HEAVENS UNCLE CONCLUDES HUGE WEEK FOR JOCKEY BRYAN CANDANOSA, WINNING $854,775 REMINGTON PARK FUTURITY

by Richard Linihan

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – April 29, 2024 – Jockey Bryan Candanosa concluded a massive winning week by scoring the $854,775 Remington Park Futurity with Heavens Uncle on Monday.

It was the second futurity win for Candanosa in as many nights as he also took down the $161,600 American Paint Classic Futurity on Sunday with Painted to Be Quick. He took five trips to the winner’s circle in the past 16 races over two days and his horses’ earnings this past week were $553,672. The next highest jockey for the week was Roman Cruz’s $179,521.

Heavens Uncle, a 2-year-old gelded American Quarter Horse son of Uncle D, out of the Streak and Dash mare Heavens Assured, just got up for the victory by a head over My Fancy Corona (5-1), flying from the outside 10-post. Heavens Uncle looked a lot like his sire (dad) as he roared to victory. Uncle D won a Heritage Place Futurity trial at Remington Park in 2019 and then was the runner-up in that million-dollar final to Uptowne Babe.

“He ran a really good trial,” Candanosa said of Heavens Uncle. “I was super excited about riding him in this one.”

Candanosa won 6-of-22 starts this past week for a 27-percent win rate. He tied for most wins in the week with leading rider Ali Rivera.

Trainer Guillermo Valdivia said his winner is an amazing horse.

“He has done everything right since his schooling race,” Valdivia said. “I’m just so blessed to have this horse in my barn. I thank God. He showed a lot of speed in his training race and has just gotten better and better.”

Valdivia’s horses’ earnings for the week were $465,832, compared to Toby Keeton’s $171,267. Valdivia also won the Easy Date Stakes on Monday with Relentless Diamond.

Heavens Uncle pushed away from the gate as the 5-2 wagering favorite and never was headed as he scored from the 1-post position. He had won his trial on April 12 by 2-1/2 lengths then Candanosa got into the irons for the first time on him.

Heavens Uncle earned $359,005 for the Remington Park Futurity and is now improved to three starts, two wins and one second for a bankroll of $371,832. He was bred by owner Sherry Gilmore of Sallisaw, Okla.

Heavens Uncle had won his training race on Feb. 28 in a time of :13.53 at 250 yards. He stopped the timer for 330 yards on Monday in :16.827 for an 89 speed-index on the fast track.

Flirtacious Showboat (6-1) checked in third, another nose back of the runner-up. The rest of the order of finish was Flying Wrangler (7-2) fourth, Coronita KO (9-1) fifth, Apocalyptical Moon (7-2) sixth, RR Eagles Path (9-1) seventh and Iteas Jessy (19-1) eighth. Cowgirls Can Fly and Js Freightrain were both pre-race scratches.

Heavens Uncle paid $7.20 to win, $4.20 to place and $3.40 to show.

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Remington Park racing continues this week with a Thursday-Sunday schedule, May 2-5. The first race on Thursday and Friday is 6pm. Saturday racing begins at Noon with eh simulcast of the Kentucky Derby featured at 5:55pm. Sunday racing starts at 4pm. All times are Central.

Remington Park has provided more than $347 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 Remington Park 2024 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season continues through June 1 with the biggest racing program of the season. The Champions Night boasts total purses in excess of $2,000,000, led by the $1,000,000 Heritage Place Futurity. 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.