QUALIFYING HISTORY
TrackDateRaceNameFinish 
Remington Park3/14/201511Slm Big Daddy6Chart

CONNECTIONS
 Eddie D Willis
Trainer

In the last five years, Eddie Lee Willis has sent out 80 winners and the earners of more than $1.6 million from 430 starters. Willis is the son of Eddie Dean Willis, an all-time top-10 leading trainer who has conditioned the earners of more than $24 million. With earnings of more than $3.39 million last year, Eddie D. was the second-leading trainer in 2013, when he sent out Jimmy Brooks on champion Feature Hero to win the $2,809,784 All American Derby (G1), the richest race in Quarter Horse history.
 Jimmy D Brooks
Jockey

Jimmy Dean Brooks was the sport’s fifth-leading jockey in 2013, when he rode the earners of more than $2.9 million. Among his winners was champion Feature Hero, who he rode for Eddie Dean Willis to win the $2,809,784 All American Derby (G1), the richest race in Quarter Horse history. The son of legendary rider Roy Brooks, Jimmy has ridden the earners of more than $15.25 million, including 1,180 winners from 8,700 starts.
 Reliance Ranches LLC
Owner

Gary Dale McKinney’s Reliance Ranches LLC of Llano, Texas. Reliance Ranches also race Coronado Cartel ($314,348), who on April 20 scored in the $720,000 Remington Park Oklahoma Bred Futurity (R).


PEDIGREE
Feature Hero - bk. g. Valiant Hero-Illegal Feature by Feature Mr Jess

Race Record: 13-3-3-3 $126,528
Qualifying time: :21.276

With Jimmy Brooks in the irons for Eddie Willis in the seventh trial, Feature Hero finished second by a head to Louisana Corona. As a 2-year-old, Feature Hero finished third in the Remington Park Juvenile Stakes (R) and was fourth in the Rainbow Futurity (G1). This year, the gelding finished second in the April 20 Remington Park Oklahoma Bred Derby (R) and competed in the May 26 Jack Brooks Stakes (RG3). Feature Hero came into the Derby trials off a third in the July 6 trials to the Rainbow Derby (G1), where he finished a half-length off the pace of Joker On Jack, who went on to run third in the July 20 Rainbow final won by Wicked Courage.

Feature Hero is one of three winners $180,000 and the earners of more than from six starters bred by Lana Merrick and Kent Jackson of Cheyenne, Oklahoma.

Pedigree: Feature Hero is by the 9-year-old First Down Dash stallion Valiant Hero ($668,633), who won the 2006 Texas Classic Futurity (G1) and the 2007 Heritage Place Derby (G2). Valiant Hero is one of four stakes winners and seven other winners out of race champion and 1997 broodmare of the year Corona Chick, who has produced the earners of more than $3.62 million. Corona Chick is the dam of champion and All American Futurity (G1) winner Corona Cash ($1,542880); second-all-time leading sire Corona Cartel, who has sired the earners of more than $42.49 million; and Corona Czech, who has sired the earners of more than $4.5 million. From 184 starters in three crops raced, Valiant Hero by 109 winners, including 13 stakes winners and the earners of more than $4.66 million. Valiant Hero also is the sire of All American Futurity (G1) qualifier Houdini.

Feature Hero is the first winner from three starters out of the winning Feature Mr Jess mare Illegal Feature ($23,410).

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