exacta. Called to Serve, ridden by Daniel Centeno, paid $3.80 to show.
Suns Out Guns Out was followed by Prospective, Daddy Nose Best , Master Rick, Ted's Folly, Speightscity, and Diamond Joe.
In the Remington Park Oaks, Sticks Wondergirl ($9.60) set the pace for jockey Jon Court and withstood the late charge of Jemima's Pearl to register a mild upset. Sticks Wondergirl, a 3-year-old daughter of Stevie Wonderboy, is trained by Greg Burchell for owners Alvin D. Haynes and Beth Burchell. Sticks Wondergirl was timed in 1:44.05 for 1 1/16 miles on a track listed as muddy.
In the $200,000 Remington Park Sprint Cup, 17-10 favorite Alsvid, ridden by Chris Landeros, nosed Apprehender for his second straight stakes victory and fourth in his past five starts. The 3-year-old Officer gelding, trained by Chris Hartman for owner James Rogers' Black Hawk Stables, was clocked in 1:09.46 for six furlongs on a good track and paid $5.40 to win.
Lockout, ridden by Jermain Bridgmohan, won the $125,000 Remington Green Stakes by a head over Golden Yank. Lockout ($10.20), owned by John C. Oxley and trained by Mark Casse, ran 1 1/16 miles on a good turf course in 1:42.21.