Kiss My Maruska has set as the 5-2 morning line favorite for the $244,000 Grade 2 Heritage Place Derby at Remington Park Saturday night.

© Coady Media

By StallioneSerach

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—MAY 31, 2025—A talented group of ten sophomores is set to square off Saturday night in the $244,000 Grade 2 Heritage Place Derby at Remington Park, with post time for the 400-yard dash scheduled for 9:23 p.m. CT.

Topping the field of finalists are the two morning-line choices: Kiss My Maruska, the 5-2 favorite, and House of Lords, the 4-1 second choice.

Installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite, Kiss My Maruska enters the Grade 2 final off an impressive trial performance that affirmed her status as one of the division’s top emerging stars. The Texas-bred filly is owned by Heavy Hitters Racing Stables (Marcos Galvan) and trained by Bobby Muniz Peña.

Jockey Nestor Duran will be back aboard the daughter of leading sire Kiss My Hocks, who is out of Ms Highmaitenance by Favorite Cartel. Bred in Texas by Tyler and Naia Graham, Kiss My Maruska has shown explosive early foot and proven versatility, making her a formidable presence in the gate and a strong contender to take home the winner’s share of the $244,000 purse.

Last season the colt won the Grade 2 Dash For Cash Futurity and was second in the TQHA Sale Futurity(RG1), Louisiana Downs Futurity(G2) and third in the Heritage Place Futurity(G1) and EVD Futurity(G2) The six-time winner has amassed $564,746 in 11 career starts.

Close behind on the morning line at 4-1 is House of Lords, a consistent Oklahoma-bred gelding owned by Valeriano Racing Stables LLC (Sammy Valeriano). Trained by Victor H. Rodriguez-Flores, House of Lords was the fastest trial qualifier and possesses  strong late speed into Saturday’s feature event.

Bred by Buck Way Ranch LLC, the son of leading third-crop sire Flying Cowboy 123 is out of This Candys Okay by Okey Dokey Dale. Champion pilot Francisco Calderon takes the reins in the Grade 2 final, where a clean break and sustained finish could put House of Lords in perfect position to challenge for top honors under the lights at Remington Park.

His connections will look for a big effort after he finished last in the Heritage Place Futurity(G1) a year ago for different connections.

While Kiss My Maruska and House of Lords head the field, several others enter with upset potential. Among them are Curls Magic Wagon (9/2), trained by John Stinebaugh for owner J. Martin Stacy, and Toastin Heros (6/1), representing the Gene Cox barn.

The final promises a high-caliber showdown among some of the Southwest’s best sophomore Quarter Horses, each vying to add their name to the storied list of Heritage Place Derby champions.

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