Racing


Uptowne Babe Was Greatest $40,000 Buyback Ever, Winning $963,100 G1 Heritage Place Futurity
Uptowne Babe (#10) wins the Grade 1 Heritage Place Futurity at Remington Park on Saturday. Jockey Rolando Raudales was up for victory.

© Dustin Orona Photography
Uptowne Babe Was Greatest $40,000 Buyback Ever, Winning $963,100 G1 Heritage Place Futurity

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK— JUNE 1, 2019—There are likely a lot of people who attended the Ruidoso Yearling Sale in 2018 that will be kicking themselves in the morning, especially after Uptowne Babe won the Grade 1, $963,100 Heritage Place Futurity at Remington Park on Saturday night.

This 2-year-old filly's owner, Sam Green of Monett, Mo., who also bred the winner, put her in the sale in New Mexico, hoping a horse of her pedigree would bring a pretty penny.

"But when she didn't bring the price I thought a Mr Jess Perry filly should bring, I bid on her myself and brought her back home," said Green.

Uptowne Babe went for $40,000 in the sale and on Saturday night alone, she earned 10 times that, by winning the biggest race of the Remington Park meet, pocketing $404,502 for the Heritage Place Futurity, the richest race in Oklahoma.

The winning connections of Uptowne Babe accept Heritage Place Futurity(G1) stakes trophies on Saturday night at Remingtn Park. © Dustin Orona Photography
Uptowne Babe has now won two of five starts, her other win being a trial for the $895,210 Remington Park Futurity in April. She was the fastest qualifier for that race but could only manage third in that final, beaten only a neck. Her earnings coming into the Heritage Place Futurity were $108,155, but her purse strings broke with the additional money as she now boasts $512,657. That's the best $40,000 bargain sale ever.

"She was a beautiful baby," said Green, who owns the mama. Uptown Babe is by Mr Jess Perry, out of the FDD Dynasty mare Ms Southern Dynasty. "I bid on her and brought her home to Bill (Guillermo) Valdivia and he did a fantastic job training her and Pedro here (Hernandez-Pulido, now training her) did a wonderful job finishing her off."

Jockey Rolando Raudales has been aboard Uptowne Babe for all five of her starts and he was beside himself with glee in the winner's circle.

"She broke on top and got out there running and they weren't going to catch her," said Raudales, a first-time winner of the Heritage Place Futurity, as well as the rest of the connections. "I was glad she did. I'm excited about all this."

Heritage Place Futurity(G1) winning jockey Rolando Raudales. © Dustin Orona Photography
Uptowne Babe held on to win over the highly-touted Uncle D by three-quarters of a length. Despite being the fifth-fastest qualifier for the finals, he was backed by the public as the betting favorite at 9-5 odds. Uptowne Babe went off at 9-1 odds. Uncle D was another half-length in front of third-place finisher Jesse D. Jay Number 7, the fastest qualifier for the finals, ran a disappointing fifth, at 3-1 odds.

Uptowne Babe's winning time was 17.632 seconds, which earned her an 86 speed index. She paid $21.60 to win, $8.20 to place and $5.20 to show.

A $170,00 Heritage Place September Yearling Sale graduate, Uncle D earned $163,727 for his Heritage Futurity effort. Trainer Clinton Crawford conditions the son of leading sire Corona Cartel for owner Cavenaugh Quarter Horses LLC. McColee Land & Livestock LLC bred the brown colt from the First Down Dash mare Little Surfer, a sister to world champion Wave Carver and three-time champion Ocean Runaway. Cody Smith had the riding call.

Eddie D. Willis saddled third-place finisher Jesse D for owner Larry Rice. Flag Ranch LLC bred the Jess Louisiana Blue gelding in Oklahoma from the Tempting Dash mare Sonny D. Ridden by Jimmy Brooks, Jess D picked up $115,572 to boost his earnings mark to $130,874.

Jess B One, Jay Number 7, Apollitical J Twin 1, Favorit Shake, Hey Lookee Here Pepper Ryan and Jesses Dashair completed the field.

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Remington Park is always open for casino gaming. Simulcast horse racing is offered daily. Admission, parking and valet parking are always free at Remington Park. Guests must be 18 or older in order to wager on horse racing or to enter the casino.

Tracked by more than 153,000 fans on Facebook and more than 9,900 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $216 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Home to the historic Grade 2 Oklahoma Futurity, to be run for the 78th time on March 23, 2019, Remington Park is located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District. For more information, reservations and group bookings please call 405-424-1000, 866-456-9880 or visit remingtonpark.com.