Jessies First Down gets year started in Remington Park Invitational Championship

Jessies First Down, a two-time world champion Quarter Horse, will launch his 8-year-old season in Saturday night’s Grade 1, $250,000 Remington Park Invitational Championship.

The race, run over 440 yards, is one of nine stakes on the closing-night card at Remington. The program is led by the Grade 1, $1,073,100 Heritage Place Futurity for Quarter Horses. First post for the 10-race program is 5 p.m. Central.

Jessies First Down last raced Dec. 30, winning the Grade 1 Championship at Sunland Park. The victory capped a 2018 campaign in which he won all four of his starts – all in Grade 1 races. Jessies First Down, who won the Remington Park Invitational in 2018, will break from post 4.

The Heritage Place Futurity is the richest race in Oklahoma. It will be run over 350 yards. There were 22 trials for the race held over two cards, and the fastest qualifier from each night of trials has returned for the finale Saturday.

Jesses Dashair won his May 10 trial by a neck, covering 350 yards on a track labeled wet-fast in 17.39 seconds. He will break from post 4, with Ricky Ramirez to ride for trainer Trey Wood.

Jay Number 7 won his May 11 trial by 1 1/4 lengths, covering 350 yards on a track rated muddy in 17.36. He will break from post 2 with James Flores to ride for trainer Sam Valdivia.

Charlies Fury was the fastest qualifier during the seven trials run for the Grade 2, $367,750 Heritage Place Derby.

◗ First post for the remaining Saturday cards at Louisiana Downs will be 3:15 p.m. Central. The lone exception will be Super Derby Day, when first post will be noon, according to Eric Halstrom, vice president of operations for the Bossier City track. First post on Saturdays had been 12:55 p.m., but the later start time is expected to be a more competitive fit for the track’s simulcast signal.