Dark NME Easily Scores the Remington Park Futurity on Saturday. Jockey Francisco Ramirez, Jr. was up for the triumph.

© Dustin Orona Photography

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—APRIL 22, 2023—Like a rocket on liftoff, Dark NME fired through the night and blasted her way into the winner’s circle for the Restricted Grade 1, $804,150 Remington Park Futurity on Saturday night.

The race is for eligible Oklahoma-bred 2-year-olds.

Dark NME was almost in a different time zone before her competitors even knew the race was on. Jockey Francisco Ramirez, Jr., stepped on the gas, making Dark NME’s foes look like they were all going in reverse. When the smoke cleared, Dark NME had won the finals by an amazing 2-1/2 lengths.

The 2-year-old daughter of Hes Relentless, out of the Spit Curl Jess mare Quions, was almost a mirror of herself in the Futurity trials back on April 6 when she won that race by two lengths.

"I’ve been on her back for about a month now," said Ramirez. "Believe it or not, she was pretty green in that trial and I thought she was better than she showed. I had to ask her to run in that one."

Dark NME is showing the same kind of ability as her sire, Hes Relentless, who was the 2014 American Quarter Horse Association Champion 3-year-old Colt. He won $616,380, winning five of 18 starts in his racing career. He has continued to pass that on to his progeny.

Coming in second after most of the crowd had gone home was Especially Goodcandy (16-1), who was three-quarters of a length ahead of Hamlyn (9-2) in third.

Dark NME was bet down to 7-5 favoritism and paid $4.80 to win, $3.80 to place and $3 to show.

This speedy filly was a $65,000 buy in the 2022 Heritage Place September Yearling Sale by owners TYKHE Racing of Mission, Texas. She now has won twice in two tries for a total of $337,062. She won $328,224 for Saturday night’s victory.
Trainer Santos Carrizales, Jr. enjoyed his third Remington Park Futurity win. He saddled the dead-heat victors in 2022 with PYC Avenue and San Lorenzo ivory. Dark NME gave her owner and jockey their first win in the race.

Dark NME covered the 330 yards in :16.402, earning a 103 speed index on the fast track. The track record for the distance is :16.295, set by 5-year-old Apollitical Redflash this meet on March 16 this year.

Winless in two starts, Especially Goodcandy earned $139,395 for her second-place effort. Trainer Trey Wood conditions the Oklahoma homebred for owner-breeder's Mark and Annett McCloy.  Champion jockey Ricky Ramirez rode the filly out of Sam Houston Futurity(G2) winner and All American Futurity(G1) finalist Especially Tres, by Dashair.

Also by Hes Relentless, Hamlyn finished third under jockey Edwin Escobedo to pick up $90,262. Jason Olmstead trains the royally-bred gelding, out of the Corona Cartel mare Itea, a sister to Rainbow Futurity(G1) Ms First Prize Rose and Grade 1 sire Coronado Cartel, for owner Tom Maher. William E. Smith bred the $99,154 earner.

A $48,000 Heritage Place Yearling Sale graduate, Hamlyn is a half-brother to thee black type.

The final results of the Futurity were as follows:

1. Dark NME, 16.402, 103 speed index
2. Especially Goodcandy, :16.794, 91
3. Hamlyn, :16.901, 87
4. JT Im That Boy, :17.042, 83
5. Countess Tres Seis, :17.156, 80
6. Acapulco Bay, :17.196, 78 (dead heat)
7. Ace Hygh, :17.196, 78 (dead heat)
8. MH Tres Bird, :17.676, 64

Scratched from the futurity were As Moonflash and JB Kool Jess.
 

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Tracked by more than 174,000 fans on Facebook and 10,700 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $317 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 features the 2023 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa season through June 3. Remington Park presents simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.