© Dustin Orona
OKLAHOMA CITY – June 1, 2019 – There are likely a lot of people who attended the Ruidoso Yearling Sale in 2018 that will be kicking themselves in the morning, especially after Uptowne Babe won the Grade 1 Heritage Place Futurity at Remington Park on Saturday night.
This 2-year-old filly’s owner, Sam Green of Monett, Mo., who also bred the winner.
Uptowne Babe on Saturday night alone, she earned 10 times that, by winning the biggest race of the Remington Park meet, pocketing $404,502 for the Heritage Place Futurity, the richest race in Oklahoma.
Uptowne Babe has now won two of five starts, her other win being a trial for the $895,210 Remington Park Futurity in April. She was the fastest qualifier for that race but could only manage third in that final, beaten only a neck. Her earnings coming into the Heritage Place Futurity were $108,155, but her purse strings broke with the additional money as she now boasts $512,657. That’s the best $40,000 bargain sale ever.
“She was a beautiful baby,” said Green, who owns the mama. Uptown Babe is by Mr Jess Perry, out of the FDD Dynasty mare Ms Southern Dynasty. “I bid on her and brought her home to Bill (Guillermo) Valdivia and he did a fantastic job training her and Pedro here (Hernandez-Pulido, now training her) did a wonderful job finishing her off.”
Jockey Rolando Raudales has been aboard Uptowne Babe for all five of her starts and he was beside himself with glee in the winner’s circle.
“She broke on top and got out there running and they weren’t going to catch her,” said Raudales, a first-time winner of the Heritage Place Futurity, as well as the rest of the connections. “I was glad she did. I’m excited about all this.”
Uptowne Babe held on to win over the highly-touted Uncle D by three-quarters of a length. Despite being the fifth-fastest qualifier for the finals, he was backed by the public as the betting favorite at 9-5 odds. Uptowne Babe went off at 9-1 odds. Uncle D was another half-length in front of third-place finisher Jesse D. Jay Number 7, the fastest qualifier for the finals, ran a disappointing fifth, at 3-1 odds.
Uptowne Babe’s winning time was 17.632 seconds, which earned her an 86 speed index. She paid $21.60 to win, $8.20 to place and $5.20 to show.
Remington Park is always open for casino gaming. Simulcast horse racing is offered daily. Admission, parking and valet parking are always free at Remington Park. Guests must be 18 or older in order to wager on horse racing or to enter the casino.
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Tracked by more than 154,000 fans on Facebook and more than 9,900 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $218 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. The track 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.