SC Time To Run (outside) battles Dollar Bill (inside) to win the Heritage Place Derby on Saturday at Remington Park. Jockey Francisco Calderon was up for the win.

© Dustin Orona Photography

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—JUNE 1, 2024–In one of the most thrilling finishes of the stakes-laden Champions Night card at Remington Park, SC Time To Run and Dollar Bill battled tooth and hoof to the wire with the former winning the photo finish by a head in the Grade 2, $239,050 Heritage Place Derby.

The win concluded a banner night for jockey Francisco Calderon, who also won the Grade 1 Junos Request and finished second in the Grade 1 Debbie Schauf Remington Park Championship. 

This win in the Derby aboard SC Time To Run was a bit of an upset as Calderon's mount went off at 12-1 odds. Dollar Bill was all out to get there at the wire but just couldn't as the even-money favorite.

"We broke really good," said Calderon. "He just got it at the wire. I just thought to myself, 'I hope we got there first.' Thank God we did."

He rode SC Time To Run to victory for Dunn Ranch, who had a chance to tie for leading owner of the meet with Reliance Ranches in the Heritage Place Futurity after this horse's victory, but came up just short.

They finished second to Kempton with Firey Eagle in the Futurity. In a somewhat ironic twist, SC Time To Run was bred in Oklahoma by Reliance Ranches, the breeder-owner Dunn Ranch was trying to catch.

Trainer Jed Vane was one who might have been surprised if you told him this horse would win the Heritage Place Derby at the end of the meet.

"He was really slow, coming around," Vane said. "We didn't run him until these Heritage Place Derby trials and he finished third in that. Now, he's running like we thought he could and he's a really nice horse."

It was the first win for SC Time To Run at the 400-yard distance after three other tries. In those three efforts, the best he could do was a third-place finish in the trials. He didn't hit the board in the other two.

Despite his troubles, this 3-year-old gelded son of Apollitical Jess, out of the Spit Curl Jess mare Spit Curl Diva, earned $100,401 for Dunn Ranch with the trip to the winner's circle and improved his career marks to 11 starts, four wins, one second and three thirds for a bankroll of $209,620. He still has a row to hoe to catch up to his purchase price of $335,000 at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale in 2022.

Running time for SC Time To Run was :19.548 for a speed-index of 97 over the fast track. At his 12-1 odds, he paid $27 to win, $10.40 to place and $5.60 to show.

Duran had the riding call aboard the Kiss My Hocks 3-year-old for owner Genesis Tovar and trainer Juan Diaz, Jr.  Tyler and Naia Graham bred the graded stakes winner in Texas from the Pyc Paint Your Wagon mare Jakes Painted Wagon. Dollar Bill has banked nearly $580,000 in 11 starts.

Behind the top two in the finish of the Derby were Believe in Perry (5-1), who was right there with the top pair in the photo, running a head behind Dollar Bill.

Trainer John Stinebaugh saddled third-place finisher Believe In Perry for owners Henry and Mimi Brown. Gary and Linda Gordon bred the Mr Jess Perry gelding in Texas from the Valiant Hero mare Believe Me Irene. Ridden by Ali Rivera, Believe In Perry earned $23,686 for the effort.

Those three were followed by Unrelentless (10-1) fourth, Cardiac Cowboy (7-2) fifth, MFS Cheerio (21-1) sixth, Jess a Rednec Cowboy (10-1) seventh, JC Prince of Torts (24-1) eighth and KG See If I Care (38-1) ninth. Politiko was scratched at the gate.

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Remington Park has provided more than $349 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.