Page 24 - 8 June 2012

Heritage Place Futurity-G1
BP CARTELS ALIBI
by Stacy Pigott
Nineteen-year-old Raymundo Villarreal Jr. is in college pursuing an undergraduate degree in animal science, and would one day
like to become an equine veterinarian. On May 26, his college fund grew by $440,398 when his BP Cartels Alibi won the $1,048,560 Heritage Place Futurity-G1 at Remington Park in Oklahoma City.
Villarreal comes from a large family of horse racing enthusiasts, and was joined in the winner’s circle by several cousins, some of whom were celebrating his win despite their own misfortune.
“My family has always been involved in horse racing,” said Villarreal, of Mission, Texas. “My cousins are here celebrating with me, even though they own PYC Kant Katch Me. We are always happy for each other, no matter who wins.”
PYC Kant Katch Me was the highly-touted favorite in the Heritage Place Futurity after winning his trial by an astounding three lengths and setting the top time of :17.382— by far the fastest time from the two days of futurity trials. The second fastest time of the evening was :17.682, more than two lengths slower, and even the fastest time from the pre- vious night of :17.457 was no match for PYC Kant Katch Me’s blazing trial performance.
Unfortunately, PYC Kant Katch Me
never had the chance in the finals. The heavy favorite was loaded into the nine hole when the horse next door in the post position eight, El Duero, became fractious. PYC Kant Katch Me reared and flipped in the gates, briefly pinning jockey Cody Jensen in the
stall. Jensen, who had gone
down in a spill the day before
at Ruidoso Downs during
the trials for the Ruidoso
Futurity, got out from under-
neath PYC Kant Katch Me
and walked away on his own
accord. After several long
minutes, PYC Kant Katch
Me, who was apparently
stuck in the gates backwards,
was dislodged and declared
scratched by order of the
stewards on the advice of the
track veterinarian. PYC Kant Katch Me also walked back to the barn under his own power.
PYC Kant Katch Me’s poor fortune left the door wide open for the rest of the field, and BP Cartels Alibi seized the opportunity. With the shortened field reloaded, BP Cartels Alibi broke well but found himself in tight quarters early when Thequeenhasgonenuts
was fractious in the gates then broke
out and crowded BP Cartels Alibi. Thequeenhasgonenuts drifted back in to the rail, giving BP Cartels Alibi room to run and the colt took advantage, surging to the lead.
It turned out to be a two-horse race to the wire, as El Duero, from the
seven hole, stood quietly
the second time around and broke on top, then dueled
the entire 350 yards to give BP Cartels Alibi a run for
his money. In the end, BP Cartels Alibi prevailed in a short photo finish, winning by a head over El Duero, with Sum Better Stuff a neck back in third. Dash For Coronas, winner of the Oklahoma Futurity in March, was the beaten 6-5 wagering favorite
and finished fourth. BP Cartels Alibi stopped the timer in :17.580 for a speed index of 90, the same speed index given to the runner-up.
“We got away well but we were in tight
but I managed to get him through,” Ramirez said afterwards in the winner’s circle of getting away between Thequeenhasgonenuts to his inside and Sum Better Stuff to his outside. “It
Remington Park

Holland Ease
Corona Cartel
Corona Chick
BP CARTELS ALIBI, ’10-c.
Chicks Beduino
My Ladys Alibi
Ima Ladys Alibi
With Ricky Ramirez in the saddle, BP Cartels Alibi won the $1,048,560 Heritage Place Futurity-G1 by a short head over El Duero.
22 SPEEDHORSE, June 8, 2012
RACING NEWS
Linda Earley