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Pick Pony | Sept. 30, 2024, 1:52 p.m.
Dana’s Beauty was by far the shortest-priced betting favorite on Oklahoma Derby Day at Remington Park, going off at 1-5 odds on Sunday. She then won the $75,000 Ricks Memorial just like her backers thought she would.
The 6-year-old mare came into Remington Park off excellent showings in Kentucky and Texas to dominate a field of older mares going 1-1/16th miles on the firm turf in the Ricks. Jockey Ramon Vazquez was riding for the first time at Remington Park since he left in 2022, after winning five titles here from 2013-2017. He got a win aboard Dana’s Beauty by 6-1/4 lengths.
The Kentucky-bred daughter of Not This Time, out of the City Zip mare City Siren, had just finished second by a head in the $250,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Turf Mile Stakes at Ellis Park on Aug. 4 before her trip to Oklahoma City. She was beaten by a mare named Walkathon, who went on to win the Grade 3 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Stakes her next out.
Having faced a much tougher competitor under those circumstances, it figured to be Dana’s Beauty’s race to lose in the Ricks Memorial and she proved it was.
It was the mare’s 10th win in 41 starts lifetime for owner Resolute Racing of Midway, Ky., and trainer Michael Maker. She earned $45,000 for Resolute and now stands at $633,033 in earnings. Dana’s Beauty had not raced in almost two months, but it didn’t matter as she showed that class will out.
The mare, who was bred by John Liviakis in Kentucky, paid $2.40 to win, $2.10 to place and $2.10 to show. She covered the 1-1/16th miles in 1:45.23 over a fast track.
Stalking the pace set by Imaluckycharm (6-1), Dana’s Beauty was just waiting like a cat at a mouse hole for the right time to attack. When she did, it was all over but the shouting as Dana’s Beauty already had a six-length lead at the top of the stretch. Imaluckycharm, who faded to last in the field, flashed past the early poles in :22.54 for the first quarter-mile, :48.40 at the half-mile, 1:13.16 for three-quarters of a mile and 1:38.70 for the mile.
Colors of the Wind (10-1) was the eventual runner-up, 1-3/4 lengths in front of third-place Gastown (35-1). The rest of the order of finish was Glenall (9-1) fourth, Wild Express (20-1) fifth and Imaluckycharm (6-1) sixth.
It was the first victory for Vazquez and Resolute Racing in the Ricks Memorial. Maker, however, was winning the race for the second time. He also won the Ricks in 2017 with Gianna’s Dream, jockey Robby Albarado up.
The Ricks Memorial is named in honor of the late Ran Ricks, Jr. who was the first owner with horses on the grounds at Remington Park. He was instrumental in helping pass pari-mutuel legislation in the early 1980s and a multiple leading owner during the first eight years in track history before passing in late 1996.