Owendale overcomes wide trip in Oklahoma Derby (G3) victory

Owendale’s win in Sunday’s $400,000 Oklahoma Derby (G3) gave the 3-year-old Into Mischief colt three graded stakes wins this year and pushed his earning on the cusp of $1 million.

The bay colt, who also finished third in this year’s Preakness (G1), is one of Into Mischief’s 16 stakes winners to date in 2019. With progeny earnings of $13.6 million this year, Into Mischief leads all other North American stallions by more than $1.5 million.

Owendale was in the outside post in the field of 10, leaving jockey Florent Geroux no choice but to go wide into the first turn. Eighth after a quarter mile, he moved up steadily on the backstretch and continued to gain ground on the turn despite being fanned four wide. After a brief tussle for the lead in upper stretch, he shook clear of the field to win by nearly two lengths in 1:49.29 for the nine furlongs on a fast main track (VIDEO).

“I was able to find a nice, cozy spot between the two and the three paths all the way to the first turn,” Geroux said. “By the backside, he started taking me, which is a good sign. I was trying to keep a close eye on (race favorite) Mucho Gusto. I started to attack him at about the 3/8 pole, making that big, wide move. I think that’s the way he likes to run best. He ran a great race.”

Winner of both the Lexington S. (G3) at Keeneland and the Ohio Derby (G3) earlier in the year, Owendale has now earned $958,725 for Rupp Racing. Bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, Owendale sold for $200,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling sale.