OKLAHOMA FUTURITY WINNER TRES CRYSTALS MAKES 95-YEAR-OLD OWNER and 19-YEAR-OLD JOCKEY A HAPPY COUPLE
Everyone was amazed in 2019 when they saw the spritely spring in the step of 92-year-old owner Elizabeth Logan winning the Oklahoma Futurity. You can imagine the joy of the Remington Park crowd when she won it again Saturday night, now at 95 years of age.
Logan’s bright and shiny face lit up the winner’s circle again as the Haskell, Okla., resident celebrated with Tres Crystals taking down the Grade 2, $440,800 Oklahoma Futurity for 2-year-old Quarter Horses at 300 yards. She won the 2019 edition of the race with EC Revenge
Not bad for a woman who grew up as a California girl who was afraid of horses.
“It’s just so wonderful to be here,” Logan said after her second win in this futurity. “I have a good trainer and good jockey. What more can I ask for?”
Dee Keener, who won for the third time on Saturday night by winning the futurity, padded his lead at top trainer at Remington Park this meet. He has 12 wins so far, three better than Santos Carrizales, Jr., and six more than 12-time training title holder at Remington, Eddie Willis. Ty Blackwell and Stacy Charette-Hill also have six.
Keener, enjoying his second Oklahoma Futurity score as well, was about out of words after his third victory on the evening.
“I’m just happy for Mrs. Logan,” he said.
The most amazing sight in the winner’s circle was the stark difference between Logan and her jockey, Bryan Candanosa, who is 19 years old. Candanosa, whose uncle Adalberto Candanosa last rode at Remington Park in 2012, is quickly approaching the money earned by his relative.
After adding this trophy to Bryan’s resume in a career that just started in 2018, his horses have earned north of $2 million. Adalberto finished his North American riding career in 2012 with a total of $5.6 million accumulated. Candanosa watched him ride as a young kid and also focused on Gilbert Ortiz, a long-time leading rider at Sam Houston Race Park and on the Louisiana circuit. Candanosa was born in Dallas and attended high school there, galloping horses as a teen.
He looked like a true pro for Keener, almost equaling his biggest money win of his career. Candanosa’s victory aboard Tres Crystals was worth $176,320 for Logan. His biggest win prior to Saturday night came aboard Cruzin Cartel in the Grade 2 TQHA Sale Futurity at Retama Park near San Antonio when he won $180,720 in 2020.
It’s hard to believe he has made such a sonic boom on the racing circuit already when he looks like he should be checking into his home room middle school class after riding with his baby face. He rode like a champion Saturday, getting Tres Crystals righted after she didn’t break all that well from the gate.
“She could do better than that,” he said. “We were gunning all the way down the lane. I rode her in her schooling race and won, and her trial was really good, so I was really confident tonight.”
Tres Crystals finished the race in a time of :15.498 for 300 yards for a speed index of 88. He hit the line in a furious finish that saw the fastest qualifier in the trials, Jessa Beast, just miss in second by a head. Third-place Sunday Sylence was another half-length behind. Jessa Beast’s stablemate, Ricanelo, checked in fourth. The rest of the finishers were Southern Seis, Fancy Scarface, Ima Bigg Rush, Cartels Dasher, Return My Corona and Capo On Fire.
This was the 81st edition of the Oklahoma Futurity, the longest-running futurity in the sport of American Quarter Horse Racing. It’s first running took place in 1947. The race has been held regularly at Remington Park since 2006.
Fancy Scarface was the betting public’s favorite at 8-5 odds, but could do no better than sixth place. Tres Crystals went off at 6-1 and paid a healthy $15 to win, $6.20 to place and $4.40 to show. Jessa Beast was the second wagering favorite at 2-1.
Tres Crystals, a gelded son of Tres Seis from the Walk Thru Fire mare Crystal Sola was bred in Texas by Simmons Racing and was purchased for $30,000 from the 2021 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.
In two races, both wins, Tres Crystals has accumulated $172,104. Now Logan may even be able to purchase a new shiny, silver Lincoln to replace the 2018 version she drives through the town of Haskell.
Tracked by more than 168,000 fans on Facebook and 10,600 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $286 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 will feature the richest futurity for state-breds, the $925,000 (estimated) Remington Park Futurity on April 16. Simulcast horse racing is featured daily at Remington Park and the casino is always open! Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
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