Page 28 - 8 June 2012

Heritage Place Derby-G2
PRICELESS FEATURE
by Stacy Pigott
It would be hard to script a better story than the $247,800 Heritage Place Derby-G2, won by Priceless Feature. First, owner Ed Melzer
was winning his second Heritage Place Derby, having also won the race in 2010 with Streakin Down. Trainer Eddie Willis went one better, notching his third consecutive Heritage Place Derby win, as he also trained Streakin Down and 2011 winner Capo De Capi. But the big story of the night was the jockey, as 70-year- old Roy Brooks won his second straight Heritage Place Derby to prove that sometimes, age just doesn’t matter.
Brooks has ridden sparingly in 2012 with just five mounts overall. The strategy paid off on May 26, as he scored his first win of the season and posted another graded triumph in the Heritage Place Derby.
“He left much better today
than he did in his trial,” Brooks
noted of Priceless Feature, who
was ridden in the trials by Brooks’ son, jockey Jimmy Brooks. “I knew we won when we hit the finish. I’ve said that I might retire once I
wonabigraceat70butI may have to come back to win this again next year.”
Jimmy Brooks qualified three horses for Willis,
and opted to stay aboard BPS Jumpin Frisco, who finished third.
“There was never any doubt (Roy) was going
to ride one of them,” said Willis. “I’ve never seen anything like it. Roy is a money rider, he always has been and always will be. That’s why I like to use him.”
Under Brooks’ capable guidance, Priceless Feature broke in the middle of the pack from post position seven. Chasing down early leader Texasindependencegal, Priceless Feature stuck his head in front at the wire to win his first stakes race. The Feature Mr Jess gelding covered the 400 yards in :19.620. The win was the
sixth from 13 starts for Priceless Feature, who was fourth in the Remington Park Oklahoma- Bred Futurity earlier this year, and last year
was second in the All American Juvenile, fifth in the Rainbow Juvenile, and seventh in the Remington Park Juvenile. The winner’s share of the derby, $104,076, moved his lifetime earn- ings to $200,896.
Owned by Ed Melzer of Edmond, Oklahome, Priceless Feature was bred by Sam Green. The 3-year-old gelding is the second foal out of the Corona Cartel mare Southern Price. Her first foal, Miss Southern Jess, by Gold Medal Jess, is also a stakes winner.
Finishing second in the Heritage Place Derby was Texasindependence Gal (Mr Ottyes- Lovely Legs). Toby Keeton trains the filly for owner Leonard Lyne. Francisco Ramirez Jr. rode Texasindependence Gal, who also finished second to Priceless Feature in their trial.
Fastest qualifier BPS Jumpin Frisco (Jumpn-Frisco Fling) was third for owner/ breeder Bill Price. The gelding had also been third in the Remington Park Oklahoma-bred Derby in April.
In fourth was Haulin Candy Salt (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Salt Lake Spitty), followed by Jess Lips (Mr Jess Perry-Loose Lips), Paint Me Quickid (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Rustys Quickid), Jo Carver (Wave Carver-Joanna Kate), Smokin Bye You (Sweet First Down-Eye My Alexis), John The Banker (Ivory James-First Place Diamond), and Send Me A Candy Tree (Oak Tree Special-Send Me The Candy).
Trainer Eddie Willis, jockey Roy Brooks, Remington Park’s Chris Kotulak and owner Ed Melzer.
At age 70, jockey Roy Brooks rode Priceless Feature (#7) to win in the $247,800 Heritage Place Derby-G2.
26 SPEEDHORSE, June 8, 2012
Remington Park

Mr Jess Perry
Feature Mr Jess
Brenda Feature
PRICELESS FEATURE,’09-g.
Corona Cartel
Southern Price
Southern Policy
RACING NEWS
Linda Earley Linda Earley