Iowa Derby Winner J J Grey Headlines Oklahoma Derby Field at Remington Park
Iowa racing fans have a familiar name to root for this weekend as J J Grey, winner of the $250,000 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows, is set to compete in the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park on Sunday, Sept. 27.
The 38th running of the Oklahoma Derby features a deep field of 3-year-olds, including the morning line favorite Silent Tactic and several contenders who have already arrived in Oklahoma City for the marquee event. Post time for the Oklahoma Derby is set for the finale in race 12 on a 12-race card that offers total purses of $1,389,500.
J J Grey brings Iowa connections to Oklahoma Derby
J J Grey, a gray colt by Street Boss trained by Ken McPeek, captured the Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows in Altoona on July 11. The colt is listed at 5-1 odds on the morning line and is expected to arrive in Oklahoma City on Thursday.
His regular rider, Emmanuel Esquivel, has been named to ride in the Oklahoma Derby, giving the pair a chance to build on their Prairie Meadows success.
Silent Tactic arrives as morning line favorite
The 5-2 morning line favorite, Silent Tactic, is expected to arrive at Remington Park on Thursday for trainer Mark Casse and owners John C. Oxley of Tulsa and Victoriam Farm. The colt by Tacitus was on his way to the Kentucky Derby this year before bruising a foot.
Silent Tactic finished second to Renegade in the Grade 1, $1.5 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn after winning the Grade 3, $1 million Southwest Stakes there on Feb. 6. Cristian Torres is named to ride, though he was sent to the hospital after a racing accident at Churchill Downs on Sept. 19, and no rider change has been announced.
Crupper works out, gets new jockey after Churchill Downs accident
Crupper, trained by Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame trainer Donnie Von Hemel, worked three furlongs in :38.13 handily over a fast track Wednesday morning. The colt by Candy Ride won the Bath House Row Stakes at Oaklawn Park on April 18 before competing in the $2 million Preakness Stakes in Maryland.
Von Hemel, who has the second most wins in Remington Park track history, originally named Martin Garcia to ride Crupper. However, Garcia was involved in the racing accident at Churchill Downs and sent to a Louisville hospital on Sept. 19. Stewart Elliott will now ride Crupper in the Oklahoma Derby.
Von Hemel also confirmed that John Velasquez will ride his filly Justified Gift in the $200,000 Remington Park Oaks earlier on the card. Von Hemel has three Oklahoma Derby wins, trailing only Brad Cox's four.
Pavlovian arrives with a bite and a confident rider
Pavlovian, the Sunland Derby winner sired by Pavel, arrived at Remington Park and stretched his legs Wednesday morning. The colt will be ridden by David Cabrera, the second-leading rider at the track.
Fellow rider Obed Sanchez offered a colorful endorsement of the colt's chances, holding up his right arm and grabbing his bicep.
He bit me right here. That's how I know he's going to win, Sanchez said.
Pavlovian beat 2025 Springboard Mile winner Express Kid by a slim nose in the Sunland Derby in New Mexico.
Zihnal and Vintage Cowboy round out the contenders
Zihnal, the 7-2 second morning-line favorite, has arrived for trainer Jonathan Thomas. The gelding by Quality Road won the Grade 3, $400,000 West Virginia Derby by 6 1/4 lengths with Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez up. Velazquez follows the horse to Remington Park for the Oklahoma Derby.
Vintage Cowboy, a gray colt by Essential Quality trained by Steve Asmussen, schooled in the paddock Wednesday morning. Asmussen is the all-time winningest trainer in North American horse racing history. His son, Erik Asmussen, the leading rider at Remington Park, is named to ride Vintage Cowboy after guiding him to a nose victory in an allowance race at Ellis Park on Aug. 21.
Oklahoma Derby Day details for fans
Remington Park racing continues Sept. 24-27. Thursday through Saturday action begins at 6:30 p.m. Central, while Oklahoma Derby Sunday starts at 3 p.m. Central.
Remington Park has provided more than $426 million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the casino opened in 2005. The track is located at the junction of Interstates 35 and 44 in the Oklahoma City Adventure District. Guests must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor.
This story was originally published by Paulick Report on Sept. 23, 2026.