HEAVENS UNCLE MAKES SUCCESSFUL RETURN TO REMINGTON PARK, WINNING FEATURED ALLOWANCE

The prodigal son returned home to treasures Friday night at Remington Park as Heavens Uncle won the featured allowance race under jockey Bryan Candanosa as the 4-5 wagering favorite.

Heavens Uncle, a 3-year-old Oklahoma-bred gelding by Uncle D, out of the Streak and Dash mare Heavens Assured, had won the $855,000 Remington Park Futurity last year on April 29. No other horse in this field Friday night could match that resume.

Candanosa popped Heavens Uncle out of the gate a half-length in front of everyone and never gave an inch, winning at the wire by that same half-length. It was the third win in four tries for Heavens Uncle at Remington Park and $391,122 earned here for owner-breeder Sherry Gilmore of Sallisaw, Okla. Talk about a horse for the course. The sophomore gelding averages almost $100,000 every time he steps foot on this racetrack.

Trainer Guillermo Valdivia had Heavens Uncle on his toes and ready to fire and the gelding didn’t disappoint. He paid $3.80 to win, $2.40 to place and $2.20 to show. The winner stopped the timer for 300 yards in :15.215 seconds for a speed index of 101 over the fast track.

Heavens Uncle only won one time in four tries after leaving Remington Park last year, that coming in a futurity trial at Will Rogers Down in Claremore, Okla., on Sept. 9. After that, he finished seventh in that futurity final, then third in the Black Gold Futurity trials before checking in second in the finals of that big race at WRD.

Valdivia gave Heavens Uncle a little more than four months off to get him fresh for Remington Park as a 3-year-old and he started this sophomore season looking like the same horse that was a dominant juvenile here. Overall now, Heavens Uncle has raced eight times, winning four, running second twice and third once for a total bankroll of $463,019.

Heavens Uncle’s dam, Heavens Assured, had a little running ability too, winning three-of-six lifetime, including the Kansas Jackpot Futurity at Will Rogers Downs in 2013.

In Friday night’s battle, it was a tight finish from second through sixth place in the race for 3-year-olds-and-older (Oklahoma-breds) that had not won twice since Sept. 21 last year. Imaginacion (4-1) got up for second, a length in front of longshot Duanes Little Dee (30-1), who was a nose ahead of Paint Me Prettie (11-1) in fourth.

Remington Park racing continues Saturday and Sunday, March 22 & 23. Saturday, March 22 is Oklahoma Futurity night as the historic race leads a program with five other stakes events. Racing begins nightly at 6pm with Sunday afternoon racing at 4pm. All times are Central.

Remington Park has provided more than $376 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District, Remington Park presents year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. The 2025 American Quarter Horse Season, features the historic 84th edition of the Oklahoma Futurity on Saturday, March 22. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.

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