Credit: Dustin Orona Photography
OKLAHOMA CITY – May 31, 2017 – Remington Park will wrap up the 2017 American Quarter Horse Season on Saturday, June 3 with its normal tradition of running the richest races on the final night of the season. The “Mega-Card” boasts a total of 12 races, eight of them big-money stakes events, led by the $1,154,700 Heritage Place Futurity.
Overall, the total value of purses in the 2017 “Mega-Card” is $2,274,875. The record for the “Mega-Card” night of racing is $2,335,670 set in 2015.
The field of 2-year-olds for the Grade 1 Heritage Place Futurity qualified over 24 trials, conducted in groups of 12, on two nights of racing on May 12 & 13. Despain GL posted the top overall time in the 350-yard trials and has been set as the morning-line favorite at 8-5 odds by Remington Park odds-maker Jerry Shottenkirk.
Owned by Garza Laurel Partnership of Laredo, Texas and trained by Rick Robinson, Despain GL won his trial by 1-3/4 lengths under jockey Agustin Silva who keeps his mount. Despain GL previously won a trial for the Oklahoma Futurity in early March and then finished fourth in the $50,000 Oklahoma Juvenile on March 25. The gelding was bred in Texas by Somos Diez.
Horses qualifying on May 12 were aided by a northerly tailwind 8-14mph. On the second night of trials, May 13, those qualifying faced a southerly headwind of 7-10mph.
While 10 entered the Heritage Place Futurity, only seven are slated to start the richest event in Oklahoma horse racing. A trio of qualifiers developed an injury or an illness after their trial runs and will not compete in the June 3 final. Following is the field for the Heritage Place Futurity, by program number order, with trainer, jockey and morning-line odds. Those showing odds of 99-1 will not be in the starting gate at post time which is approximately 9:46pm as race 10 on the program.
Grade 1, $1,154,700 Heritage Place Futurity, 350-yards, 2-year-olds
1. Trace Dynasty: Clint Crawford, G.R. Carter, 3-1
2. Bird Train: Matthew Eck, Alfredo Triana, 6-1
3. Olena Sangria: Tana Caldwell, Larry Payne, 8-1
4. Despain GL: Rick Robinson, Agustin Silva, 8-5 (morning-line favorite)
5. Every Chicks Favorit: Joaquin Lopez, Omar Reyes, 99-1
6. Nymeria: Josue Ponce, Jose Alvarez, 10-1
7. Descent: Eddie Willis, Jimmy Brooks, 8-1
8. Hez Our Boy: Josue Ponce, Rodrigo Vallejo, 99-1
9. PYC Fun N Fancy: Luz Chavira, Daniel Torres, 6-1
10. All American Stone: Daniel Luna, Jorge Linares, 99-1
The “Mega-Card” at Remington Park will begin at 5pm. The other stakes races on the program that help comprise the rich night of action include:
Race 5: Grade 2, $100,000 Junos Request Stakes, fillies & mares, 3 & up, 400 yards
Race 6: $100,000 Heritage Place Juvenile, 2-year-olds, 350 yards
Race 7: Grade 1, $199,875 Speedhorse Graham Futurity, Paints & Appaloosas, 2-year-olds, 350 yards
Race 8: Grade 2, $297,100 Heritage Place Derby, 3-year-olds, 400 yards
Race 9: Grade 1, $250,000 Remington Park Invitational Championship, 3 & up, 400yds
Race 11: $50,000 Easy Jet Stakes, 2-year-olds, Oklahoma-breds, 350 yards
Race 12: Grade 2, $50,000 Remington Park Distance Championship, 3 & up, 870 yards
Remington Park now moves to the final three days of the American Quarter Horse Season, Thursday thru Saturday, June 1-3. The first race nightly is at 6pm, except for Saturday, June 3 when racing begins at 5pm on the final night of the season.
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Tracked by over 125,000 fans on Facebook and 9,000 Twitter followers, Remington Park is the home of the Grade 1, $1,154,700 Heritage Place Futurity on June 3. Remington Park has provided over $168 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Open daily at 10:30am with free parking and admission, Oklahoma City’s only Racetrack & Casino is located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District. For more information, reservations and group bookings please call 405-424-1000, 866-456-9880 or visit remingtonpark.com.