Oklahoma Derby – GIII
$400.00 For Three Year Olds
1 1/8 Miles – Dirt
Remington Park – September 27, 2026

The last time Hurts, the 2025 HRP Award winner for best two year old male, had crossed the wire first it was in his final Kentucky Derby prep. It was the Arkansas Derby. March. That is a very long time for a horse that had shown the type of talent and the consistent ability to hit the wire first in his first ten races that Hurts had. He had won seven of those first ten. In those six months there was a third in the Derby and a third in the Haskell. Good results to be sure but not up to the colt’s previous standards. On Sunday in the Oklahoma Derby old benchmarks were found, old standards were met and it was a resounding victory for Hurts against six other three year old rivals.

Winner: Hurts
Owner/Trainer: Royalty Stables
Jockey: R.L. Moore
Breeder: Royalty Stables (NY) – Hide And Seek/Agapova (Heretowinthisfight)

Hurts uncharacteristically broke on top and for the first quarter of a mile it appeared that he would contest the lead early but then he dropped back dramatically to midpack and about four lengths off of the pace. The take back was so severe it appeared for a moment that maybe it was going to be a clunker of a race but the champ gathered himself and began to move forward with a half of a mile left. At the top of the stretch he was eating up ground and was in a different gear than all of his rivals and the result appeared little in doubt. He collared Blaketer in the final furlong and powered home to the wire opening up two lengths. 

Second: Blacketer
Owner/Trainer: Serenity Stables
Jockey: G. Corrales
Breeder: Royalty Stables (NY) – Hide And Seek/Vernon (Valvano)

Broke sharply and set the pace early along with Apirana who faded after pushing Blacketer through the early fractions. Magic Fighter made an early move but could not sustain and Blacketer continued on unchallenged as a clear second best.

Third: Magic Fighter
Owner/Trainer: Maxmillion Farm 
Jockey: Mar Garcia
Breeder: Grimley (Fla) – Starship Rover/Not A Fighter (Hilarity)

Made an early middle move and it looked like he was going to be a challenger down the stretch but flattened out and could not threaten the top two but comfortably held off the closing Coach McGuirk.

Fourth: Coach McGuirk
Owner/Trainer: Mo Mentum Farm
Jockey: R.E, Eramia
Breeder: Patterson Stables (Ky) – Sinissippi Star/Reverse Engineered (Charley Farley)

Was allowed to drop back to last place in the early going. Began to kick on with three furlongs remaining. Was closing best of all, other than the winner, in the latter stages of the race but only had enough real estate left to pick up the final check. 

Preview Pick: Hurts – winner..

Hurts has now won eight of his fifteen lifetime races and now has amassed impressive career earnings of $3,488.80. This was the first Oklahoma Derby win for both Royalty Stables and jockey R.L. Moore. The assumption has to be that Hurts will next be seen in the G1 Breeder’s Cup Classic in a month’s time as he sits in fourth place to qualify for that race. If he runs in that race it would be his first effort against horses outside of his age group but judging by this win he would be coming into that new challenge in top form.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded