Racing


Sunnysyde Dominates The Million-Dollar Heritage Place Futurity At Remington Park
Sunnysyde wins the $1,024,840 Heritage Place Futurity by two lengths on Saturday at Remington Park. Jockey Jorge Linares was up to win the richest race in Oklahoma.

© Dustin Orona Photography
Sunnysyde Dominates The Million-Dollar Heritage Place Futurity At Remington Park

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—JUNE 2, 2018—It didn’t take long for Sunnysyde to find his top stride from his outside post position, rolling on to an impressive two-length win in Oklahoma’s richest race, the $1,024,840 Heritage Place Futurity.

The Grade 1 event became a personal playground for the son of leading sire Heza Fast Dash.

Owned by the Fort Worth, Texas partnership of Cox-Lane, LLC and trained by Josue Ponce, Sunnysyde was ridden by Jose Linares.

The 2-year-old colt won just his second career start. He qualified in his May 12 trial despite running second, overcoming some traffic near the start and producing a furious rush to contend.

Sunnysyde won the 350-yard Heritage Place Futurity in :17.141 over a fast track, a new stakes record for the race. Wokatee On Fire was second while Unlymited was third, 2-1/2 lengths behind the winner. Aqua Flash, the top qualifier for the race from trials on May 11, was the beaten wagering favorite at 2-1 odds, running sixth.

The winning connections of Heritage Place Futurity(G1) winner Sunnysyde accept the Heritage Place Trophy saddles Saturday night at Remington Park.
© Dustin Orona Photography
Sunnysyde was away at 9-2 odds and paid $11.40 to win, $6.80 to place and $4.60 to show. Wokatee On Fire paid $11 to place and $6.60 to show. Unlymited returned $4.20 to show.

Bred in Texas by Bobby Cox, Sunnysyde is a colt from the Ivory James mare Havanah Goodtime. This is the third consecutive Heritage Place Futurity winner credited to the broodmare Havanah Goodtime. She also foaled 2016 winner Duponte and 2017 winner Nymeria. Earlier this year Havanah Goodtime became one of youngest mares in history to receive the Dam of Distinction honor from the American Quarter Horse Association.

Sunnnysyde, under jockey Jorge Linares, after posting the fastest time ever for the Grade Heritage Place Futurity at Remington Park. © Dustin Orona Photography
Sunnysyde is also the third straight Heritage Place Futurity win for Ponce as a trainer. He also conditioned Duponte and Nymeria. Ponce also saddled this year’s third-place finisher, Unlymited.

Shortly after the race Ponce indicated Sunnysyde could be headed to Ruidoso Downs to compete in the $3 million All American Futurity(G1) trials this summer.

The Heritage Place Futurity win is worth $430,433 for Sunnysyde, making him the #1 Leading Money Earning Quarter Horse of 2018.

Runner-up Wokatee On Fire is a Texas-bred son of first-crop sire Highest Fire owned by Servando Montemayor picked up $174,223 for his second-place effort. Bobby Martinez saddled the 2-year-old out of Wokatee by Shazoom. Remington Park's 2018 leading rider James Flores as aboard. Montemayor and Martinez are co-breeders.

Unlymited, co-owned by Bobby Cox and Kristen Paredes, earned $122,981 for finishing third. Also trained by Ponce, the bay son of leading sire Corona Cartel is out of the First Down Dash mare All About Ease. Manuel Gutierrez had he riding assignment.

Little Kool Belle, Symbol Of Faith, Aqua Flash, Slayer, Vf Jedi Returns, Jakes Baby Wagon completed the field. Special Candy High did not finish.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Tracked by over 140,000 fans on Facebook and more than 9,600 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided over $192 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Remington Park, Oklahoma City’s only Racetrack & Casino, is home to the $1,024,840 Heritage Place Futurity, on Saturday, June 2. Located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, Remington Park is 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.