© Dustin Orona Photography
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—MAY 31, 2014—Trainer Eddie Willis saddled his fifth winner of the Heritage Place Derby(G2), seeing This Dude Can Fly post a victory, a head better than Rocketair.
Owned by the San Antonio partnership of Luis De La Cerda and Abel Flores, This Dude Can Fly was ridden by Larry Payne who won the race for the third time in his career.
The 3-year-old gelding was away from the start in good order, moving on the front of the 10-horse field for the better part of the 400 yards and crossing the finish in :19.386 seconds. Rocketair finished a half-length in front of third-place runner I Dont Need Nobody.
This Dude Can Fly was 3-2 in the wagering and paid $5 to win, $3.80 to place and $3 to show. Rocketair paid $11.20 to place and $6 to show. I Dont Need Nobody paid $11.40 to show. Shades Of Blues Girl was the beaten 6-5 wagering favorite, finishing fourth.
Willis also won the Heritage Place Derby with Priceless Feature (2012), Capo De Capi (2011), Streakin Down (2010) and A Real Man (2002). Payne rode A Real Man the year after winning his first Heritage Place Derby with Some Dashing Dude (2001).
Bred in Texas by Robert and Helen Wood, This Dude Can Fly is by One Famous Eagle from the First Down Dash mare Helens First Choice. He won his fifth race from eight career attempts while posting his fourth win at Remington Park. Earning $107,961, This Dude Can Fly has now pulled in $152,443.
Oklahoma-bred Rocketair earned $43,698 to push his earnings to $219,898. Ivan Carnero rode the Jumpn gelding for trainer Clinton Crawford and owner’s Preston and Karen Cloud. Bob Moore Farms, LLC bred the Jumpn gelding from the First Down Dash mare Rivanne.
Trainer Kenny Laymon saddled I Dont Need Nobody for owner J K Running Horses, LLC. Josh Romero rode the Jess Louisiana Blue 3-year-old who boosted his earnings to nearly $80,000. Paul Newmaster bred the sorrel gelding in Kansas from the My Designated Driver mare Katiebug Driver.
Shades Of Blues Girl, Make It Jess, High Ace, Fire Tested, The Ultimate Eagle, Wolfgang James and Oh No U Didnt completed the field.