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Jets Flame lights up GPD field photo by Drew Fleming By Frank Silow GRANTS PASS � Jockey Twyla Beckner began her riding career as an eager 16-year-old at Grants Pass Downs in 1994. On Tuesday, Beckner scored her sweetest victory in seven years of horse racing during the $28,203 Far West Futurity at GPD. Not only did Beckner register her first futurity victory in the ninth running of Oregon�s biggest quarter horse race, but she did it for her boyfriend and trainer Scott Raley. The Far West consists of two legs, with the second held at Portland Meadows in the winter. Beckner�s victory aboard the second betting choice Jets Flame on the final day of the GPD nine-day season, capped a fabulous afternoon and very successful meet for the 34-year-old Brush Prairie, Wash., trainer. Beckner guided Jets Flame past another Raley-trained colt, Rio Cheng, for a 1-2 finish in the 350-yard dash. Raley, who received his trainer�s license just two years ago, also walked away with the meet�s top trainer award with 10 victories. "I didn�t know what to expect,�� said Raley about his hopes prior to the GPD meet. "I had a decent barn coming in. They fit the track and the conditions real well." Rio Cheng, ridden by the meet�s leading jockey Joe Crispin, broke from the gate�s inside post with the lead. But Beckner rallied Jets Flame from the far outside for about a �-length victory in a time of 17.57 seconds, the third fastest Far West mark at GPD. The race favorite, Heza Buggin Wonder, finished third. The 1995 Far West winner Mr. Doubtfire has the race and track record of 17.52. Jets Flame returned $6.20 to win, $3.20 to place and $2.80 for show. "He�s the best 2-year-old I�ve ever been on," said Beckner. "He looked over during the first quarter of the race and pricked his ears. When we reached the main part of the track he hit overdrive and went on with it. He has gears. I knew I had it won." Crispin said Rio Cheng broke well and ran a strong race, but Jets Flame "just ate me up the last while of the race." The Far West victory was worth $11,281 for Jets Flame 75-year-old Vancouver, Wash. owner Don Hetrick. Jets Flame was the second baby from the 6-year-old mare Easy Abby Jet, who Hetrick purchased three years ago. Beckner qualified Jets Flame and Rio Cheng with the two top trials times on June 17. But she decided to ride Jets Flame in the finals because "he wasn�t running full out in the qualifier." Raley, who broke both colts, said Jets Flame is like the class clown while Rio Cheng has a much more mature personality. Both horses grew up side by side. "Twyla had the choice of riding either horse," said Raley, "but I wanted her on Jets Flame because she knew his tendencies." Beckner�s father Bob Beckner had two horses in the race. The elder Beckner, a former leading trainer at GPD, had no hard feelings after losing to his daughter. "We�re very thrilled for Twyla," said Bob Beckner. "She had the best horse by far. There�s no doubt about that." Twyla Beckner began riding for Raley near the end of last year�s GPD meet, then set the track record at Prineville last summer on Mayhegobuggy. Since then she has ridden quite a bit for Raley and the two began dating in January. Even though Raley�s training career has been brief, he gained much of his experience from his father Ron Raley, a long-time trainer. Scott Raley began galloping horses for his father as a teenager, but spent 11 years involved with rodeo. During last year�s futurity, Scott Raley assisted five-time Far West winning trainer Jim Glenn Jr.�s victorious horse in the gate. A year later, a Scott Raley-trained colt defeated the Glenn betting favorite. TUESDAY�S RESULTS FIRST RACE TB, Mdn Clm, 5 1/2 F. 1, A Ribot Derci (J. Crispin), 7.60, 3.40, 2.40; 2, Force The Fumble (R. Garcia), 3.80, 2.40; 3, Gold N Deal (S. Barber), 2.40. Q � 1-4 $11.80; TRI � 1-4-3 $31.20. Time � 1:08.1. SECOND RACE TB, Clm, 5 1/2 F. 1, Methow Sunrise (T. Skaggs), 10.60, 4.40, 2.80; 2, All Red (S. Barber), 3.00, 2.60; 3, Moose Season (J. Crispin), 2.60. Q � 2-5 $8.00; TRI � 5-2-6 $30.00; DD � 1-5 $33.80. Time � 1:08.1 THIRD RACE Mixed Breed, Clm, 350 yds. 1, Expecting Magic (J. Crispin), 3.60, 2.60, 2.60; 2, Ruthies Secret (T. Neal), 2.60, 2.60; 3, Fax A Princess (T. Beckner), 3.60. Q � 1-6 $54.00; TRI � 1-6-4 $58.80. Time � :18.14. FOURTH RACE TB, Mdn Clm, 6 1/2 F. 1, Find Luck (J. Crispin), 8.20, 3.40, 2.10; 2, Rose Dawson (S. Barber), 3.60, 2.10; 3, Red Hot Slew (T. Skaggs), 2.10. Q � 1-4 $16.80; TRI � 1-4-2 $73.20. Time � 1:25.2 FIFTH RACE TB, Clm, 5 1/2 F. 1, Cisco Red (R. Garcia), 7.60, 4.00, 2.40; 2, Angel�s Charm (T. Neal), 5.40, 2.60; 3, Both Boots (J. Crispin), 2.40. Q � 1-3 $41.00; TRI � 3-1-6 $164.80. Time � 1:06.4. SIXTH RACE QH Fut. Consol., 350 yds. 1, Chase Me To Victory (E. Montehermoso), 9.80, 5.60, 3.80 ; 2, Champster (D. Braden), 12.60, 5.80; 3, Abbys Road Bug (J. Whiteside), 5.60. Q � 6-8 $49.40; TRI � 8-6-3 $2,596.60. Time � :18.12. SEVENTH RACE TB, 1 5/16-mile. 1, A Shot At Fame (T. Beckner), 4.20, 3.00, 2.10; 2, Comanche Drive (S. Barber), 2.80, 2.10; 3, Mr One Ring (J. Crispin), 2.10. Q � 1-3 $6.00; TRI � 1-3-2 $16.40. Time � 2:15.1. EIGHTH RACE QH Far West Fut., 350 yds. 1, Jets Fame (T. Beckner), 6.20, 3.20, 2.80; 2, Rio Cheng (J. Crispin), 3.80, 2.80; 3, Heza Buggin Wonder (T. Neal), 2.80. Q � 1-8 $8.80; TRI � 8-1-3 $27.00. Time � :17.57. NINTH RACE TB Hdcp, 6 1/2 F. 1, Hang Shame (J. Whiteside), 54.00, 26.60, 6.80; 2, Imus (J. Crispin), 5.00, 3.60; 3, Apeak (R. Garcia), 3.40. Q � 1-4 $98.60; TRI � 4-1-all $407.40. Time � 1:22.3. TENTH RACE TB, Clm, 5 1/2 F. 1, Emerald Prospector (S. Barber), 6.80, 3.40, 3.80; 2, Tizzy Fit (T. Beckner), 4.60, 4.40; 3, Magic Strider (E. Montehermoso), 4.00. Q � 3-4 $20.40; TRI � 4-3-8 $414.60; DD � 4-4 $309.40. Time � 1:06.2. Attendance � 1,913; Handle � $87,458. Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. The Community Newspaper Subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co, Inc Copyright �The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA