SAN LORENZO TAY PULLS OFF MINOR UPSET IN RESTRICTED GRADE 1 $926,500 REMINGTON PARK FUTURITY

Sometimes it pays off to be away from the ruckus. While the two fastest qualifiers for the restricted Grade 1 $926,500 Remington Park Futurity were engaged in a battle, bouncing off each other near the rail, San Lorenzo Tay was sailing clear on the outside to win at 7-1 odds.

That’s a pretty good price for a horse that has won all three starts in his career. Even though he wasn’t among the fastest qualifiers, the 2-year-old Oklahoma-bred gelding had stumbled and was bumped in his trial back on April 2 and still managed to blow away his competition in that heat by two full lengths. Jockey Agustin Silva inherited the mount for the finals because leading rider here, Juan Pulido, had qualified both the winner and the fastest one in the trials, Mr Apollo Jess, the even-money post-time favorite. The peoples’ choice ran fifth after exchanging bumps throughout the race with Especially Jess, who ran last. They were the two fastest qualifiers in the trials, but couldn’t get out of each other’s way during the futurity final. Both San Lorenzo Tay and Mr Apollo Jess race out of trainer Kelly Heltzel’s barn.

Silva was all smiles in the winner’s circle, winning the largest priced purse of the meet thus far.

“I just closed my eyes and hoped for the best,” said Silva in the winner’s circle. “He was just awesome from gate to wire. Whatever I asked him to do, he did.”

It was the second time Silva had his picture taken in the Remington Park Futurity winner’s circle. He also won this race in 2016 for trainer Rick Robinson aboard Teller Baja.

San Lorenzo Tay began his career with a neck win in a maiden race at Remington Park on March 19 and followed that up with the troubled win in the trials. On Saturday night, Silva, in the saddle for the first time for him, pushed him to the front quickly after breaking third from the gate. He extended his lead to a half-length by the end of the race. EM High Country (20-1) ran second and Trapper Jon (26-1) was third, three-quarters of a length behind the runner-up. The remaining order of finish in the futurity was Nash Ridge (4th), Mr Apollo Jess (5th), Reimagine (6th), AJs Tres of Paint (7th), Dreams of the Heart (8th), Frist Prize Dash 2 (9th) and Especially Jess (10th).

“We went to the Heritage Place (September yearling sale) last year and we spent a whole day just looking and looking,” said owner Rogelio Marquez, Jr., of Rosenberg, Texas. “When I saw him, I said, ‘that’s my top pick. This is the one.’”

San Lorenzo Tay was purchased for $67,000 at the sale. On Saturday night he earned $370,600 and now has a total of $392,482 in his bankroll after only three starts, paying for himself almost six times over. He hit the wire in the 330-yard race in :16.668 for a speed index of 93. The 2-year-old gelded son of Ivory James, out of the First Down Dash mare Shes Dashin First, was bred in Oklahoma by Bobby D. Cox.

Remington Park racing continues on Sunday, April 18, with the first of 11 events at 6pm-Central.

Tracked by more than 165,000 fans on Facebook and 10,400 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $260 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 is home to the $1 million Heritage Place Futurity on May 29. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.

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