Tee Chic the one to beat in Oklahoma Futurity

Remington Park in Oklahoma City puts on Quarter Horse racing’s longest-running futurity on Saturday night with the 74th renewal of the Oklahoma Futurity. The Grade 2, $430,000 race is led by fastest qualifier Tee Chic. It will share a program with the $268,000 Oklahoma Derby.

The Oklahoma Futurity, which was first run in 1947, highlights a 12-race card which starts at 6 p.m. Central.

There were 15 trials for the Oklahoma Futurity on March 7, with Tee Chic setting the fastest qualifying time for the finale when he ran 300 yards in 15.45 seconds. He broke on top from the rail in the seventh race and never looked back for a 1 1/4-length win under Francisco Calderon, who again has the mount for trainer Rick Robinson.

Tee Chic, who races for his breeder, Francisco Garza, will break from post 4.

Cartel Jr, who was a 2 1/4-length winner of his trial, will break from post 7.

The Oklahoma Futurity is the first of the meet’s major races for 2-year-olds. Remington’s stakes calendar also boasts the Grade 2, $775,000 Remington Park Futurity on April 18 and the Grade 1, $1 million Heritage Place Futurity on May 30.

* Martha Claussen, of the American Quarter Horse Association’s fan education division, on Saturday night will lead a free seminar about the sport with trainer Amanda Buchanan Hadley and Remington racing analyst Kelly O’Hara. It will be held at 5:15 p.m. by the Racing Information office at Remington. The first 100 fans will receive a $2 betting voucher from the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association.