Page 140 - June 2018 Speedhorse

Heritage Place Futurity-G1
SUNNYSYDE
by Tracy Gantz
If any future running’s of the Heritage Place Futurity-G1 at Remington Park have an entrant out of the mare Havanah Goodtime
trained by Josue Ponce, think about risking a few dollars at the betting window.
That combination has resulted in three consecutive victories in the rich race.
Ponce first trained Duponte, a son of American Runaway and out of Havanah Goodtime, to win the 2016 Heritage Place Futurity. The following year, Ponce scored again, this time with Nymeria, a daughter of Bigtime Favorite and out of Havanah Goodtime.
The trainer/mare combo worked a third time in 2018, when Sunnysyde, a son of Heza Fast Dash and out of Havanah Goodtime, won the $1,024,840 Futurity on June 2.
“We are just blessed,” said Ponce. “All the hard work paid off. Thanks to Bobby Cox, who gave us the opportunity to train the horse.”
The colt races for Cox-Lane LLC. That partnership is all family, consisting of Bobby
Cox, his grandson Dillon Lane, and his son-in- law Britt Lane, Dillon’s father.
Last year, Cox offered Sunnysyde at the Texas Quarter Horse
Association Yearling Sale.
Dillon Lane was listed as the
buyer at $160,000. It was the highest price of the sale.
Sunnysyde made his first start in his May 11 trial for the Heritage Place Futurity.
“We had about a month with him before the trials because they broke him a little later,” said Ponce. “He was a bit green going into the trials. He only had one gate work.”
Sunnysyde drew into a tough trial, broke slowly and had to make up ground. He finished second to fastest-qualifier VF Jedi Returns, ending up as the fourth-fastest qualifier.
“In the final, with more experience, he broke way sharper,” said Ponce. “That’s what helped him a lot, breaking with the other horses.”
Again ridden by Jorge Linares, Sunnysyde came away from the gate in second and soon took the lead. He proved the best, as he drew off to win by 2-lengths in :17.141 for 350 yards. The time was a new stakes record.
Ponce said that Sunnysyde was headed to Ruidoso after the Heritage Place Futurity. The colt is paid up in the Rainbow Futurity-G1 and All American Futurity-G1. The
All American is, of course, the major goal. Duponte, Nymeria, and Sunnysyde are
Havanah Goodtime’s only three starters so far, making the mare a 100% producer of Grade 1
Remington Park $1,024,840 • 350 yards :17.141 • si 102
Heza Fast Man
Heza Fast Dash
First Prize Dash
SUNNYSYDE, ‘16-c.
Ivory James
Havanah Goodtime
Jess Celebrating
138 SPEEDHORSE, June 2018
Sunnysyde & Jorge Linares draw away for a 2-length win in the $1,024,840 Heritage Place Futurity-G1
RACING NEWS
Dustin Orona Photography