Remington: Favorites go down in richest races of Quarter Horse meet

The nation’s top-ranked older Quarter Horse and its leading 2-year-old were both upset in major stakes Saturday night, with Rylees Boy holding for a head win over Louisiana Senator in the Grade 1, $250,000 Remington Park Invitational, and High Rate of Return scoring by a half-length over Mighty B Valiant in the Grade 1, $1,029,950 Heritage Place Futurity.

The races were part of a seven-stakes program at Remington that made for the meet’s richest night of racing. Handle on the 12-race card from all sources was $773,764, with $223,751 of that amount bet ontrack. On the corresponding night a year ago, Remington handled $727,492 on an 11-race card, with $194,178 bet ontrack. The meet continues through Monday.

Rylees Boy ($17.20) defeated an all-star cast of older horses in the Invitational, when he won the 440-yard race in 21.18 seconds. Joe Ruiz rode the winner for owner-trainer Gerardo Ochoa-Pena.

The remaining order of finish was Streakin Down in third, followed by Freaky, Stolis Winner, Noconi, Favorite Cartel, Fishin Cr, Diamond For Jess, Feature Jess Rockin, Mr Truly Uno, and The Louisiana Cartel.

High Rate of Return ($13.20) went wire to wire in the Heritage Place Futurity, covering 350 yards in 17.42 seconds. Larry Payne was aboard for trainer Ed Hardy, who won last year’s Futurity with Givingitaroyaleffort.

High Rate of Return remained undefeated in three starts with the win Saturday. He races for L M R 2011.

In the night’s other major stakes, Capo de Capi ($62) took the $285,735 Heritage Place Derby under 69-year-old jockey Roy Brooks. Eddie Willis trains the horse for James Sills.