Hott Temptation wins the sixth trial of the evening on Thursday under jockey Mario Delgado, earning the fastest qualifying time of the night for the $1,000,000 Heritage Place Futurity.

© Dustin Orona Photography

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—MAY 9, 2024– Hott Temptation finally broke through to break her maiden in her third attempt at Remington Park and did it in style Thursday night, winning her Heritage Place Futurity trial in the fastest time of the night.

The five fastest qualifiers at 350-yards on Thursday night will join with Friday’s five fastest to make up the 10 American Quarter Horses that will vie for a million-dollar purse in the Grade 1 Heritage Place Futurity. The richest horse race in Oklahoma is the headline event on the final night of the Remington Park season on Saturday, June 1.

Of course, Hott Temptation’s first two non-winning efforts weren’t exactly against your run-of-the-mill maidens, though.

Trainer Cody Noel sent this 2-year-old Quarter Horse daughter of Tempting Dash, out of the Tres Seis mare Pandorum, to post for the first time in her career on March 8 over a sloppy track and ran second, beaten only a head in the Oklahoma Futurity trials. She lost to Liberty for Jess, who did qualify for that futurity final.

Hott Temptation came right back in the $50,000 Oklahoma Juvenile Stakes and ran a competitive third, beaten only a length by This Eagles Armed. She has been ridden in all three starts by jockey Mario Delgado.

Hott Temptation’s winning romp for owner Reliance Ranches of Guthrie, Okla., came in the sixth race with an 8-mph tailwind. The night started with a tailwind of 12 mph and decreased to about 5 mph late in the card.

Hott Temptation won $8,838 for taking her trial and improved lifetime to three starts, one win, one second and one third for a total of $16,266 earned.

Last year, she was purchased at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale in New Mexico for $190,000. The gap between earnings and purchase price might sound like quite a chasm, but consider this. The winner of last year’s Heritage Place Futurity finals, San Lencho, earned $507,209 in that $1.2 million race. Hott Temptation will be one of the favorites moving forward for this year’s final.

Bred in Texas by Fulton Quien Sabe Ranches LP, Hott Temptation is a half-sister to two-time champion Hotstepper, Ruidoso Derby(G1) winner Hotsempting and Ed Burke Million Futurity(G1) runner-up In Hott Pursuit.

Trainer Juan Diaz, Jr., and jockey Nestor Duran were the only two to qualify more than one horse to the final on June 1, clawing their way in with the fourth- and fifth-fastest qualifiers of the night. Oklahoma Futurity winner Joose Boxx was the fourth qualifier while Kiss My Maruska, the Grade 2 Louisiana Downs Futurity runner-up, getting the last spot of the night.

Firey Eagle, a $30,000 Heritage Place Sale graduate racing for owner Dunn Ranch, got his second win in as many starts in trial 8 by defeating Oklahoma Futurity(G2) winner Joose Boxx by a neck. His time of :17.163, a 91 speed index with an 11 mph tailwind, was the night's second fastest.

Jed Vane named champion jockey Francisco Calderon to ride the Texas-bred colt by first-crop sire Gold Heart Eagle V from the graded-stakes producing Corona Cartel mare Sera Fina. Firey Eagle is a half-brother to Firecracker Futurity(G2) winner One Fine V and stakes-placed Sers Jess Fine V. Two-time champion All American Futurity(G1) winner Strawberry Silk is the third dam. Sammy Valeriano is the breeder.

Bouncing off a fifth-place effort in his career debut, A Line In The Sand broke his maiden in trial 4 for owner John Prather and trainer Jason Olmstead. The One Famous Eagle brother to stakes winner Jackies Famous Girl stopped the clock in 17.637 seconds, a 90-speed index with an 11 mph tailwind, to get the third-fastest clocking on night 1.

Christine Hudson bred the $22,000 Heritage Place Yearling graduate in Texas from the Fishers Dash mare This Dash Is Flying, a sibling to six black type including champion-leading sire Hes Relentless.

Grade 2 Oklahoma Futurity winner Joose Boxx suffered his first loss in three starts after he finished second to fellow qualifier Firey Eagle in trial 8. The son of leading sire Kiss My Hocks clocked :17.658 seconds, equaling a 90-speed index with an 11 mph tailwind to post the fourth qualifying time.

Juan Diaz, Jr. named jockey Nestor Duran to ride the $209,684 earner for owner Javier De Los Santos Muzquiz.  Gerry Lynn Signman and Diane Tatum bred the gray gelding in Texas from the Big Daddy Cartel mare Cd Daddys Home. The $100,000 TQHA Yearling Sale repurchase is from the family of champion Tiny First Down and grade 1 winner Tiny First Effort.

Grade 2-placed Kiss My Maruska returned to the winner's circle for the second time in his career after a dominating 1-1/2 length victory in trial 9. Jockey Nestor Duran was aboard his second qualifier for trainer Juan Diaz, Jr. The pair grabbed the final slot on Night 1 with a :17.660 clocking, a 90 speed index with a 7 mph tailwind.

Heavy Hitters Racing owns the Louisiana Downs Futurity(G2) runner-up from the Favorite Cartel mare Ms Highmaitenance. Tyler and Naia Graham bred the colt, who has already banked nearly $80,000 of his $88,000 TQHA Yearling Sale purchase price in just three starts.

For a list of Friday's five Heritage Place Futurity(G1) qualifiers, including times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys, CLICK HERE. The second five qualifiers will come from 12 trials to be contested Friday night (May 10) at Remington Park.

The $100,000  guaranteed Heritage Place Juvenile will be run back on June 1. First Preference is given to the horses entered with the second five fastest times on each day of the 2024 Heritage Futurity time trials; for a list of the second five fastest on night 1, CLICK HERE.

Remington Park racing continues Friday night with 12 more Heritage Place Futurity trials on tap. The five fastest horses from Thursday night and Friday will compete in the Grade 1 $1 million race on closing night, Saturday, June 1. First post time Friday and Saturday is 6 p.m. with a full card set to start at 4 p.m. on Sunday. All times are Central.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Remington Park has provided more than $ 349 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 simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. The 2024 racing schedule begins Thursday, March 7, as the American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season starts its 50-date season. Parking and admission are always free. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.