Ghost Witha Fire (inside, white blinkers with red trim) defeats Burning Follies (9) by a neck to win the featured allowance event at Remington Park on Thursday, April 18, 2024. Jockey Francisco Calderon was up for the triumph.

© Dustin Orona Photography/Remington Park

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK–APRIL 18, 2024– Dollar Bill, a half-million dollar earner and the 4-5 wagering favorite in the featured allowance Thursday night, was knocked off stride at the beginning of the 350-yard race at Remington Park. That opened the gate for Ghost Witha Fire to pull off the upset at 10-1 odds.

Dollar Bill had won six-of-eight starts lifetime and never run out of the money in those eight tries. Things were different after he was hit like a linebacker at the start by Awesome View, the rival to his immediate left in the starting gate. Dollar Bill could only manage a fifth-place finish. The classy gelding by Kiss My Hocks only lost by one length after the horrendous start. He had won five of his last six starts before tonight and $532,170.

Jockey Francisco Calderon never knew what was going on with Dollar Bill on the outside because he was too busy getting busy on Ghost Witha Fire down on the inside in the 2-hole. This 4-year-old gelded son of A Revenant, out of the Walk Thru Fire mare Dash Through Fire, didn't break all that well, sitting fifth out of the gate, but he kept passing horses with each stride and got up for the win, a neck ahead of Burning Follies (4-1). RGs Gold Wagon (4-1) was another three-quarters of a length back in third.

Trainer Jed Vane had Ghost Witha Fire revved up for a great race and the gelding produced for owner Dunn Ranch  of Wynnewood, Okla. He earned $17,355 from the $31,850 purse and improved his record lifetime to 15 starts, three wins, three seconds and two thirds for a bankroll of $126,286. He was a $65,000 purchase at the 2021 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale in New Mexico.

Ghost Witha Fire stopped the timer in :17.330 on the fast track for a 99 speed-index. He was bred in Texas by Johnny Trotter. The winner paid $23.60 to win, $12.60 to place and $6 to show across the board.

It had been almost 15 months since Ghost Witha Fire had won his last race. He last went to the winner's circle at Los Alamitos in California on Jan. 28, 2023 in the Los Al Winter Derby trials. He ran a troubled sixth in the finals of that race. After his win in the trials, his best effort, over his next eight starts, was a second place finish in the Rainbow Derby trials at Ruidoso Downs, N.M. last summer.

Remington Park racing continues Friday through Sunday, April 19-21. The action starts at 6pm on Friday and Saturday. The Sunday afternoon program begins at 4pm, featuring the Extreme Racing Day with camels, ostriches, zebras and Clydesdales competing on the track in between regular horse racing.

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About Remington Park

Remington Park has provided more than $347 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 presents simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. The Remington Park Futurity for Oklahoma-breds is featured on April 27. The 2024 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season continues through June 1. starts its 50-date season. Parking and admission are always free. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.