STAR JOCKEY CALVIN BOREL ROLLS TO EASY WIN WITH ATTA BOY ROY IN REMINGTON PARK SPRINT CUP

OKLAHOMA CITY – August 21, 2010 - In an atmosphere that at times resembled a rock concert with many in the crowd yelling his name at the top of their lungs, jockey Calvin Borel handled the star status.

Borel’s Remington Park mission on Saturday night was to ride one race; on a horse he feels will make a splash later this year in a multi-million dollar event. Atta Boy Roy made Borel look sharp with an easy win in the $200,000 Remington Park Sprint Cup, scoring by 5-1/2 lengths.

Borel spent most of his Saturday traveling to Remington Park from Saratoga in upstate New York so he could continue his winning relationship with Atta Boy Roy, whom he won the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Handicap with in early May this year. The jockey who has won three of the last four Kentucky Derbies firmly believes the Florida-bred will make news in November in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs.

“They entered this race for a reason. I knew he was the best horse going in and I rode him as the best horse. The Breeders' Cup is the plan,” Borel confirmed. “We are keeping him right and prepped for the Breeders' Cup."

Owned by Roy Schaefer of Port Orchard, Wash. and trained by Valorie Lund, Atta Boy Roy handled the six-furlong Sprint Cup in 1:09.29 over a fast track. The 5-year-old horse had a brief battle for the lead at the start of the race but began to show his class midway through the turn.

At the top of the stretch Atta Boy Roy had taken over and opened a daylight-lead over Greeley’s Conquest, the winner of the Sprint Cup a year ago. A late charge by Wando Redd put him into the runner-up position while Greeley’s Conquest held third.

Atta Boy Roy won his 10th career race from 21 attempts in the Sprint Cup, his first win at Remington Park. A son of Tribunal from the Synastry mare Irish Toast, Atta Boy Roy earned $120,000 for the win to push his lifetime total to $479,363.

The $150,000 Governor’s Cup at 1-1/16 miles was also contested Saturday, going to Shadowbdancing by a half-length over Kick On, handling the distance in 1:43.78.

Owned by RNB Racing LLC of Yukon, Okla. and trained by Terrel Gore, Shadowbdancing was ridden to victory by Eusebio Razo, Jr. who put the 5-year-old horse on the lead and never relinquished it.

Shadowbdancing was pressured by Kick On for the entire race but never gave way. Going Ballistic, winner of the Governor’s Cup a year ago, rallied into third position but was never a threat, finishing 3-1/4 lengths behind the top pair.

Away at 2-1 odds, Shadowbdancing paid $6 to win, $3.40 to place and $2.60 to show. Kick On paid $11.60 to place and $6.20 to show. Going Ballistic, the beaten 3-2 wagering favorite, returned $2.60 to show.

The Governor’s Cup win was the 11th for Shadowbdancing, winner of the Grade 2 Cornhusker Handicap at Prairie Meadows in Iowa this summer. His first win in two attempts at Remington Park earned the son of Montbrook from the Deputy Minister mare Deputy’s Mistress $90,000. His overall bankroll now stands at $713,745.

Jockey Bryan McNeil of Edmond, Okla. posted a riding double on Saturday with Sea of Dreams ($3 to win) in the first race and City Champ ($6) in the third race. The two wins gives him four for the young season, good enough to move him back into first-place in the jockey standings ahead of a trio of riders with three wins.

Steve Asmussen, defending leading trainer at Remington Park, won one race Saturday to place him into a tie atop the trainer standings with Allen Milligan at three wins each.

Remington Park opens daily at 10am for simulcast racing and casino gaming.
The 2010 Thoroughbred Season at Remington Park will resume on Wednesday, Aug. 25. The normal weekly racing schedule will be Wednesday thru Saturday, at 6:30pm, for the remainder of the season.

Remington Park is Oklahoma City’s only Racetrack & Casino, located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District. For more information, reservations and group bookings please call 405-424-1000, 866-456-9880 or visit remingtonpark.com.

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