KEMPTON REMAINS UNDEFEATED IN IMPRESSIVE HERITAGE PLACE FUTURITY VICTORY AT REMINGTON PARK

by Richard Linihan

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – June 3, 2024 – Kempton has been through fire this Remington Park season but somehow remained undefeated after three races to start his career, including Saturday’s Grade 1, $1,081,820 Heritage Place Futurity.

In the 2-year-old American Quarter Horse’s first race of his career, he was banged hard coming out of the gate and still had an eye-opening win, passing several horses to get to the front and win by a full length in a trial for the Oklahoma Futurity on March 9. Trainer James “JJ” Gonzalez III’s assistant Sebastian Gonzalez said the young colt by Kiss My Hocks had to be laid up until the Heritage Place Futurity trials to heal up from the minor injuries.

“He really deserved this after all he’s been through,” said Sebastian Gonzalez after the race. “I knew if he could get out and be clean after the first two jumps he would win.”

“This horse has overcome all the adversities,” said owner Mario Lozano-Cantu of Mission, Texas.

It was jockey James Flores’ third stakes win of the Champions Night, the final evening of the season, but this one proved most lucrative.

Kempton, out of the Corona Cartel mare Charming Cartel, earned $454,364 for the victory and improved lifetime to three-for-three trips to the winner’s circle and a bankroll of $468,986. He was bred in Texas by Tyler Graham and Namgis QHs.

Flores knew from the start when Kempton won his training race at Remington Park on Feb. 21 that he was going to be a star.

“He has been a pro from the start,” said Flores, who also won the Speedhorse Graham Paint and Appaloosa Stakes and the Speedhorse Graham Paint and Appaloosa Futurity on Saturday. “When he schooled, he showed tremendous promise. His demeanor is so good. He’s the whole package. He showed he’s a racehorse and I couldn’t be more grateful.”

Kempton, after being the fastest qualifier in the trials for the Heritage on May 10 with a time of :17.500, his second career win when he won by two full lengths. When he broke on top in the final, it was over. Flashing speed and increasing stride with each yard in the 350-yard race, Kempton blew his competition away by 1-1/4 lengths at the end. He improved his time to :17.402 in the final for a 97 speed-index over the fast track.

Kempton was the 8-5 wagering favorite and paid $5.40 to win.

Firey Eagle (9-1 odds) checked in second, a head in front of third-place finisher Kiss My Maruska (9-2). The rest of the order of finish was Joose Boxx (7-1) in a dead-heat for fourth with Curls Magic Wagon (7-1), followed by Hott Temptation (32-1) sixth, Im Missmerized (12-1) seventh, A Line in the Sand (50-1) eighth, Rainbow of Diamonds (6-1) ninth and House of Lords (8-1) 10^th.

It was the first win in the Heritage Place Futurity for all connections of Kempton.

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Remington Park has provided more than $349 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 2024 Thoroughbred Season will begin on August 16. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.