PYC LEGACY TRIUMPHANT IN GRADE 2 OKLAHOMA FUTURITY AT REMINGTON PARK

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — March 25, 2023 – Trainer Waylan Melton is hotter than Oklahoma asphalt in July. He won his second stakes race of the evening on Saturday at Remington Park, taking down the biggest one of the night with PYC Legacy in the Grade 2, $533,270 Oklahoma Futurity.

Melton also won the Eastex Stakes earlier on the 12-race card with Head Patron. Melton was moved to tears with his second trip to the winner’s circle.

“This is a really nice colt (PYC Legacy),” he said. “I’m just so thankful to be here and really choked up. I really want to thank the owners who have given me a chance.”

Jockey Juan Pulido was aboard for both stakes wins and he had a good feeling about getting back aboard PYC Legacy, 2-year-old gelding by PYC Fun N Fancy, out of the Tailgunner Tom mare Issys Legacy. Pulido had ridden the gelding to a 1-3/4 length victory in the futurity trials on March 11 here.

“It was pretty exciting,” Pulido said. “He broke great and it was really tight, but the way he finished. I helped break this horse at the farm and taught him how to rip from the gate. He is always business.”

PYC Legacy broke second in the race and was chasing a game 12-1 longshot, Dashin Hocks, all the way to the wire. When they stuck their noses down at the finish it was PYC Legacy’s that was the longest. PYC Legacy scored the victory at 300 yards in :15.353 over a fast track. Dashin Hocks ran :15.361. The winner earned a 94 speed index to the runner-up’s 93.

PYC Legacy went off as the 5-2 second favorite and paid $7.60 to win, $5.20 to place and $3.60 to show. He was a nose winner and Dashin Hocks finished a half-length ahead of third-place runner Pearl Hart (20-1). The post-time favorite, Piano Man Sam, who was also the fastest qualifier in the trials, got up for fourth at 5-2 odds. He had slightly more money wagered on him than the winner.

Owner Rito Sosa of Blanchard, Okla., seemed to bring the entire population from the small Oklahoma town as the winner’s circle overflowed with the joy of the moment. PYC Legacy earned $213,308 for the victory and is now 2-for-2 lifetime with $219,038 in a gaudy bankroll. He was bred in Oklahoma by Jonathan Chavira.

It was the first win for all the connections in the Oklahoma Futurity, the longest running futurity in American Quarter Horse racing, having run 82 times. Remington Park has hosted the Oklahoma Futurity regularly since 2006.

The rest of the order of finish was:

Kams Relentless (13-1) fifth, Colleys Cartel (7-2) sixth, Dodge City (24-1) seventh, Fly On Sister (25-1) eighth, JT True Grit (18-1) ninth and Fun N Fire (5-1) last. To be fair, Colleys Cartel, Fun N Fire, JT True Grit and Dodge City, the 2, 3, 4 and 5 horses in the gate, engaged in the battle of the bumps throughout the race, knocking each other sideways most of the way.

The 2023 Remington Park American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season continues Sunday with 11 races scheduled. Post time is 4 p.m.
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Tracked by more than 172,000 fans on Facebook and 10,700 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $316 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.