Remington: Bps Cartels Alibi scores 11-1 upset in $1.1 million Futurity

Bps Cartels Alibi edged El Duero by a head to win Oklahoma’s richest race, the Grade 1, $1.1 million Heritage Place Futurity for Quarter Horses, on Saturday night at Remington Park. Pyc Kant Katch Me, the race favorite and fastest qualifier, was a late scratch after he sat down in the starting gate.

Bps Cartels Alibi ($24.80) broke midpack, but found his way to the lead, and then held his ground while dueling with El Duero. Bps Cartels Alibi covered 350 yards on a fast track in 17.58 seconds. Ricky Ramirez was aboard for Raymundo Villarreal Jr., and trainer Trey Wood.

“We got away well, but we were in tight but I managed to get him through,” Ramirez said. “It was a small opening, but in a million dollar race we had to go for it. He’s not the best in getting away from the gate, but he got away well enough.”

Bps Cartels Alibi earned $440,398 for his win in the Heritage Place, which was his second career victory from three lifetime starts. He is a son of Corona Cartel, and was bred in Oklahoma by Bill Price.

Also on the card, 70-year-old jockey Roy Brooks guided Priceless Feature to a head win over Texasindependencegal in the Grade 2, $247,800 Heritage Place Derby for Quarter Horses. Priceless Feature ($21) was just the fifth mount this year for Brooks, and his second consecutive win in the Heritage Place Derby.

“He left much better today than he did in his trial,” Brooks said of Priceless Feature. “I knew we won when we hit the finish. I’ve said that I might retire once I won a big race at 70, but I may have to come back to win this again next year.”

Brooks rode Priceless Feature for Ed Melzer and trainer Eddie Willis. Willis has now won four runnings of the Heritage Place Derby, and Melzer, two. Priceless Feature covered 400 yards in 19.62 seconds, and for the win earned $104,076.