Ima China Rush heads Oklahoma Futurity
Futurity season has arrived in Oklahoma.
Remington Park puts on the first of the meet’s three major Quarter Horse stakes for 2-year-olds on Saturday night with the running of the Grade 3, $525,050 Oklahoma Futurity. The race is part of a rich series that continues with the Grade 2 Remington Park Futurity on April 22 and the Grade 1, $1 million Heritage Place Futurity on June 3.
Ima China Rush could go favored in the Oklahoma Futurity following a dominant trial win March 11 in which she set the fastest qualifying time for the finale. She covered 300 yards in 15.22 seconds on a muddy track, winning by 1 1/4 lengths over Chasin My Desire. The performance was so strong that Chasin My Desire, as well as Krash Master, who was third, also are in the finale Saturday.
There were a total of 17 time trials for the Oklahoma Futurity, which is limited to a field of 10. The race is being run for the 76th time and is the oldest American Quarter Horse futurity, according to officials with Remington.
Ima China Rush is a January foal who races for her breeder, Sherry Gilmore. She is trained by Guillermo Valdivia and will break from post 3 under Larry Payne, who was aboard for her trial win, which came in her debut. Ima China Rush is by the stallion Rushago.
The Oklahoma Futurity will go as the eighth race on a 12-race card that features five stakes. Purses for the program top $1 million. The other major stakes on the card is the Grade 3, $251,000 Oklahoma Derby for Quarter Horses.
Jess Kool Lady set the fastest qualifying time for the 350-yard Oklahoma Derby after she won her March 12 trial in 17.43 seconds. She won on a fast track by a 1 1/4 lengths, and Paul Nieto, who was aboard, has the mount again from post 4. Jess Kool Lady is looking for her fourth consecutive win Saturday.
Trainer Trey Wood qualified four horses for the Oklahoma Derby during the six trials and all are back in the finale: Myst Fit, Miss Racy Runaway, Bellissima Chocolata, and Cropped Top.