NYMERIA RALLIES TO SCORE $1.1 MILLION HERITAGE PLACE FUTURITY AT REMINGTON PARK

OKLAHOMA CITY  – June 3, 2017– Nymeria used a solid start and then kicked in his normal late-running move to score Saturday’s Grade 1, $1,154,700 Heritage Place Futurity at Remington Park.

Owned by Alfredo Garza of Anthony, N.M. and trained by Josue Ponce, Nymeria was ridden by Jose Alvarez. The win with Nymeria gives Ponce his second consecutive training win in the Heritage Place Futurity as he saddled Duponte to victory in the race in 2016.

“I can’t believe it, I’m still in shock,” Ponce said of winning the richest race in Oklahoma for two straight years. “All we needed was a good break and we got it and she demonstrated she was good. She just needed experience, she needed more races. That last race helped her a lot. This time, she knew what she was coming for because she felt ready.”

Alvarez noted the difference for Nymeria was in her start as he described the effort with Ponce translating in the winner’s circle. “In the trials she didn’t break right but he knew if she had a good break in the final, she would be tough.”

The sharp start by Nymeria put her in an easier position to catch the early leaders in the 350-yard race as Bird Train grabbed the front from the starting gate with Trace Dynasty, from the rail post position, moving along with him. Nymeria moved up outside of the top two and managed to hit the lead in the final yards, crossing the finish a neck better than Trace Dynasty. PYC Fun N Fancy rallied from his outside post-position to get third, 1-1/4 lengths behind the winner. Bird Train faded over the final half of the race to fourth. Descent, Despain GL and Olena Sangria rounded out the order of finish for the field of seven.

Nymeria crossed the finish in 17.464 seconds over a fast track and was a bit overlooked in the wagering at 9-1 odds, paying $21 to win, $12 to place and $7.60 to show. Trace Dynasty paid $4.20 to place and $3.20 to show. PYC Fun N Fancy returned $4.20 to show. Despain GL was the beaten betting favorite, finishing sixth at odds of 7-5.

Bred in Texas by Bobby Cox, Nymeria is a filly by Bigtime Favorite from the Ivory James mare Havanah Goodtime. She qualified for the Heritage Place Futurity, running second in her trial behind Bird Train. The final is her second career win from just three starts and was worth $489,939 to move her overall bankroll to $494,667.

Nymeria gave her owner and jockey their first wins in the Heritage Place Futurity. Ponce’s second straight win in the race makes him the first trainer to win the top event at Remington Park in successive years since Trey Wood managed the feat in 2012 and 2013 with BP Cartels Alibi and Big Biz Perry respectively.

Live horse racing is now on hiatus at Remington Park until the 2017 Thoroughbred Season which runs Aug. 25 thru Dec. 17.

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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.