 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|||||||||||
 |
FIRST PRIZE LEESA TRIUMPHANT
IN $683,600 REMINGTON PARK FUTURITY
First Prize Leesa and G.R. Cater, Jr. win the grade 1 Remington Park Futurity on Saturday.
Photo Credit: Dustin Orona PhotographyOKLAHOMA CITY, OK—APRIL 18, 2009—The richest Remington Park Futurity in track history went to First Prize Leesa as she charged to the lead of the 330-yard race and held off top qualifier Dynaglide to win by a neck.
The purse of $683,600 for the Grade 1 Remington Park Futurity eclipses the former high-mark of $681,171 set during the 1997 edition of the race.
Owned by the Madill, Okla. partnership of Weetona Stanley and W.E. Smith, First Prize Leesa is trained by Heath Taylor and was ridden by G.R. Carter.
The talented 2-year-old filly stays perfect through her two race career after finding the front early in the race and maintaining the advantage to the finish. She handled 330 yards in 16.589 seconds over a fast track. “She’s extremely quick away from the gate and I think a good, clean start is always to your best advantage especially when you’re only going 330 yards,” Taylor noted. “She’s so professional, she doesn’t make any mistakes which is advantageous at this time of the year.”
Carter was equally impressed with the run of First Prize Leesa.
“She just left and went right to the front. I really didn’t have to ride her really hard. I rode her pretty confidently. I think she’s a good one and has a really good future ahead of her.”
Away as the 6-5 favorite, First Prize Leesa paid $4.60 to win, $3.40 to place and $3 to show. Dynaglide returned $4.20 to place and $2.60 to show. CR Sugar N Spice paid $3.20 to show.
The exacta (Nos. 3-8) paid $17.80, the trifecta (3-8-9) paid $49.80 and the superfecta (3-8-9-2) paid $226.40.
The winner’s share of $307,620 pushes First Prize Leesa’s career earnings to $313,512. She provided her owners and trainer with their first Remington Park Futurity win while giving Carter his fourth triumph in the history of the race.
Bred in Oklahoma by Weetona Stanley, First Prize Leesa is a daughter of Mr Jess Perry from the Dash For Cash mare First Prize Dash. She is a full sister to 2006 Remington Park Futurity winner First Prize Robin, 2006 Heritage Place Futurity winner First Carolina and has many other siblings with grade 1 stakes racing success. She is the fourth grade 1 winner from the full sister to all-time leading sire First Down Dash.
Dynaglide, owned by Evelio Salazar made a charge into second. Cody Jensen was aboard with Steve Garrison handling.
William E. Smith's CR Sugar N Spice was a half-length behind her in third. Saddled by Stacey Capps the Fly Jess Fly filly also bred by Weetona Stanley was ridden by Larry Payne. Effortless Jessie was fourth. The top four finishers were all fillies.
Completing the field were Docs Dusty Okie, Ms Athenas Dividend, Royal Trafeo and The Gucci Diamond. Hot Pepper Jess and Justzoomin were each scratched.
The Remington Park Futurity is the second of the big three Quarter Horse stakes races this season. The Oklahoma Futurity was run in March as the first. Remaining is the $1,000,000 Heritage Place Futurity on May 30.