Heath Reed already had plenty of confidence in Llano Tellerschances of winning the $596,000 Grade 1 Remington Park Futurity.When the trainer saw the weather forecast for Saturday night, hefigured the result might already be a done deal.
It rained all day in Oklahoma City, and like his sire – 2005 AllAmerican Futurity winner Teller Cartel – Llano Teller likes themud. On a sloppy track, the 2-year-old Texas-bred gelding startedquickly and held off longshot American Runaway by a nose to winunder jockey Freddie Martinez.
Llano Teller, off at 6-1 odds, covered the 330 yards in 16.512seconds.
“Weve worked him in the mud before up here, a jubilant Reedsaid, clutching the wet trophy given to the races winner. “Wewere tickled to death when it rained. His daddy was a mudder andhis mama (Annie Eye Over) was a mudder.
Indeed, Teller Cartel won the All American Futurity on a muddytrack at Ruidoso Downs.
Llano Teller remained undefeated in three career starts for aLlano, Texas, ownership group led by Terry Wooten. The horse hashad a different jockey for each of those races. Top quarter horsejockey G.R. Carter rode the horse during his qualification race forthe Remington Park Futurity, but opted to ride Fast Prize Ribboninstead on Saturday.
Reed said he turned to Martinez, a top rider from New Mexico,because of the jockeys experience in riding on muddy tracks.Martinez also has enjoyed success at top Remington Park racesbefore, having won the tracks top quarter horse event, theHeritage Place Futurity, last year aboard Ragazzo.
Llano Teller led all the way Saturday, but drifted slightly,allowing 48-1 shot American Runaway to challenge in the finalstrides. That didnt seem to faze Reed.
“The way he left there, I thought it was over, Reed said.“In these races, it is (all in the start). I never thought hedget caught.
Neither Coronas Fast Prize nor Fast Prize Ribbon, full sisterswho went off as a favored entry, threatened. They finished seventhand eighth, respectively, in the 11-horse field.
Wooten said he named Llano Teller after his hometown thatslocated in the heart of the Lone Star States Hill Country.
“Weve raised him and its quite a thrill, Wooten said.“What a deal!
Llano Teller paid $14.20, $6.40 and $4.80. American Futuritywent off at 48-1 odds and paid $39.80 and 17.40. Pyc Takes All paid$7.20.
In the $221,000 Grade 2 Remington Park Derby for 3-year-olds,3-1 second choice Diamond For Jess held off 3-5 favorite CrystalSola, with Louisiana Blue Dream third.
Thomas Wellington rode Diamond For Jess, a Texas-bred son ofFeature Mr Jess. Diamond For Jess, trained by Rick Robinson andowned by Dan Nicks of Devine, Texas, covered the 400 yards in19.340 seconds and improved his career record to 5-for-10. Thegelding has won both his starts this season.