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FINAL FIELD OF 10 SET FOR GRADE 2 OKLAHOMA FUTURITY ON MARCH 23, IHEARTHETRAINAROLLIN FASTEST ON SECOND NIGHT OF TRIALS

by Richard Linihan

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – March 9, 2024 – Six horses that were purchased as yearlings for $100,000 or more, on Saturday, attempted to qualify for the finals of the Grade 2, $502,385 Oklahoma Futurity final set for March 23, but it was a bargain filly that proved to be fastest in eight trials.

The late, great man in black, Johnny Cash, would have been proud to see Ihearthetrainarollin, a $25,000 purchase by owner Javier Orozco of Amber, Okla., roll to the fastest time of the night. The Texas-bred filly was bought at the Texas Quarter Horse Association Yearling Sale last year and proved that was quite a purchase when she posted :15.542 for her 300-yard heat over the fast track. Jockey Jesus Olivas set her down for the charge to the line and she rewarded him and trainer Juvenal Licona-Vazquez with a speed index of 88.

The Oklahoma Futurity is for 2-year-old American Quarter Horses and Ihearthetrainarollin is a daughter of Freighttrain B, out of the Corona Cartel mare Beautiful Corona. Her training race fifth-place finish on Feb. 14 at Remington Park showed no foreshadowing of this huge effort, but her follow-up workout was quite impressive. She covered 220 yards from the gate on Feb. 23 in a time of :11.50. That was 24th fastest of 113 that worked 220 yards that morning. Gary Aber bred this filly in Texas.

Ihearthetrainarollin cruised to the victory, but was pushed every step of the way, only beating AJK Viejo Titan, the runner-up in her trial, by a head. That colt by Kiss My Hocks was the third-fastest qualifier tonight. Ihearthetrainarollin went off at 16-1 odds and paid $35 to win, $13.60 to place and $7.40 to show. This filly’s sire, Freighttrain B, has produced some precocious runners at 2 years old. One of those was American Quarter Horse Association World Champion Whistle Stop Café, who won nine races in a row to start her career as a juvenile, including the Grade 1 All American Futurity and the Grade 1 Rainbow Futurity, both at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico. She earned $2.2 million in her career and retired 9-of-10 lifetime, running second in her final race.

As an aside, only one of those six purchases of $100,000 or more in Saturday’s trials was able to qualify for the finals and that was second-fastest qualifier Miss Perrys Cowgirl, who sold at the Heritage Place September Yearling Sale in Oklahoma City for $150,000. Jockey Mario Delgado pushed this Flying Cowboy123 filly to the front in her race and won by 1-1/2 lengths in the final trial of the night. She is owned by Reliance Ranches (Micah McKinney) of Guthrie, Okla., and is trained by Cody Noel. She was bred in Oklahoma by Flag Ranch.

In an Oklahoma rarity, the wind was virtually non-existent, lingering under 5mph out of the north throughout the trials, providing a tailwind of very little assistance.

The fastest five horses from Friday and Saturday night’s trials qualified as the 10 finalists to the Oklahoma Futurity on March 23. The five tonight, with their jockey, trainer, trial number (race number), times and speed index were:

  • Ihearthetrainarollin, Jesus Olivas, Juvenal Licona-Vazquez, trial two (race four), :15.542, 88
  • Miss Perrys Cowgirl, Mario Delgado, Cody Noel, trial eight (race 10), :15.556, 88
  • AJK Viejo Titan, Rolando Raudales, Sacramento Chavez, trial two (race four), :15.571, 87
  • Billie Blues Girl, Jesus Salazar, Dee Keener, trial seven (race nine), :15.606, 86
  • Xpress Lane, Ruben Castro, Trey Wood, trial three (race five), :15.675, 84

The following were the qualifiers from Friday night:

  • Joose Box, Nestor Duran, Juan Diaz, Jr., trial four (race six), ;15.343, 95
  • Finn McOol, Roman Cruz, Dee Keener, trial four (race six), ;15.374, 94
  • Evidenz, Ricky Ramirez, Trey Wood, trial eight (race 10), ;15.442, 91
  • Liberty for Jess, Edwin Escobedo, Milton Broadnax, trial two (race four), ;15.463, 91
  • Cowboy Blue Z, Bryan Candanosa, Michael Joiner, trial one (race three), ;15.471, 90

This will be the 83rd edition of the historic Oklahoma Futurity. The race was first contested in 1947 and has been run at Remington Park since 2006.

Racing resumes Sunday at 4 p.m. Sunday’s racing card features trials for the Oklahoma Derby as well as the initial stakes races of the 2024 season, the Grade 2 SLM Big Daddy Stakes and the Mighty Deck Three Stakes.

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Remington Park has provided more than $345 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 presents simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. The 83rd edition of the historic Oklahoma Futurity, first contested in 1947, will be run Saturday, March 23. The American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season continues through June 1. Parking and admission are always free. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.