OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—MARCH 11, 2017 – StallionESearch—Jockey Larry Payne rode Ima China Rush to a 1 ¼ length win in the second of 17 trials for the Grade 3 $525,050 Oklahoma Futurity Saturday night at Remington Park. The sorrel filly clocked a :15.229 time, a 96-speed index, on a muddy/rainy racetrack to post the fastest qualifying time.The 10 fastest 2-year-olds, from 164 head who competed in the trials, will return to the Oklahoma City racetrack on Saturday, March 25th to vie for the winner’s share of the more than half-million-dollar purse. The oldest Quarter Horse futurity in the country, this year’s race will be the 76th edition.
Trainer Guillermo Valdiva saddled the Oklahoma homebred for owner/breeder Sherry Gilmore of Sallisaw, Oklahoma. A daughter of third-crop sire Rushago, Ima China Rush is out of the Pyc Paint Your Wagon mare Ima Pyc China Doll.
© Dustin Orona Photography
Pyc Fun N Fancy, a $32,000 Heritage Place Yearling Sale graduate, broke his maiden with an impressive 1¼ length performance in the first trial to get the second fastest time.Ridden by jockey Daniel Torres, the brother to Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Futurity(RG3) winner Im A Fancy Pyc, completed the 300-yard task in :15.365 seconds, a 91-speed index with a 17-mph tailwind.
Luz Chavira conditions the son of leading sire Pyc Paint Your Wagon for owner Jose Guzman. Weetona Stanley bred the bay colt from the multiple stakes-producing Mr Jess Perry mare First Prize Fancy, a sister to Remington Park Futurity(G1) winners First Prize Leeza and First Prize Robin and Heritage Place Futurity(G1) winner First Carolina.
Pyc Fun N Fancy is also a brother to Grade 3 Speedhorse Futurity winner Fast N Fancy, Grade 2 Firecracker Futurity runner-up First Fancy Prize and South Florida Derby runner-up Pyc First Prize Fany.Chavira also saddled third fastest qualifier Chasin My Desire, a Chicks Regard homebred racing for owner/breeder Sammy Manek.
Another qualifier for jockey Daniel Torres, Chasin My Desire finished second to fastest qualifier Ima China Rush while posting a :15.438 clocking. The gray colt is out of the Desirio mare Hi Ho Desirio.
Krash Master, a colt by first crop sire Krash Cartel, finished third in the fastest trial to get the fourth fastest clocking of :15.461 seconds. Stacy Charette-Hill conditions Krash Master for owner Stephanie Sanchez. Bollenbach Farms bred the $8,000 Heritage Place Yearling Sale graduate in Oklahoma from the Make It Anywhere mare Makin It Stormy.Jose Espinoza’s Lions Express was a three-quarter length winner in the 8th trial under jockey Edwuin Lujan. Erika Huitron saddled the son of third-crop sire Freighttrain B to the fifth fastest time of :15.466 seconds. Bennett Racing Stables, LLC bred Lions Express in Indiana from the First Wrangler mare This Cat Purrs.
Tres Of Elegants, an $18,000 Heritage Place Fall Mixed graduate, broke into the top-ten in the 16th trial while recording the sixth fastest time of :15.484 seconds. Eddie Willis saddled the Tres Seis filly for owner James Sills. Jimmy Brooks was aboard the Steve Hurlbert Texas-bred from the Corona Cartel mare Elegant Debut.Champion jockey G.R. Carter, Jr. rode Unconquerable to the seventh fastest time of :15.503 seconds in trial 14. The $30,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate races for owners Unconquerable Racing Ltd. Dee Kenner trains the son of second crop sire High Rate Of Return out of Fleeting Touch by Tres Seis. Garvan Kelly and Nancy Yearsley is the breeder.
Piloto Strong had the 8th fastest time of :15.518 seconds after getting moved to first in the fourth trial when Bird Train was disqualified and placed last for interference. Owner Rene Wilson paid $22,000 for the son of All American Futurity (G1) winner Mr Piloto. Grants Farms, LLC bred Piloto Strong in Louisiana from the Strawfly Special mare Strength In Numbers.
The final two qualifiers came from the ninth trial when Im Jess Sweet Jess nosed out Ima Louisiana Girl with a :15.519 clocking. Everardo Escamill-Gonzalez conditions the One Sweet Jess filly for owner Sigrid Vazquez. Jim and Natalie Montgomery sold the filly, out of Sweetness Special by Eyesa Special, for $9,000 in the Heritage Place Yearling Sale.
Ima Louisiana Girl, an $11,500 Heritage Place Yearling graduate, held on for the final spot with a :15.523 clocking. Trey Wood trains and champion jockey Ricky Ramirez rode the daughter of second crop sire The Louisiana Cartel. Owned by The Zand Ltd. Partnership, Ima Louisiana Girl was bred in Oklahoma by JNL Horse Farm LLC.