OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – May 11, 2021 – The buzz on the Remington Park backside had been building about LS Jacks Back since mid-March. Seven weeks later, the big brown gelding proved it was more than just rumor as he was the fastest qualifier Friday for the Heritage Place Futurity final.
Word had gotten around the stable area that this horse, trained by John Stinebaugh, could fly after he won the fastest training race of the day at Retama Park near San Antonio on March 16. The 2-year-old gelding by Corona Cartel, out of the Desirio mare PJ Chick in Black, had a lightning quick time of :13.82 in his 250-yard training race win in Texas, the fastest of 38 horses in schooling races that day.
The 2-year-old quarter horse then followed that strong move with one of the fastest 250-yard workouts of the meet at Remington Park. Sent to the track on April 21, LS Jacks Back worked 250 yards from the gate in a blazing :13:30 handily over a fast track. Eyebrows were raised and everyone expected to see him in the trials for the Grade 1, $1,354,980 Heritage Place Futurity scheduled for closing day, May 29.
LS Jacks Back did not disappoint, flying to the finish line in :17.861 over a fast surface on the first night of trials, for a speed index of 81 in race three, the second trial of the night. The first trial was won in :18.085 with a speed index of 74 by comparison.
LS Jacks Back paid $4.40 to win, $3.20 to place and $2.20 to show, under Francisco Calderon. He earned $8,784 from the $15,000 trial purse, so the early favorite for the race meet’s largest purse will enter that race having earned less than $10,000 for his owner, Jack Smith Farms of Comber, Ontario, Canada. LS Jacks Back was bred in Oklahoma by D. Bowen, S. Taylor and J. Smith Farms.
The top five fastest times of the night qualify for the finals and the top five from Saturday night’s trials will join them.
The following were the five fastest qualifiers from Friday, with jockey, trainer, time, speed index, and trial number:
1) LS Jacks Back, Francisco Calderon, John Stinebaugh, :17.861, 81 speed index, trial two
2) Jet Black Grace, Juan Pulido, Fidencio Jimenez, :17.916, 79, trial seven
3) Sassalitical, Jorge Torres, Clint Crawford, :17.930, 79, trial nine (*Heritage Place Graduate)
4) Relentless Anywhere, Jimmy Brooks, Eddie Willis, :17.953, 78, trial six (*Heritage Place Graduate)
5) PYCfastandfamous, Benito Baca, Stacy Charette-Hill, :17.958, 78, trial five
Calderon won three races on the evening to push his season total to 32 wins, second in the jockey standings behind Juan Pulido’s 33. Calderon also won aboard Here Comes Candy ($5.80 to win) in race four and Reimagine ($3.60) in race 12.
Remington Park racing continues Saturday, May 8 with more trials for the Heritage Place Futurity featured. The action on Sunday, May 9 features trials for 3-year-olds as they qualify for the Grade 2, $333,010 Heritage Place Derby. The first race nightly is at 6pm-Central.
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Tracked by more than 165,000 fans on Facebook and 10,400 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $260 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District, Remington Park is home to the $1 million Heritage Place Futurity on May 29. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.