JET BLACK GRACE WINS FOR OWNER’S LATE GRANDPA, WINS RICHEST RACE IN OKLAHOMA HISTORY – $1,314,980 HERITAGE PLACE FUTURITY

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – June 1, 2021 – The owner of Jet Black Grace had tears in his eyes as he dedicated his horse’s win in Oklahoma’s richest race in history, the Grade 1 $1,314,980 Heritage Place Futurity on Saturday night.

“This win is dedicated to my grandpa,” said Pedro Ortiz-Castillo of Forney, Texas, representative for Zitro Racing Corp. “He passed away. I can’t believe we just won. I’m speechless. We’re going to celebrate tonight.”

Jet Black Grace, a 2-year-old gelded son of Jet Black Patriot, out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Thrill and Grace, glided to the wire from the post-position nine passing Political Rose just prior to the wire to win by a neck. Remington Park leading rider Juan Pulido cruised aboard the winner to his first win in this race. It was also the first victory in the Heritage Place Futurity for trainer Fidencio Jimenez and the owner.

“He was all focused tonight,” said Pulido. “He finished so strong.”

Jet Black Grace, despite remaining undefeated after three starts, was sent to the post at 8-1 odds and returned to his backers $18 to win, $8.20 to place, and $4.80 to show.

“I really thought he was going to run big,” said Jimenez. “He was a lot quieter (calm) today. I thought he’d give us a good try.”

Political Rose, the fastest qualifier from the second night of trials (May 8) for the Heritage Place Futurity, was sent off at generous 4-1 odds and ran 1-1/4 lengths in front of third-place finisher AJs Tres of Paint (3-1). The favorite at 2-1, LS Jacks Back, could do no better than fifth after breaking well, but then getting a nice bump from an outside rival.

Running time for the winner at 350 yards was :17.455 over a fast surface, for a speed index of 92. He earned $552,292 for the victory and improved his record to three-for-three and his lifetime earnings jumped from $19,024 to $571,316 in less than 18 seconds.

Jet Black Grace was bred in Texas by Fulton Quien Sabe Ranches Lp.

The Heritage Place Futurity purse this year was a 59 percent increase over last year’s $826,260 purse, cut during the pandemic. Prior to this year’s race, the largest purse for this race was 2015 when BV Midnite Express won, racing for a purse of $1,170,000. The Futurity first hit the $1 million mark in 2008. This year’s edition is the richest race thus far that has run before Labor Day when the richest race of the year, the $3 million All American Futurity. It also is the richest Quarter Horse race ever run east of Ruidoso Downs.

The final order of finish for this year’s Heritage Place Futurity was:

• Jet Black Grace, jockey Juan Pulido, trainer Fidencio Jimenez, :17.455, 92 speed index
• Political Rose, Jesus Ayala, Monty Arrossa, :17.513, 91
• AJs Tres of Paint, Rodrigo Vallejo, Troy Carter, :17.736, 84
• Dreamsville, Rolando Raudales, Dee Kenner, :17.815, 82
• LS Jacks Back, Francisco Calderon, John Stinebaugh, :17.858, 81
• Sassalitical, Jorge Torres, Clint Crawford, :17.873, 80
• Relentless Anywhere, Jimmy Brooks, Eddie Willis, :17.943, 78
• PYCfastandfamous, Benito Baca, Stacy Charette-Hill, :18.105, 74
• Fiery Passage, Cristian Esqueda, Stacy Charette-Hill, :18.243, 70
• Sir Vyval, James Flores, Monty Arrossa, :18.315, 68

The final racing program of the 2021 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season at Remington Park takes place on Sunday, May 30. The first race is at 1:30pm-Central.
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Tracked by more than 167,000 fans on Facebook and 10,400 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $261 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 live and simulcast horse racing, and the casino is always open! Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.