DIVISION 1
300 YARDS
MAY 30, 1999
1999 Black Gold 300 Yard
$45,999
Division Winner ...
EYES LIKE MAMA
EYES LIKE MAMA has gotten into her groove after posting the 2nd fastest qualifying time in the May 15th trials to the 300 yard division of the Black Gold Futurity running the distaqnce in :15.740 which earned her a 92 speed index. In the final she quickly left the gates and took the lead while holding off bids from RMS The Gift and others. Eyes Like Mama crossed the wire with a time of :15.808 and a 90 speed index. It was a close finish with three horses nose-to-nose to the wire. Eyes Like Mama was closest to the inside with RMS The Gif and KC Bully vying for the lead. But Eyes Like Mama 'Got the Gold'!
RMS The Gift won his Black Gold trial by 1-1/4 lenghths and the final was only his second official race. Sweet Lies and Miss Rebel Cleat were head-to-head at the wire and this was a first-time defeat for Sweet Lies who had won his two previous outs. Miss Rebel Cleat earlier this year won the Sequoyah County Juvenile at BRD at 330 yards. Magnificent Form hopped at the start and was a half-length behind Miss Rebel Cleat. Top-qualifier Play In Peoria gave an even effort, but couldn't catch the leaders. Special Showman and A Dashing Gamble werer brushed and had a bad break. A Dashing Gamble earlier this year won the Blue Ribbon Futuruity Consolation and hadn't run worse than second in her previous three outs, two of them wins.
Eyes Like Mama is a bay filly by Mr Eye Opener and out of a Shawne Bug mare named Miss Kickern. She is Oklahoma-bred and is owned by partners H.L. Willis and Gaylene Wells of Atoka, Oklahoma. Eddie Willis is the trainer of Eyes Like Mama and Jimmy Brooks is her regular jockey and was in the irons for this win. She adds $13,799 to her earnings, making them $19,460 in five jouts, with three wins. Look for her to run next at Fair Meadows and later in the year int he 350 yard division of the Black Gold Futruity and Futurity Championship in November.
Final order of finish was:
1ST PLACE: EYES LIKE MAMA: :15.80; Jockey Jimmy Brooks; Trainer Eddie Willis; Owner H.L. Willis & Gaylene Wells
2ND PLACE: RMS THE GIFT: :15.823; Jockey Debbie Freeman; Trainer Robert Maple; Owner Robert Maple
3RD PLACE: KC BULLY; :15.863; Jockey Darin Lamoureux; Trainer Rex Brooks; Owner Darrell Edwards
4TH PLACE: SWEET LIES; :15.874; Jockey Larry Layton; Trainer Eddie Willis; Owner Rex & Sue Cox
5TH PLACE: MISS REBEL CLEAT; :15.903; Jockey Jerry Vaughan; Trainer Rex Brooks; Owner Charles E. Gray
6TH PLACE: MAGNIFICENT FORM; :15.926; Jockey David Brown; Trainer Stacy Charette; Owner Phoenix Farms
7TH PLACE: PLAY IN PEORIA; :15.992; Jockey Steve Fuller; Trainer Mark Sellers; Owner Calvin Armer
8TH PLACE: SPECIAL SHOWMAN; :16.185; Jockey Anthony Castleman; Trainer J. Rodney Reed; Owner Eugene Hill
9TH PLACE: A DASHING GAMBLE; :16.320; Jockey Phillip Carter; Trainer Rex Brooks; Owner Rex & Sharon Brooks
SCRATCHED: PASSUM STRAWFLY was scratched by trainer Donnie Strickland prior to the race.
DIVISION 2
330 YARDS
AUGUST 8, 1999
1999 Black Gold 330 Yard
$45,999
Division Winner ...
Taking on the bully
Trainer Bill Hedge has been around this game longer than almost anyone, and he's won many races, but today he knocked one more winning the 330 Division of the Black Gold Futurity for the first time with Taking On The Bully. Fastest qualifier to the finals was Viton who finished just a nose behind. Both horses earned 92 speed indexes, running the 330 yards in :17.152 for Taking On The Bully and :17.153 for Viton. Jockey JR Hobbie rode 'Bully' to victory.
Hedge makes his wins look easy most of the time. He had a hand-ride victory in the trials to this race with over three lengths between him and second-place and won the Grade 1 Oklahoma Futurity also by over three lengths. Today was a different story with speedy Viton only a nostil behind him at the wire.
Hobbie rode both horses in the trials, but chose class over unknown speed to ride Taking On The Bully as he has for each of his outs. Viton hadn't run in a final for a Futurity before today and didnt' earn a 90+ speed index until his last out in which he topped the list of qualifiers with a 97 si. Taking On The Bully on the other hand had already won the Grade 1 Oklahoma Futurity with Hobbie aboard and earned a 103 si in only his second out. He also ran a 96 in the trials to this race.
Put Me Down As Hawk followed only a length behind them after faltering near the end. Takin Some Gold was the best of the others. RMS The Gift, who ran second in the 300 Division of the Black Gold looked to be making up ground on the leaders, but gave way at the end. KK Runner showed her big heart in the trials with a two-length victory despite a bad stumble at the start, and suffered from a bobbled break this time. Bullys Redemption tired, and Heza Quick Man was fractious in the gates. Bullet Baby Rascal, who has won her last four outs, was scratched earlier in the day along with Winners All.
Taking On The Bully is owned by James E. Bailey of Alpena, Arkansas. He was joined in the win circle by his family and friends of bnoth his and Bill Hedge. Taking On The Bully is a gelding by Takin On The Cash and out of the Bully Bullion mare Irish Bully. He earns $13,945 for the win today, making his total earnings for five outs, with three wins, $42,327. BRD Racing Secretary Burt Cheek was on hand to present the trophy to Bailey and Hedge. "We'll wrestle later to see who gets to keep it! said Hedge.
Final order of finish was:
1ST PLACE: TAKING ON THE BULLY: :17.152; Jockey JR Hobbie; Trainer Bill Hedge; Owner James E. Bailey
2ND PLACE: VITON: :17.153; Jockey Rodger Smith; Trainer Mickey Allen; Owner Lee E. Craig
3RD PLACE: PUT ME DOWN AS HAWK; :17.274; Jockey Roy Brooks; Trainer Stacy Charette; Owner Delton Dean
4TH PLACE: TAKIN SOME GOLD; :17.430; Jockey RC Simon; Trainer Rex Brooks; Owner James G. Burgess, MD
5TH PLACE: RMS THE GIFT; :17.445; Jockey Debbie Freeman; Trainer Bobby Turner; Owner Joel Pierce & Marilyn Helzer
6TH PLACE: KK RUNNER; :17.579; Jockey Jimmy Brooks; Trainer Stacy Charette; Owner Don R. Hill
7TH PLACE: BULLYS REDEMPTION; :17.589; Jockey Kenny Goad; Trainer Jim Brooks; Owner James B. Wallace
8TH PLACE: HEZA QUICK MAN; :17.860; Jockey Brian Green; Trainer J. Rodney Reed; Owner James Cordell
#3, Bullet Baby Rascal and # 5, Winners All were scrastched earlier in the day
Coming Soon...
DIVISION 2
350 YARDS
SEPTEMBER 19, 1999
1999 Black Gold 350 Yard
$45,999
Division Winner ...
