Racing


DF Lord Garvan Wins Boyd Morris Memorial for Trainer Casey Black at Remington Park
DF Lord Garvan (#7) defeats Charlies Fury (#5) by a head in the Boyd Morris Memorial on Memorial Day at Remington Park. Jockey Mario Delgado was up for the score.

© Dustin Orona Photography
DF Lord Garvan Wins Boyd Morris Memorial for Trainer Casey Black at Remington Park

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—MAY 25, 2020—Look in the dictionary under the word "winner" and you might just find a picture of trainer Casey Black.

He continued his amazing win percentage Monday night, winning with the only horse he entered – DF Lord Garvan in the Restricted Grade 3, $50,000 Boyd Morris Memorial Stakes at Remington Park. For the entirety of the season, Black has started only 23 horses and won with 10 of those starters, equaling a 43% win rate.

"It's all Darling Farms," said Black, when asked to attribute his success this year, the main owner for whom he trains. "Oh, I guess I help a little."

It was DF Lord Garvan's first stakes win, but he was swift enough in the 400-yard race that he broke the stakes record, hitting the wire in 19.250 seconds over a sloppy track for a 102 speed index. The previous record was set in 2016 by Special Jess, who hit the wire in 19.492 seconds. Despite not winning a stakes race until tonight, Black said he was still confident in his horse.

"I didn't know about the mud," said Black, "but I felt really good about the horse and his chances."

DF Lord Garvan finished a head in front of the betting favorite at 2-1 odds in Charlies Fury who was second, who was another half-length ahead of third-place finisher Eye N Capo (6-1). DF Lord Garvan, a 4-year-old gelded son of Apollitical Jess, out of the Tres Seis mare Three Green Leaves, broke fifth under jockey Mario Delgado, but kept flying toward the front and got there in the last jump.

"Success comes and goes," said Black. "I'm 61 or 62 years old, I forget, and have been training since I was 19 or 20 years old with not much time away. The jockeys make me look good, too."

DF Lord Garvan earned $27,600 for the Darling Farms victory and improved to 15 starts, five wins, one second and two thirds for a total bankroll of $75,784. He was bred in Oklahoma by Kelly/Yearsley Equine. DF Lord Garvan went off at 6-1 odds and returned $15.40, $6.80 and $4.40 to win, place and show.

It was the third win in a row for DF Lord Garvan, having won under first- and second-level allowance conditions the past two attempts before trying stakes company. It was the first win in this stakes race for any of these connections.

Charlies Fury increased his earnings to more than $220,000 after pocketing $9,200 for finishing second. The stakes-winning son of Furyofthewind races for owner-breeders Tom and Kathleen McNally. Jockey Agustin Silva had the riding call for trainer Michelle Hurdle aboard the 4-year-old gelding from the Take Off Jess mare Jess Charlena.

Charlies Fury won the Adequan Will Rogers Derby Challenge and was second in the Adequan Derby Challenge Championship(G3),Black Gold 350 Championship Futurity and third in the Heritage Place Derby(G3).

Multiple graded stakes winner Eye N Capo battled throughout under champion jockey James Flores. The 6-year-old son of Capo de Capi earned $5,060 for owner Ruben Montemayor. Ramon Mendoza trains the gelding out of Satisfeyen by Mr Eye Opener. Dee and Betty Raper bred the earner of $612,342.

Vf Jedi Returns, Tough To Bee, Watah Flash, Jk Wildcat Red, Ferrari James and Uptown Dynasty completed the field.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Boyd Morris Memorial is for Oklahoma-breds, 3-years-old and older, and is named after the famed Quarter Horse jockey who won the 1964 All American Futurity on Decketta. The Blanchard, Okla. jockey went on to be a prominent trainer of both Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds once his successful riding career ended. He was a mainstay from the beginning at Remington Park prior to his passing.

Remington Park concludes the 2020 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season this week with racing Thursday through Saturday, May 28-30. The first race is at 6pm on Thursday and Friday before a special final night start of 5pm on Saturday, May 30. All times are Central.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Tracked by more than 163,000 fans on Facebook and more than 10,100 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $242 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 host the 2020 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season from March 6 through May 30. For more information, reservations and group bookings please call 405-424-1000, 866-456-9880 or visit remingtonpark.com.