Honeys Painted Pop (inside) and jockey D.I. Benitez were moved to first in the $72,227 Canada Quarter Horse Cup Futurity (G3) on Sunday afternoon at Century Downs.

© Coady Photography

ROCKY VIEW, AB—OCTOBER 20, 2019—In the second stake of the day at Century Downs, second fastest qualifier Honeys Painted Pop placed first in the $72,227 Canada Quarter Horse Cup Futurity (G3) on Sunday afternoon.

Honeys Painted Pop and D.I. Benitez covered the 400-yard stake in 20.174 after checking in the stretch amidst a traffic-filled race that resulted in a double disqualification.

Zoomn On Bye originally finished second but was disqualified and placed last for interference at the start. Light Footed originally finished first but was disqualified and placed second for interference in the stretch. As a result, Honeys Painted Pop was first, Light Footed was second and Suits finished in third place.

Honeys Painted Pop ($7.10) won his trial on October 5 for trainer Buckey Stockwell, who co-owns the gelding with Tracey Beakstead and Bob Perlich. Gary Kurz bred the son of Pyc Paint Your Wagon in Oklahoma, out of Gols Honey Money Pop, by Gol.

The winning connections of Honeys Painted Pop accept the Canada QH Cup Futurity stakes trophy on Sunday at Century Downs. © Coady Photography Ltd.

This was the third straight win for Honeys Painted Pop; his only loss was in in a trial for the Evergreen Park Challenge, a second-place finish to Light Footed. He returned to win the John Deere Evergreen Park Juvenile Challenge, defeating Light Footed by a length and a half. With Sunday’s stake win, he is three for four lifetime with $44,541 in career earnings.

Fastest qualifier Light Footed won her 400-yard trial in 19.952. The Stel Corona filly has never finished worse than second in four career starts, including two runner-up finishes in stakes races.

Ricardo Moreno had the call on the filly for owner and trainer William Leech. She was bred in California by Ed Allred, out of Chickafirst, by First Down Dash. She has never finished worse than second in five career starts and is now multiple stakes placed.

Third place finisher Suits and Ceasar Cervantes were able avoid trouble on the outside for Wes Oulton, who owns, trains and bred the gelding in Alberta. The son of First Timber is out of Burners Beauty, by El Rey Burner.

Completing the field were Yuma Class, Quarter Sawn, Sasses Loki, Timbergold, Tee for Teller, Movin Timber and Zoomn On Bye.