Heavens Uncle and jockey Bryan Candanosa drive to victory off the inside rail in the $854,775 Remington Park Futurity(RG1) on Monday.

© Dustin Orona Photography

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—APRIL 29, 2024–Jockey Bryan Candanosa concluded a massive winning week by scoring the $854,775 Remington Park Futurity with Heavens Uncle on Monday.

It was the second futurity win for Candanosa in as many nights as he also took down the $161,600 American Paint Classic Futurity on Sunday with Painted to Be Quick.

He took five trips to the winner’s circle in the past 16 races over two days and his horses’ earnings this past week were $553,672. The next highest jockey for the week was Roman Cruz’s $179,521.

Heavens Uncle, a 2-year-old gelded son of champion and leading first-crop sire Uncle D, out of the stakes winning Streak and Dash mare Heavens Assured, just got up for the victory by a head over My Fancy Corona (5-1), flying from the outside 10-post.

Heavens Uncle looked a lot like his sire as he roared to victory. Uncle D won a Heritage Place Futurity trial at Remington Park in 2019 and then was the runner-up in that million-dollar final to Uptowne Babe. Named the 2019 Champion 2-Year-Old and Champion 2-Year-Old Colt, Uncle D also won the Grade 1 Rainbow Futurity and All American Juvenile at Ruidoso Downs.

Heavens Uncle (#1) holds off My Fancy Corona (#10) in a blanket-finish to the Remington Park Futurity(RG1) Monday afternoon. © Dustin Orona Photography

"He ran a really good trial," Candanosa said of Heavens Uncle. "I was super excited about riding him in this one."

Candanosa won 6-of-22 starts this past week for a 27-percent win rate. He tied for most wins in the week with leading rider Ali Rivera.

Trainer Guillermo Valdivia said his winner is an amazing horse.

"He has done everything right since his schooling race," Valdivia said. "I’m just so blessed to have this horse in my barn. I thank God. He showed a lot of speed in his training race and has just gotten better and better."

Valdivia’s horses’ earnings for the week were $465,832, compared to Toby Keeton’s $171,267. Valdivia also won the Easy Date Stakes on Monday with Relentless Diamond.

Heavens Uncle pushed away from the gate as the 5-2 wagering favorite and never was headed as he scored from the 1-post position. He had won his trial on April 12 by 2-1/2 lengths when Candanosa got into the irons for the first time on him.

Heavens Uncle, under jockey Bryan Candanosa, returns after winning the rich Oklahoma-Bred Remington Park Futurity on Monday. © Dustin Orona Photography

Heavens Uncle earned $359,005 for the Remington Park Futurity and is now improved to three starts, two wins and one second for a bankroll of $371,832. He was bred by his owner Sherry Gilmore of Sallisaw, Okla.  This is family of Oklahoma Bred Futurity(RG2) winner Regard With Respect and Black Gold 300 Futurity winner Corona With Friends.

Heavens Uncle had won his training race on Feb. 28 in a time of :13.53 at 250 yards. He stopped the timer for 330 yards on Monday in :16.827 for an 89 speed-index on the fast track.

Runner-up My Fancy Corona picked up $145,312 for his effort to boost his bankroll to $168,309 with two wins in three starts. Trainer Michelle Hurdle conditions the son of leading third-crop sire Kvn Corona for owner Dee Gragg. Javier Hernandez-Gallardo had the riding call on the 2-year-old gelding.

Winning owner-breeder Sherry Gilmore accepts the Remington Park Futurity stakes trophy and blanket on Monday at Remington Park.

Bred from the prolific Weetona Stanley female line of champions, My Fancy Corona is out of the young Pyc Paint Your Wagon mare My First Prize Fancy, a sister to five black type including Pyc Fun N Fancy, Im A Fancy Pyc, First Fancy Prize, Fast N Fancy and Pyc First Prize Fany.

Flirtacious Showboat, a $40,000 Heritage Place Yearling Sale graduate, earned $102,573 for third. Trainer Clinton Crawford conditions the daughter of leading sire Kiss My Hocks for owners Tyler and Naia Graham. Jorge Torres rode the bay filly out of the Ivory James mare Splish Splash, a half-sister to five black type including Heritage Place Derby(G2) winner Cuz Eye Said and OQHRA Futurity(RG3) winner Firstdown Goal To Go.

Flying Wrangler, Coronita Ko, Apocalyptical Moon, Rr Eagles Path and Iteas Jess completed the field.  Cowgirls Can Fly and Js Freighttrain were scratched.

Heavens Uncle paid $7.20 to win, $4.20 to place and $3.40 to show.

Remington Park racing continues this week with a Thursday-Sunday schedule, May 2-5. The first race on Thursday and Friday is 6pm. Saturday racing begins at Noon with eh simulcast of the Kentucky Derby featured at 5:55pm. Sunday racing starts at 4pm. All times are Central.

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Remington Park has provided more than $ 347 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 presents simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. The 2024 racing schedule begins Thursday, March 7, as the American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season starts its 50-date season. Parking and admission are always free. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.