PYC FUN N FANCY wins the 2018 $363,790 Heritage Place Derby [G2]
Courtesy of www.stallionesearh.com
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—JUNE 2, 2018—PYC Fun N Fancy overcame a less than perfect beginning to find a much better ending to win the Grade 2, $363,790 Heritage Place Derby on Saturday at Remington Park.
Owned by Jose Guzman of Dallas and trained by Amanda Tongay, PYC Fun N Fancy was ridden by Ricky Ramirez. The 3-year-old colt gave a solid effort for Ramirez, despite a bobble at the beginning of the 400-yard derby.
“He broke very strong, he kind of missed the ground but that was because he tried to leave there so hard,” Ramirez said of the start with PYC Fun N Fancy. “I watched the replay after the trial and (jockey) James Flores rode him very aggressive (in the trial) and he made a big run for him so that was my plan today, to ride him just like he did, just as aggressive. The horse performed awesome and just finished very strong.”
Once into full stride, PYC Fun N Fancy quickly made up any lost ground due to his start and put himself into contention. The colt crossed the finish in :19.429 over a fast track. DF AJ Green Leaves, winner of the Remington Park Derby in April, overcame a bump at the start to gain for second, a neck behind the winner. EOS A Political Win was third, a nose behind the runner-up, as the beaten betting favorite at 5-2 odds.
PYC Fun N Fancy was at 7-1 odds in the wagering and paid $17.20 to win, $7.20 to place and $5 to show. DF AJ Green Leaves paid $4.60 to place and $4 to show. EOS A Political win paid $3.40 to show.
PYC Fun N Fancy won his trial for the Heritage Place Derby and now has four career victories from 10 attempts. He finished third as a 2-year-old in the Heritage Place Futurity last year. The $152,792 first-place check for the derby increases his lifetime bankroll to $442,894.
Bred in Oklahoma by Weetona Stanley, inducted into the Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame at Remington Park on June 1, PYC Fun N Fancy is a colt by Pyc Paint Your Wagon from the Mr Jess Perry mare First Prize Fancy.
Coming off a second-place effort in the Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Derby(RG3), Df Aj Green Leaves picked up $61,845 to increase her bankroll to $223,956. Trainer James Padgett, II conditions the daughter of leading sire Apollitical Jess for owner Darling Farms. Kelly/Yearsley Equine LLC bred the filly in Oklahoma from the Tres Seis mare Three Green Leaves. Jose Alvarez was aboard.
Eos A Political Win finished third for owner Elite Oilfield Services. Rolando Almanza saddled the Apollitical Jess colt with Jesse Levario getting the ride. Bred in Oklahoma by Rey and Celia Nieto, Eos A Political Win earned $43,655 for his effort, pushing his career earnings over $200,000. He is out of the Pyc Paint Your Wagon mare Pithia.
The Most High Rules, Doing What I Like, Pv Queen Bee Candy, Fast Prize Rumor, Goldine, Eagle Deluxe and Wagon Chick V completed the field.
This is the second consecutive Heritage Place Derby win for Ricky Ramirez who rode Hold Air Hostage to the score in 2017. PYC Fun N Fancy gave his owner and trainer their initial score in the event.