News
Quarter Horse Futurity and Derby Fields Set
Quarter Horse Trials are now completed for both the upcoming $100,000-Guaranteed Grade III Stallion Service Auction Futurity and $50,000-Guaranteed Stallion Service Auction Derby set for Saturday, Sept. 5. The day, tagged as Wild West Adventure, will include several activities in addition to the rich Quarter Horse stakes.
The Futurity began in 1998 with a purse of $40,000. The Derby started the same year, offering an inaugural purse of $12,000. The top 10 quickest times from both the Futurity and Derby trials advance into the finals, boasting record purses this season.
Five Futurity trials were offered Wednesday, Aug. 19, sending Happenedindamoonlite to the top of the list with the fastest time trial of :17.897 in the final race. Owned by Jack Geer, Happenedindamoonlite is now three for five lifetime and on a three-race win streak. The two-year-old son of Jewels First Moon was one of two time trial winners for the trainer-jockey tandem of Ron Raper and Harold Collins, who also connected with Sam Little Chic in the 10th race.
Sam Little Chic won her division in a time of :18.229 to rank eighth on the list of finalists. The daughter of Built Jesse recorded her first career win in four outings for owner Maurice Locklear of North Carolina.
“I helped break her (Sam Little Chic),” said Collins, who works for Raper in North Carolina during the winter months. “She did everything nice. She is still learning, but she got it together tonight and pulled out the win.”
Raper, who won the leading Quarter Horse training titles at Hoosier Park in 2006 and 2007, is the track’s all-time leading Quarter Horse trainer with 53 wins. He is currently leading the standings again in 2009 with seven wins.
Horses qualifying for the Futurity, with time and jockey, include Happenedindamoonlite (:17.897) Collins, How Cool Is She (:18.095) Oscar Delgado, Go Southern Chickie (:18.097) Rodney Prescott, Royal Snow White (:18.100) Richard Gillard, El Campecino (:18.105) Carter Riley, Eyeve Gotur Candy (:18.145) Riley, Tuff Southern Gal (:18.218) Lee Gates, Sam Little Chic (:18.229) Collins, Stone Heading West (:18.307) Prescott, and Stonesinmyshoes DHD (:18.324) O. Delgado.
Three trials for the Derby were conducted on Thursday, Aug. 20. Patriot Warrior and Gillard were the quickest qualifiers, stopping the clock in :20.573 in the 400-yard dash. Owned by Bobby Byrd for Raper, the Game Patriot three-year-old is now two for two at Hoosier Park this season.
Other qualifiers for the Derby, with time and jockey, include Beduinos Cat (:20.653) Richard Rettele, Eyesa Shaken Tornado (:20.666) Victor Olivo, Hey Bill (:20.796) Oscar Delgado, Im The Saint (:20.804) Harold Collins, Sippery Dot Of Dash (:20.811) O. Delgado, Billy Ray Cole (:20.849) Collins, Treasure Mountain (:20.849) Juan Delgado, DNA Chrystalandstone (:20.859) Gabriel Lagunes, and Apollo Two Socks (:20.865) Julie Veltman.
In addition to the Futurity and Derby, Wild West Adventure Day will offer fans a wide range of activities, including an exhibition mule race, strolling trick roper, and live country entertainment. All activities begin at High Noon in The Yard.
