Eakly digs in for first stakes win in OKC Turf Classic H.

Cheyenne Stable LLC’s homebred colt Eakly fought off a stern challenge to score a half-length win in the $100,000 OKC Turf Classic H. on Oct. 20 at Remington Park.

Stakes-placed last year as a 2-year-old in 2022, Eakly is 3-3-2 in 12 lifetime starts and has earned $153,824. The bay colt is trained by Donnie K. Von Hemel.

Eakly engaged with Rowdy Rascal in a battle for the lead almost immediately after the break. The duo raced as a team through a half-mile in :49.99 and six furlongs in 1:15.09. It wasn’t until the final strides that Eakly edged clear to win by a half-length in 1:45.99 for the 1 1/16-miles on the firm turf.

Eakly, a son of Caleb’s Posse, is the first foal to race out of Vian, a daughter of Australian Horse of the Year and Hall of Famer Lonhro, who won over $5 million in his career. Vian’s dam Counterparty was stakes-placed, and Eakly’s third dam is four-time stakes winner Passionate Terri.