Page 138 - 12 April 2013

Oklahoma Derby
BiG BOi
by Michael Compton
Big Boi is the aptly named homebred for Irene Velasquez. He notched the first stakes win of his promising young career, rolling to
an impressive score in the $136,000 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park on March 23.
A strapping son of Oak Tree Special, Big Boi finished second by a head in the Texas Classic Futurity-G1 at Lone Star Park last year as a juvenile. This year, however, he is discovering his best stride this season at the age of three.
A handy wire-to-wire 1 1/4-length winner of his trial to the Oklahoma Derby on March 10, Big Boi was the third fastest qualifier to the feature.
He broke outward from post position No. 8 in Oklahoma Derby finals. Once he gathered himself underneath jockey David Brown and lengthened stride, Big Boi simply reeled in his rivals in the lane.
Finishing the 350-yard test with a flourish, Big Boi mowed down the early pacesetters and edged clear late to win his first stakes event by three-quarters of a length.
Sent off as the 5-2 second wagering choice
David Brown after the victory
for trainer Verle Bohner, Big Boi stopped the timer in a brisk :17.320 and earned a speed index of 97.
Brown registered a rare double with the riding victory, becoming the
first person to both train
and ride a winner of the
race since it has been held at Remington Park. Brown was the trainer of 2009 Oklahoma Derby winner Spit Curl Diva.
The first-place purse money of $54,400 increased Big Boi’s bankroll to $346,311. He has now won three of seven lifetime starts for Velasquez.
The gelding is produced
from stakes-placed winner
Bosanova Baby, who equaled a track record at Prairie Meadows in 2001 when she traveled 330 yards in :16.710. Bosanova Baby is also the dam of graded stakes-placed runners IV Could Nine and Jess the Boss, as well as stakes-placed Tre Boss.
Oklahoma Derby runner-up Last First Kiss (Shazoom-Top Shawne) and jockey Russel Hadley closed ground between horses in the late stages to finish second for owner
Alexia Mehrle and trainer Kasey Willis.
Charvet (One Famous Eagle-Bloomingdales) , rid- den by Oscar Rincon, held third in the colors of Crowson Racing and conditioner Victor Rodriguez.
Colby Cartel (Teller Cartel-Show Me the Wire),Twenty Ten Secret (No Secrets Here-Eyesa Chick), Llano Cartel (Teller Cartel- Eyesa Lil Corona), Teller Ima Rockstar (Teller Cartel- Newport), Hiclass Vodka
(Hiclass La Jolla-Newport Lilly), First Flyin Dash (First Down Dash-Fast Flyin Prize),
BP Fast Success (Cartel Success-Fast Mans Money) rounded out the order of finish behind the top three finishers.
Remington Park $136,000 • 350 yards :17.320 • si 97
Special Task
Oak Tree Special
Easy Lady Oak
BIG BOI, ‘10-g.
Corona Cartel
Bosanova Baby
Hookinit to the Mall
136 SPEEDHORSE, April 12, 2013
Big Boi finishes strong to win the $136,000 Oklahoma Derby by 3/4-lengths
Racing news
(c)Linda earley
Dustin Orona Photography