The Best Feeling lives up to name, wins futurity
GRANTS PASS — The biggest race card of the season led to record wagering numbers Monday as Grants Pass Downs kicked off the final week of its fall season.
Twelve races resulted in a total betting handle of nearly $500,000. Records were set on track ($22,347), off track (474,243) and for total handle ($497,243).
The featured race, the seventh, was the Farwest Futurity, a 350-yard quarter horse sprint with a purse of $60,000.
It was won by The Best Feeling, who had the fastest qualifying time and lived up to it. The filly finished in 17.469 seconds, winning by three-quarters of a length over Coopers Best Card. Lopini was third and Owdacious was fourth.
Jockey Jesus Ayala, the leading quarter horse rider at Los Alamitos in California, was aboard The Best Feeling as she pocketed $24,000 for owner Adrian Olivas Gomez. She is trained by Danny Montes, who also trains Lopini and Owdacious.
Gomez also owns the runner-up, Coopers Best Card.
The futurity consolation, the fourth, was captured by Jess Ozzy, ridden by Jose Figueroa and trained by his wife, Treece.
In the Grants Pass Distaff covering 1 1/18 miles, Florista roared to a dominating, 9 1/2-length victory. Florista was ridden by James Wooten Jr. and trained by Billy Christian.
Wooten, Figueroa and Daniel Aguilar each rode three winners.
The final day of racing is today, the 16th of the meet. Gates open at 3 p.m. and post time is 4.
Monday’s Results
FIRST RACE
TB Clm, 5 1/2 F. 1, Chill (Martin), 43.00, 13.40, 5.60; 2, Pure Pursuit (Gonzalez), 3.60, 3.20; 3, Golden Cowboy (Smith), 3.80. EX — 8-5 $47.30; TRI — 8-5-2 $503.10. Time — 1:06.02.
SECOND RACE
TB Mdn Opt Clm, 5 F. 1, Cowlitz (Morales), 7.00, 4.40, 2.40; 2, San Juan Storm (Ybarra), 7.00, 2.80; 3, Victory Command (Pena-Mora), 2.80. DD — 8-9 $227.80; EX — 9-2 $18.10; TRI — 9-2-6 $58.10. Time — 1:00.71.
THIRD RACE
QH Alw, 300 Yds. 1, Warhock (J. Figueroa), 4.80, 3.20, 2.40; 2, First Moon Cat (Smith), 5.80, 4.80; 3, High Flier (Guerrero), 3.60. EX — 4-1 $20.10; TRI — 4-1-9 $69.00. Time — :15.387.
FOURTH RACE
QH, 350 Yds. 1, Jess Ozzy (J. Figueroa), 11.60, 6.60, 5.60; 2, One Sweet Lippy (Scriver), 12.60, 8.40; 3, Sb Holly Wood (Lopez), 8.60. Pick 3 — 9-4-7 $112.60; Pick 4 — 8-9-4-7 $2,701.30; EX — 7-4 $55.60; TRI — 7-4-3 $366.80. Time — :17.976.
FIFTH RACE
TB Clm, 5 F. 1, Little Tiger (Aguilar), 12.80, 6.40, 8.20; 2, Datcat (C. Figueroa), 9.40, 7.00; 3, I Am the Storm (Gutierrez-Sosa), 12.80. EX — 8-3 $66.00; TRI — 8-3-2 $1,513.50. Time — :59.12.
SIXTH RACE
TB Clm, 5 F. 1, Blue Chip Betty (Aguilar), 25.20, 13.40, 7.80; 2, Saturncloud (C. Figueroa), 3.40, 2.80; 3, Winning Sound (King), 5.20. EX — 7-10 $52.10; .50 SUPER — 7-10-1-2 $1,359.00; TRI — 7-10-1 $501.40. Time — :58.89.
SEVENTH RACE
QH Futurity, 350 Yds. 1, The Best Feeling (Ayala), 3.80, 2.80, 2.10; 2, Coopers Best Card (Nicasio), 4.40, 3.00; 3, Lopini (Peinado), 3.20. EX — 5-10 $15.40; .50 SUPER — 5-10-8-6 $111.25; TRI — 5-10-8 $47.10. Time — :17.469.
EIGHTH RACE
TB Clm, 5 F. 1, Nice Guys Finish (King), 8.00, 3.80, 3.40; 2, C C n’ Water (Scriver), 12.00, 11.60; 3, Mystic Wood Force (Gutierrez-Sosa), 9.60. Pick 3 — 7-1/5-10 $231.10; Pick 4 — 8-7-1/5-10 $1,206.90; EX — 10-3 $54.30; TRI — 10-3-5 $584.70. Time — :58.84.
NINTH RACE
TB Clm, 5 1/2 F. 1, Mitch and John E (Gonzalez), 4.20, 2.40, 2.40; 2, Azee Rules (King), 3.40, 2.80; 3, Licorice Drop Props (C. Figueroa), 3.80. EX — 7-9 $6.10; .50 SUPER — 7-9-5-8 $33.55; TRI — 7-9-5 $22.10. Time — 1:04.72.
10TH RACE
TB GP Distaff, 1 1/8 Mi. 1, Florista (Wooten Jr.), 4.40, 2.80, 2.10; 2, Parkers Rose (Smith), 5.60, 3.60; 3, Seeking Bull (Ramirez), 4.80. EX — 4-6 $12.50; .50 SUPER — 4-6-9-3 $279.30; TRI — 4-6-9 $111.70. Time — 1:53.01.
11TH RACE
TB Clm, 6 1/2 F. 1, Lolly Express (Wooten Jr.), 4.20, 3.20, 2.20; 2, Empire Ruler (Morales), 1.260, 4.80; 3, The Public Halo (Pena-Mora), 2.60. EX — 4-5 $42.50; .50 SUPER — 4-5-1-7 $337.25; TRI — 4-5-1 $115.00. Time — 1:21.39.
12TH RACE
TB Clm, 6 1/2 F. 1, Tiger On Your Six (C. Figueroa), 7.60, 5.80, 3.60; 2, Preachinatdinner (J. Figueroa), 7.80, 3.80; 3, Fullbridledphantom (Wooten Jr.), 3.40. Pick 3 — 4/5-4-8 $29.70; Pick 4 — 1/4/6/7-4/5-4-8 $69.50; .50 JACKPOT — 10-1/4/6/7-4/5-4-8 $151.35; DD — 4-8 $26.80; EX — 8-3 $41.20; .50 SUPER — 8-3-6-5 $239.90; TRI — 8-3-6 $113.20. Time — 1:21.30.
Attendance — 248. Handle — $497,243. (On track: $22,347; Off track: $474,896).