Relentless American, under jockey Ramiro Garcia, drives to the fastest time from seven trials contested today for the $358,864 Black Gold Futurity Championship(RG3) at Will Rogers Downs.

© Coady Photography

CLAREMORE, OK–OCTOBER 28, 2024–Starting off a win in the Mystery Futurity last month, Relentless American raced to the fastest qualifying time for the $358,864 Black Gold Futurity Championship(RG3) for colts & geldings at Will Rogers Downs Monday afternoon.

The 10 fastest qualifiers from seven trial races contested today will return to the Northeastern Oklahoma raceway on Tuesday, November 12, to vie for the $143,545 winner's purse.

Multiple stakes winner Relentless American drifted in under jockey Ramiro Garcia as he completed the 400 yards in 19.906 seconds, a 94-speed index into a 30 mph crosswind.  The son of champion sire Hes Relentless posted the fastest time of the day while defeating fellow qualifier Finn McOol by 1-1/4 lengths.

Trainer Jason Olmstead saddled half the qualifiers, including the two fastest.

Relentless American, an Oklahoma homebred for owner Tom Maher, has won eight of nine starts this year, including Mystery Futurity and Remington Park Juvenile. Bred by Tom and his brother Bill Maher, from the Tres Seis mare Tritoon, Relentless American has banked nearly $170,000 this season.

In the fifth trial, Olmsted tapped jockey Francisco Ramirez, Jr. to ride Relentless Pursuit to the second fastest time of 19.867 seconds, a 93-speed index into a 30 mph crosswind.

Charles and Elizabeth Horton are the owner-breeders of the Oklahoma-bred gelding out of Redheads Run Hotter by One Sweet Jess. The multiple-stakes finalist has won four of eight starts and earned $53,245. He qualified for the Mystery Futurity and the Prairie Meadows Gold Futurity.

CLICK HERE for the list of Black Gold Futurity Championship qualifiers, with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys.