OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—MARCH 25, 2017—The historic Oklahoma Futurity enjoyed its richest running ever on Saturday night with a purse of $525,050. Top qualifier Ima China Rush took down the bulk of the purse money as she lived up to her status as the 8-5 betting favorite, winning by a half-length.

Owned and bred in Oklahoma by Sherry Gilmore of Sallisaw, Okla., Ima China Rush is trained by Guillermo Valdivia. Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame jockey Larry Payne had the mount and knew his filly meant business when the starting gates opened.

"She left there really hard, towards the front of the race," Payne noted of his start on the winner. "There were a couple of horses on the outside that was heads apart with her. That last hundred-yards she put them away pretty good."

Ima China Rush had plenty of energy left for the Oklahoma Futurity, even after she reared up on her hind legs in the post parade, forcing Payne to dismount until she calmed down. The 2-year-old filly crossed the 300-yard finish line in 15.286 seconds over a fast track. Pyc Fun N Fancy was a game second while Piloto Strong was 1-1/2 lengths behind the winner in third place.

Perfect in two career starts, Ima China Rush made $210,020 in the Oklahoma Futurity. The filly by Rushago from the Pyc Paint Your Wagon mare Ima Pyc China Doll, now has a total bankroll of $215,750.

Racing for owner Jose Emesto Guzman and trainer Luz Chavira, Pyc Fun N Fancy picked up $89,253 for her second-place effort. The daughter of leading sire Pyc Paint Your Wagon is a brother to 2014 Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Futurity(RG3) winner Im A Fancy Pyc and 2016 Speedhorse Futurity(G3) winner Fast N Fancy.

Daniel Torres had the riding call aboard the Weetona Stanley Oklahoma-bred colt from the Mr Jess Perry mare First Prize Fancy, a sister to two Remington Park Futurity(G1) winners and one Heritage Place Futurity(G1) winner.

Third place finisher Piloto Strong is by All American Futurity(G1) winner Mr Piloto from the Strawfly Special mare Strength In Numbers. Raymond Merrill and Renee Wilson own the $22,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate. Clinton Crawford trains with Agustin Silva getting the riding assignment. Bred in Louisiana by Grant Farms LLC, Piloto Strong earned $57,576.

Ima China Rush paid $5.40 to win, $4 to place and $3.40 to show. Pyc Fun N Fancy returned $5.20 to place and $3.40 to show. Piloto Strong paid $6.60 to show.

The remaining order of finish in the Oklahoma Futurity was: Unconquerable (4th), Ima Louisiana Girl (5th), Tres Of Elegants (6th), Chasin My Desire (7th), Im Jess Sweet (8th) and Krash Master (9th). Lions Express scratched from the race earlier in the day.

The Oklahoma Futurity is the longest-running race of its kind in American Quarter Horse racing. The 76th running was the first win for Gilmore and Valdivia since the race has been held regularly at Remington Park, starting in 2006. Payne has now won the race four times since it moved to Oklahoma City.

The 2017 American Quarter Horse Season at Remington Park continues Sunday, March 26 with the first race at 1:30pm.

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Tracked by over 119,000 fans on Facebook and 8,400 Twitter followers, Remington Park is the home of the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Futurity on Saturday, March 25. Remington Park has provided over $165 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.