Futurity field of 10 set for Eureka Downs

The journey might not be as well known as Seabiscuit’s, but the career of Go With Corona may have as many twists and turns.

The 2-year-old brown gelding raced for the first time Sunday at Eureka Downs, but  it was a successful start as he beat out Feature Mr. Snow by a nose in a Kansas Bred Futurity trial race and will be one of 10 horses to vie for the futurity title on Independence Day.

There have been a few detours toward Go With Corona’s maiden  race.

Breeder and owner Dannie Lee Lloyd waited until the last possible moment to enter Go With Corona in the Kansas Bred Futurity Trials for two-year state-bred quarter horses at Eureka Downs, paying a total of $2,500 — including a late supplement penalty — on a horse that had only had three recorded practices at a distance of 220 yards before the race.

Also, the jockey who was also supposed to be on board Go With Corona had to be replaced. Original jockey Doug Frink broke his collarbone after a four-horse spill Saturday in the first trial race; so Stoney Whittle climbed aboard for the maiden race.

Drawing the No. 7 slot in the 350-yard race (130-yards more than he had practiced), Go With Corona — a 2-1 favorite despite being in its maiden race —  ran neck and neck with Feature Mr.  Snow (the No. 8 horse). At the end, a photo finish had to decide the winner and the picture showed Go With Corona’s nose ahead of Feature Mr. Snow at the wire, giving the gelding a win in his first competition in 18.2781 seconds.

Whittle said despite not riding him in race type situations, he felt he knew what would get the horse quickly out in front. 

“I’ve galloped (Go With Corona) quite a bit because I was helping (trainer) Glen (Melson) over there,” Whittle said. “I’ve worked him just once, but I’ve watched him on the race track quite a bit.”

Photo finishes and slippery surfaces made this weekend’s Futurity trials interesting, concerning  and entertaining for the crowds at the horse track; and Saturday’s only trial race had both come into play.

The race came down to the two filly favorites — High on Cheri, ridden by Tommy Byrd, and Had To Be Classy, ridden by Jim Beeson. High on Cheri (with Sam Brookover as owner and breeder) nosed out Had To Be Classy for the win in 18.4615. Snow Kan, a gelding ridden by Frink, edged out filly Calypso Driver, ridden by Augstin Silva, for third.

As the horses rounded the turn to slow down and cool off, Calypso Driver lost her footing and slid into Snow Kan, knocking both horses and jockeys onto the track. Two other horses also slipped and fell.

In the end, all of the horses were fine, but Frink suffered a broken collarbone, ending his Eureka Downs season. 

The rest of Saturday’s scheduled races, including the other three trial races, were postponed  after that due to the slippery surfaces.

Sunday’s trials opened up with Whittle getting a win on Sweet And Dash, a brindle filly that was the only non-favorite to win a trial race. Sweet And Dash, racing with 6-1 odds, pulled out in front of the seven-horse field to win by three-quarters of a length in 18.4219.

“I’ve always liked her,” Whittle said about Sweet And Dash. “Ever since I’ve started riding her, she jumps right out there and makes things easy.”

The fastest two times to qualify for the trials came in the last race with She’s A Demon, who hasn’t raced since April, recorded her maiden victory for jockey Helen King and her family who owns the horse.

King felt She’s A Demon was comfortable as she  pulled ahead of gelding Fly Jettie Fly down the track and finished in a time of 18.1458. Fly Jettie Fly, with Jesus Salazar on board, ran the 350 yards in a time of 18.2126.

“My husband and I are the only two people who ever ride her, so we should have a pretty good idea of how’s she’s feeling and what we need to do to get her to win,” King said. “When I saw the time, I was ecstatic because that was beyond our expectations.”

Of the 10 horses who qualified for the Futurity, six are geldings and four are fillies.

KANSAS BRED FUTURITY FIELD

(Post positions to be drawn July 1)

 1. She’s A Demon (f) 18.1458

 2. Fly Jettie Fly (g) 18.2126

 3. Go With Corona (g) 18.2781

 4. Feature Mr Snow (g) 18.2963

 5. Getting The Cash (g) 18.3302

 6. Sweet And Dash (f) 18.4219

 7. One Way Driver (g) 18.4286

 8. High On Cheri (f) 18.4615

 9. Had To Be Classy (f) 18.4832

10. Boot Scootin Fred (g) 18.5066

(f — filly)

(g — gelding)