Racing returns to Remington Park on Friday, August 22, 2025, continuing the track’s thoroughbred season that began on August 8. The evening card features multiple races with varying purse levels, including a $38,000 Maiden Special Weight, $12,500 and $26,000 claiming races, and a $13,000 Starter Allowance. Post time for the first race is 6:00 PM Central Time.
The current meet has been dominated by trainer Steven M. Asmussen, who leads all conditioners with 6 wins from 10 starts (60% win rate) and earnings of $111,647. Robertino Diodoro sits in second place with 4 wins from 8 starts, maintaining a 50% strike rate.
Weather Forecast and Track Conditions
Current weather conditions at Remington Park show fair skies with temperatures around 76°F. Wind is from the northeast at 5 mph with humidity at 74%. The forecast indicates mostly sunny conditions with temperatures expected to reach the upper 80s during the day.
The track surface is expected to be fast for dirt racing, with no precipitation expected that would affect track conditions. The favorable weather should provide ideal racing conditions for both horses and jockeys.
Race-by-Race Analysis
Race 1
Race 1 at Remington Park on August 22, 2025, is a $38,000 Maiden Special Weight contested at one mile on the turf course. The race features seven runners, all three-year-olds seeking their first career victory. The winner will earn $23,940, with $7,600 to second and $3,800 to third.
Top Contenders
Absolutely Certain (Morning Line 4-1)
This runner enters as one of the favorites after a strong second-place finish at Lone Star Park in July. In that race, Absolutely Certain showed a strong closing kick but came up just short, finishing two lengths behind Crockett in a 7-furlong maiden race on good turf. The stretch out to a mile should suit this runner’s come-from-behind style, and the form from that Lone Star race appears solid.
Roaring Rapids (Morning Line 5-1)
Another strong contender coming off a third-place finish at Louisiana Downs in July. Roaring Rapids closed well but couldn’t quite get there, finishing 1¾ lengths behind E Lion in a 7-furlong maiden race. Like Absolutely Certain, this horse showed good late speed and should appreciate the longer distance. The connection rate between these two horses’ most recent races suggests both are competitive at this level.
Secondary Chances
Follow The Star (Morning Line 9-2)
This runner has local experience, having raced at Remington Park in August where he finished sixth, beaten 12¾ lengths in a 1-mile maiden race on the fast main track. The disappointing effort on dirt might not translate to his turf potential, and the surface switch could unlock improvement.
Noble Reign (Morning Line 9-2)
Comes in off a fifth-place finish at Lone Star Park in July, beaten 4¾ lengths in a 1-mile maiden race on fast dirt. The effort showed some late mild gain, suggesting potential for improvement, particularly with the switch to turf.
Longshots
Bernardo (Morning Line 28-1)
Showed promise with a narrow second-place finish at Louisiana Downs in July, losing by just a neck to E Lion in a 7-furlong maiden race. However, the long odds suggest connections may have concerns about the surface or distance change.
Rango (Morning Line 22-1)
Finished third at Louisiana Downs in July but was beaten 8¼ lengths in a 6-furlong race. The significant step up in distance may not suit this runner’s apparent speed profile.
Fair Weather Flyer (Morning Line 40-1)
The longest shot on the board after a ninth-place finish at Lone Star Park. Showed little in that effort and appears overmatched at this level.
Race Strategy and Pace Analysis
The race appears to set up well for closers, with Absolutely Certain and Roaring Rapids both showing strong late speed in their recent efforts. The one-mile distance on turf should allow for a reasonable pace setup, giving the stretch runners time to make their moves.
The early pace figures to be moderate, with no obvious speed horses in the field. This should set up perfectly for the late runners to make their bids in the stretch.
Selections
Win: Absolutely Certain – The strongest recent form and ideal running style for the distance and surface.
Place: Roaring Rapids – Similar profile to the top choice with solid closing speed.
Show: Follow The Star – Local experience and potential for improvement on turf make this runner a solid third choice.
The race appears to be a two-horse battle between Absolutely Certain and Roaring Rapids, with both showing the kind of form that typically translates to maiden race victories. The surface switch to turf may help some of the other runners, but the top two appear to have the class edge based on recent performances.
Race 3 – Starter Allowance ($13,000)
Post Time: 12:56 AM (likely 6:56 PM local time)
This starter allowance features seven runners with Clay’s Black Opal installed as the 5/2 morning line favorite. Ima Bling Cat follows at 3/1, while Grapnel is listed at 7/2. The field also includes Immelmann (9/2), My Good Good Boy (6/1), Johnny Appleseed (8/1), and Count De Monet (10/1).
Clay’s Black Opal appears to be the horse to beat based on the morning line odds, suggesting this runner has shown the most consistent form in recent starts. The competitive nature of the odds suggests this should be an evenly contested affair.
Jockey Notes and Insights
David Cabrera has been riding well at the current meet, having won Race 4 on August 21 aboard Easy as Pie for trainer Michael E. Biehler. Cabrera also captured Race 9 the same evening with Sonic Posse for Francisco Bravo.
The jockey colony at Remington Park has been competitive throughout the meet, though specific rider statistics for today’s card are not readily available in the current data.
Trainer Notes and Insights
Steven M. Asmussen continues his dominance at the Oklahoma City track with a remarkable 60% win rate. His stable has been particularly effective, winning 6 of 10 starts while hitting the board 80% of the time. Any Asmussen runners today should be given serious consideration.
Robertino Diodoro maintains the second-highest win total with 4 victories from 8 starts. His 50% win rate and 75% in-the-money percentage make him another trainer to follow closely.
Francisco Bravo has shown recent form with 2 wins from 5 starts, including yesterday’s victory with Sonic Posse. Michael E. Biehler also scored recently with Easy as Pie.
Wagering Strategies and Value Plays
Given the limited information available for today’s complete card, conservative wagering approaches are recommended. Focus on races where more complete information is available, particularly those featuring top trainers like Asmussen and Diodoro.
In Race 3, while Clay’s Black Opal is the favorite, the competitive odds suggest value might exist with the second and third choices, Ima Bling Cat and Grapnel, particularly if either shows improvement in recent workouts.
For exotic wagers, consider using multiple horses in races with evenly matched fields, as the competitive nature of the odds suggests several horses have legitimate winning chances.
Previous Day’s Racing Highlights
Racing on August 21, 2025, featured notable performances from several horses. Easy as Pie captured Race 4, a Maiden Special Weight, under jockey David Cabrera for trainer Michael E. Biehler. The 3-year-old gelding by Lookin At Lucky earned $22,647 for the victory.
In Race 9, Sonic Posse prevailed in an allowance/optional claiming event. The 5-year-old gelding by Caleb’s Posse was ridden by David Cabrera and trained by Francisco Bravo, earning $23,898 for the win.
