© Dustin Orona Photography
OKLAHOMA CITY. OK – May 31st, 2014– A quick start and gutty performance was worth nearly a half-million dollars to the connections of Lovethewayyoulie as the 2-year-old filly prevailed to win the Grade 1, $1,020,980 Heritage Place Futurity on Saturday at Remington Park. She just held on at the line, winning a photo-finish over BV Travelin Soldier by a nose.
Owned by the Elgin, Texas partnership of Conda Maze and Tyler Graham and trained by Toby Keeton, jockey Cody Jensen was aboard Lovethewayyoulie who excelled at the start.
“She showed us a little something about how she wants to get away from the gates and we just keyed on it here in the finals,” Jensen noted. “She’s just super-quick away from the gates and I don’t have to do a whole lot after that. I thought I held (BV Travelin Soldier) off by one jump. I’m glad we didn’t go one jump further.”
While Lovethewayyoulie used a quick start to gain early advantage in the richest race of the year at Remington Park, BV Travelin Solider had to make up ground after not getting away nearly as fast. Advancing steadily throughout the 350 yards, BV Travelin Soldier just missed at the line. Count De Monet was another neck behind the runner-up in third. Lovethewayyoulie handled the distance in :17.37 seconds over a fast track.
Lovethewayyoulie gave Keeton his third career victory in the Heritage Place Futurity. He believes she has more success ahead of her after recent development. “She’s bloomed. You always look for a horse that blooms between the trials and finals and she just gets better, doing everything right. I thought she’d run a good race.”
Graham, who also bred Lovethewayyoulie in Texas with Franklin Collins, is thrilled with the way the diminutive filly has come along. “Awesome filly. She’s got the most intensity, she’s dead-serious about what she does and tries her heart out. She’s not very big but she doesn’t know that.”
Away at 7-1 odds in the wagering, Lovethewayyoulie paid $17.20 to win, $6.60 to place and $5.40 to show. BV Travelin Soldier paid $4.80 to place and $4.20 to show. Count De Monet paid $8.80 to show.
Paint Me Perry, winner of the Oklahoma Futurity in March was the even-money wagering favorite. He was caught up in a squeeze with other rivals when Apolitical Pac broke inward at the start creating interference with many. Paint Me Perry finished eighth but was elevated to seventh when Apolitical Pac was disqualified and placed ninth and last.
Lovethewayyoulie is by leading second crop sire Tempting Dash from the Streakin Sixes mare Witchs Streak. She won her second career race, all at Remington Park, in the Heritage Place Futurity from four starts and earned $428,811 to boost her total bankroll to $450,479.
Bv Travelin Solider’s second place finish earned $173,566 for owner/breeder Bella Vista Farms, LLC. Eddie Lee Willis conditions the Corona Cartel colt who suffered his first loss from three starts this season. Russel Hadley was aboard the bay from the Tres Seis mare Ms Tres Seis.
Bobby D. Cox’s Count de Monet picked up $122,517 for his third place effort to push his mark to $174,301. G.R. Carter Jr. rode the Remington Park Juvenile winner for trainer John Buchanan. Vaughn and Jill Cook bred the Brimmerton gelding in Oklahoma from the Chicks Beduino mare Royal Delphias Chick.
Completing the official order of finish were Painted Summer, Notavailableinstores, Im A Fancy Pyc, Paint Me Perry, Jaxtens First Wagon and Apolitical Pac who finished sixth but was placed last for interference. Racy Casanova was scratched.
Heritage Place Juvenile
Gary Hess’ Cartel Rosie drifted out to battle Stolin Wagon all the way to the wire in the $100,000 Heritage Place Juvenile Invitational.
The Carters Cartel filly got her head in front at the wire under jockey Josh Romero, completing the 350 yards in :17.731 seconds, one 1/100th off the Heritage Place Futurity(G1) time. Tzunami Is Okay finished three-quarters back in the show position.
The $25,000 winner’s purse nearly doubled the Brian Muse trainee’s earnings level to $45,832, after posting a 2-2-0 record in four starts this season at Remington Park.
Double Bar S Ranch, LLC bred the bay miss in Oklahoma from the First Down Dash mare Long Stemmed Roses. Hess paid $18,000 for Cartel Rosie at the Heritage Place September Yearling Sale.
Stolin Wagon’s second place finish banked $15,000 for owner/trainer Isidro Flores. Manuel Gutierrez had the riding assignment aboard the Pyc Paint Your Wagon colt out of multiple stakes winner XO Kate, by Stoli. Bred in Texas by Michael Pohl, the gray colt has earned $19,728 with a 1-2-0 record in three career starts.
Cody Jensen rode Tzunami Is Okay for owners Francisco Lopez and Brant Farrar. Guillermo Valdivia saddled the Okey Dokey Dale filly who boosted her earnings to over $30,000 after pocketing $10,000 for the third place effort. Allen and Carny Hybsha bred the brown miss in Oklahoma from the Royal Quick Dash mare Quick Meggie.
Jodys Pops Lil Wagon, Rappaio, A Royal Fling, Ting Ting Tac, Spittin In The Dawn, Honeymoon Candy and Rattle N Battle completed the field.
The 2014 American Quarter Horse & Mixed-breed Season comes to a close at Remington Park on Sunday. The 10-race program begins at 1:30pm and offers the $50,000 Remington Distance Championship and the $50,000 Easy Jet Stakes as the headliners.