Page 142 - July 2017

Heritage Place Futurity-G1
NYMERIA
by Tracy Gantz
Sometimes training the winner of a major race reaps rewards far beyond the purse earnings. Trainer Josue Ponce found that out after he saddled Duponte to win last year’s Heritage Place Futurity-G1.
Alfredo Garza sought out Ponce with Duponte’s half-sister, Nymeria, leading to back-to-back victories in the rich Remington Park race for the trainer.
Breaking from post five, Nymeria came out of the gate well in the June 3 Heritage Park Futurity-G1 finals. It was what Ponce was hoping for.
“We knew she had a good chance if she broke well out of the gate,” he said. “In her first two outs, she was green and didn’t break how she was supposed to. We were hoping if she broke good, she could make the top three.”
Nymeria did more than that. Under jockey Jose Alvarez, she moved up outside of the two leaders and grabbed the lead in the closing yards.
Battling with Trace Dynasty, Nymeria posted a neck victory over that rival in :17.464 for the 350 yards and earned a career best 90 speed index. The filly paid $21 to win as the fifth choice in the field of seven, which was reduced after three scratches.
The $489,939 winner’s share of the $1,154,700 purse boosted the filly’s cumulative lifetime earnings to $494,667 from just three starts.
“She just needed racing experience,” said Ponce.
Ponce credited former jockey Luis Ramirez with breaking Nymeria before he began training her.
Nymeria debuted in
the trials for the Harrah’s
Entertainment Futurity-G3 at Louisiana Downs. Though she won her heat, she did not qualify for the final.
Nymeria finished second in her May 12 trial for the Heritage Place Futurity, finishing a head behind third fastest qualifier of the day Bird Train. Nymeria qualified fifth on the first day of the two-days of trials.
“In her schooling race, she did good,” said Ponce. “Then in her first start in Louisiana, she broke good, but she was scared to see the other horses.”
Ponce describes her next start, “In her second out, at Remington in the trials, she was in the nine hole. I guess all the big buildings got her pretty scared.
“That last race helped her a lot. This time she knew what was coming for because she felt ready.” the trainer explained.
Alvarez, who first rode the filly in the Heritage Park Futurity trial, noticed the difference as well.
With Ponce translating, the jockey said, “In the trials, she didn’t break right. But I knew if she had a good break
in the final, she would be tough.”
Bobby D. Cox bred Nymeria in Texas
from winner Havanah Goodtime. Nymeria and Heritage Place Futurity-G1/Harrah’s Entertainment Futurity-G3 winner/top earner Duponte are the mare’s only two start- ers to date.
Cox consigned Nymeria to the 2016 Texas Quarter Horse Association Yearling Sale. Alfredo Garza purchased the filly at the sale for $19,500. Nymeria is eligible for the TQHA Sale Futurity, and Ponce plans to point her
for that race, as well as to the Texas Classic Futurity-G1.
After last year’s Harrah’s Entertainment Futurity-G3 win and then the Heritage Place
Remington Park $1,154,700 • 350 yards :17.464 • si 90
Chicks Beduino
Bigtime Favorite
Ms Dashin Bigtime
NYMERIA, ’15-f.
Ivory James
Havanah Goodtime
Jess Celebrating
140 SPEEDHORSE, July 2017
Nymeria & Jose Alvarez duel for the win in the $1,154,700 Grade 1 Heritage Place Futurity
RACING NEWS
Dustin Orona Photography