Racing


Nymeria Rallies To Score $1.1 Million Heritage Place Futurity At Remington Park
Nymeria, under jockey Jose Alvarez, winning the Grade 1, $1,154,700 Heritage Place Futurity Saturday night at Remington Park.

© Dustin Orona Photography
Nymeria Rallies To Score $1.1 Million Heritage Place Futurity At Remington Park

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—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."

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.

The winning connections of 2017 Heritage Place Futurity winner Nymeria. © Dustin Orona Photography
Havanah Goodtime is also the dam of last year's Heritage Place Futurity(G1) winner the aforementioned Duponte. Nymeria was a $19,500 TQHA Yearling Sale graduate.

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.

Heritage Place Futurity(G1) winner Nymeria and jockey Jose Alvarez, return to the Remington Park winner's circle Saturday night. © Dustin Orona Photography
Trainer Clinton Crawford saddled homebred Trace Dynasty to her second-place effort for owner/breeder Kathleen O. Matey. Champion jockey G.R. Carter, Jr. rode the FDD Dynasty filly out of Wowzer Won by Streakin Sixes. She earned $198,262 for the effort.

Stakes winner Pyc Fun N Fancy picked up $139,950 for third to boost his career earnings to $272,547. Winner of the Laico Bird Stakes and second in the Grade 3 Oklahoma Futurity, the son of Pyc Paint Your Wagon races for owner Jose Guzman and trainer Luz Chavira. Weetona Stanley bred the bay colt in Oklahoma from the Mr Jess Perry mare First Prize Fancy.

Bird Trian, Descent, Despain Gl and Olena Sangria completed the field. All American Stone, Every Chicks Favorite and Hez Our Boy were scratched.

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, $1,000,000 Heritage Place Futurity on June 3. Remington Park has provided over $167 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.