Zee Oh Six lived up to his heavy 1-5 favorite status to win Saturday's $100,000 Oklahoma Thoroughbred Association Classic at Remington Park. By taking the top race on the 14th Oklahoma Classics night, Zee Oh Six equals Mr. Ross by becoming just the second horse to win the Classic three times. There were seven divisional stakes races conducted Saturday to comprise the Oklahoma Classics, with purses totaling $400,000. Jockey Cliff Berry took Zee Oh Six to the front from the rail in the 1 1/16-mile race. When Motion Approved came to him to try to pass at the top of the stretch, Remington's leading jockey finally asked last year's Horse of the Meeting for more, and he got it. Owned by Barbara and John Smicklas of Norman, Okla., Zee Oh Six was able to fend off the charge of Motion Approved to win by a length in 1:44.07 over a fast main track.Trained by Joe Lucas, Zee Oh Six won his second race of the season by taking another Classic in gate-to-wire fashion.Zee Oh Six returned $2.60, $2.10, and $2.10. He also finished first in the Classic last year and in the 2002 edition of the race. He matched Mr. Ross, who won the Classic three consecutive years from 1999 thru 2001. Motion Approved held second to pay $2.20 to place and $2.10 to show. Rubiano's Twin was third and returned $2.10 to show.
A 7-year-old gelded son of Breeders' Cup Classic winner Alphabet Soup from the Little Current mare Belle of Killarney, Zee Oh Six added $57,150 to his lifetime earnings, moving him up to $415,925. His Remington Park record now boasts 10 wins from 18 starts. He has won 12 of 40 overall. (Chart, Equibase)
