Bitterroots Wagon, ridden by O. Amador Hernandez, wins the $48,789 (US) Alberta Bred Futurity[G3] by a neck at Century Downs on Sunday.

© Coady Photography

ROCKY VIEW, AB–OCTOBER 22, 2023–Bitterroots Wagon rallied on the outside for a neck victory in the $48,789 (US) Alberta Bred Futurity[G3] at Century Downs on Sunday.

Bitterroots Wagon was fast out of the gates in second but took lead at first call and kept it to the wire. Against a 12 mph headwind, the son of Jd Wagon Boss crossed the finish line of the 350-yard race in :17.814 seconds clocking a 102 speed index. The victory paid $5.90 to win on 9-5 odds.

After cashing in the $21,955 winner's check, Bitterroots Wagon's lifetime earnings surged to $54,021. The brown gelding has six wins from nine starts in his freshman campaign, including the Sale Stakes Futurity. He was a finalist in the Canada Cup Futurity[G3] and Evergreen Park Juvenile Challenge Stakes.

Trainer Buckey Stockwell saddled jockey O. Hernandez aboard his second stakes winner of the day. Stockwell also conditioned the Alberta Bred Derby winner Northfolk Boss from race 2 on today's card and second place winner from this race Get It Good.

Stockwell owns Bitterroots Wagon in partnership with his breeder Glenn Wills. His dam is the Sizzlin Red Corona mare Bitterroot Corona.

D. Benitez rode runner-up Get It Good, who has lit the board seven of eight starts with one win and $24,941 in earnings. The two-year-old gelding has earned black type status in three stakes events this season.

Breeders Barry & Janice Sather sold Get It Good to his current owner WT Ranch for $8,000 in the AQHRA Yearling Mixed Sale. Also sired by Jd Wagon Boss, the brown gelding is out of Status Symbol by Favorite Cartel.

Third place finisher O Lets Be First was ridden by Guerrero Francisco and prepped by Wesley Oulton. The son of leading Canadian sire First Timber has three career wins with $38,634 in the bank, including the Alberta Stallion Stakes Futurity in August.

Oulton bred O Lets Be First in partnership with Susen Oulton out of the Separatist mare Lets Get Going. Owner Jeffrey Rath purchased the bay gelding from the Oultons for $13,000 in the AQHRA Yearling Mixed Sale. 

Miss Fancy Nancy, Hez Hott Ur Nott, Ms Mini Warrior, Winkins Wagon Boss, Dj Bright Ruby, Mountain Night Train and Northfork Three Ten round out the order of finish.

Editor's note: A photo of this race will be posted with this article as soon as it is available from the track photographer.