Sabalenka Wins Ricks Memorial at Remington Park

Jockey Luis Saez won back-to-back stakes on Sunday on the Oklahoma Derby Day undercard, when Sabalenka gave him his second black-type win in $75,000 Ricks Memorial Stakes.

This was a race over the grass for older fillies and mares going 1-1/16 miles. Saez stayed in mid-pack, biding his time and as 2-1 favorite Neom Beach was running second all the way around the course, Sabalenka was developing momentum and came from sixth place to blow by the favorite in the stretch to get the victory.

Saez, in the race before, had won the E.L. Gaylord Stakes with a filly named Woodstock.

In the Ricks Memorial, Sabalenka, a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred mare was sent off at 7-2 odds and paid $9 to win, $4 to place and $2.20 to show. She was sired by Good Samaritan, out of the Maria’s Mon mare Darling Daughter. Trainer Joe Sharp had her revved up and ready to roll Sunday as she won by 2-3/4 lengths in a time of 1:42.12 over the firm course.

Sabalenka raced behind early fractions set by Peak Earnings (16-1) of :23.83 for the first quarter-mile, :48.39 for the half-mile and 1:12.46 for three quarters of a mile. At this point, Sabalenka was in fifth, but by the time they hit the top of the stretch, she was in first and made one mile in 1:36.31 as she opened up to victory.

Sabalenka earned $45,000 for her owners Everything’s Cricket Racing of Brooklyn, N.Y., and improved her record to 21 starts, four wins, two seconds and two thirds for $550,138 in earnings. This mare was bred by Mr. and Mrs. Al Mazzetti.

Sabalenka has been sold twice in her career. It would have been three times, but her reserve price of $30,000 was not met in the Keeneland Association September Yearling Sale in 2021. The next sale she would see is the Ocala Breeders Spring Sale of 2-year-olds and sold there for $35,000. Sabalenka was purchased for the last time in the Keeneland Association November Breeding Stock Sale in 2024 when Everything’s Cricket bought her for $125,000.

The rest of the order of finish behind Sabalenka was Neom Beach (2-1 favorite) second, Lucky Speech (5-2) third, Lookinforbargains (5-1) fourth, Loterie (IRE, 38-1) fifth, Moonlight Gambler (47-1) sixth, Optimistic Cowgirl (26-1) seventh, Tour Queen (8-1) eighth and Peak Earnings (16-1) ninth.

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.
Remington Park racing moves into October with a four-date race week, Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 2-5. The first race nightly is at 6pm. Sunday racing on Oct. 5 begins at 2pm. All times are Central.

Remington Park has provided more than $390 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District, Remington Park presents year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. The 2025 Oklahoma Classics Night of stakes racing for top Oklahoma-breds is Friday, Oct. 17. The Thoroughbred Season continues through Dec. 20. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.