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Creager rides to Futurity win photo by Drew Fleming By FRANK SILOW GRANTS PASS - John Creager made a wrong turn and mistakenly ended up in the crowd in front of Grants Pass Downs' grandstand after dismounting Far West Futurity winner Isle Fly Easy. The 49-year-old future Hall of Fame quarter-horse jockey has ridden at many race tracks during his long career, but Wednesday was his first visit to Grants Pass. Creager didn't have as much difficulty negotiating the 350-yard sprint. After a less-than-ideal break from the gate, Creager caught the front-running favorite A Chancy Chick with less than 75 yards remaining and pulled away for a victory by a neck to garner the $14,034 winner's portion of the total $35,000 purse. Isle Fly Easy, the co-long shot in the field, returned $20 to win, $15 to place and $3.20 to show on a $2 bet. The winning time was 18.01 seconds. "The two horse (A Chancy Chick) out broke me pretty good," said Creager, the fourth all-time winningest quarter-horse rider. "She didn't make any mistakes and finished strong. She's a trier." Jockey Bobby Webb, who qualified three horses for the finals, including Isle Fly Easy, was denied his first Far West victory with the second-place finish. Webb chose to ride the fastest qualifier, A Chancy Chick, one of the three Jim Glenn Jr.-trained horses in the field that he rode to victories in the trials June 16. "I couldn't have asked for a better break," said Webb, who had the inside post position. "I'm beating him (Creager) pretty easy until we hit the main part of the track. Then we ran into a sand pit. "That part of the track is worked so much more because of the thoroughbreds," added Webb. "There's a big dip and its deeper. I just saw a streak of blue out of the side of my eye." Creager, who registered wins in the $150,000 Bitterroot Futurity and the $80,000 MBNA Challenge races in Boise early this year, flew from Southern California on the day of the race. Creager says he's no stranger to smaller tracks: "I grew up in Utah and I've been to most of the bush tracks. In this business, you go all over." Isle Fly Easy provided 51-year-old owner Rick Lint of Kennewick, Wash., his second Far West victory in two tries at GP Downs. Lint's Judge Me Rapid won the race in 1999. Lint bought Isle Fly Easy for $9,000 when she was less than 1-year-old from the same breeder, Gregory Hickman, he got his earlier Far West winner. "I had people telling me how stupid I was spending that much money for the horse," said Lint. "A lot of people feel they have to go to California, Oklahoma or Texas to get good horses. But you don't have to. There's good one's right here in the Northwest." Lint, who works as a pipe fitter, bought his first horse in 1998. "I worked as a groom and a hot walker as a teenager," said Lint. "I always wanted to get into horse racing." Glenn of Yoncalla registered his third Far West victory at GP Downs. Glenn had two horses - Barry Bandito and Gaining Fame - run a dead heat for first in 1997. Then he won two years later with Lint's Judge Me Rapid. "My wife told me Rick's little filly was the one to watch," said Glenn. "She said those other horses are high strung and that horse (Isle Fly Easy) makes no mistakes." Glenn was able to persuade Creager to make his first trip to Grants Pass for the futurity when he couldn't find a suitable jockey locally. "Right now everything he's flying into ride, he seems to win," said Glenn. "He's real hot. "John was able to get out on a little harder surface and run them down." Creager had no trouble on the track, he just needed a geography lesson getting back to the jockey's room. Wednesday's Results FIRST RACE TB Clm, 51/2 F. 1, Fight Ya (R. Garcia), 4.00, 2.40, 2.10. 2, Halif Street (D. Braden) 2.40, 2.10. 3, Shasta Joe (B. Webb) 2.20. Q - 2-5 $4.60. TRI - 5-2-1 $16.80. Time - 1:07.48. SECOND RACE TB Clm, 51/2 F. 1, Mickey W. (T. Dangerfield) 12.20, 3.00, 2.20. 2, Lively Lucy (S. Barber) 2.40, 2.10. 3, Corageous Annie (R. Sanchez) 2.40. Q - 3-4 $6.40. TRI - 3-4-1 $36.40. D/D - 5-3 $19.40. Time - 1:06.58. THIRD RACE QH Mdn, 300 YD. 1, Major Floydet (R. Sanchez) 8.60, 3.20, 3.40. 2, Blue Lady with Bux (B. Webb) 2.60, 3.00. 3, Cash in on a Dream (T. Dangerfield) 6.20. Q - 6-7 $5.80. TRI - 7-6-5 $76.40. Time - 16:02. FOURTH RACE TB Clm, 61/2 F. 1, Im a Roni Two (S. Barber) 4.60, 2.80, 2.20. 2, Tank's Star (R. Sanchez) 3.20, 2.40. 3, Triple Pirate (T. Dangerfield) 2.60. Q - 1-3 $5.40. TRI - 3-1-5 $36.40. Time - 1:22.11. FIFTH RACE QH, 350 YD. 1, Party's Peak (T. Skaggs) 22.40, 9.60, 4.80. 2, Ruby Cheng (B. Webb) 4.00, 3.60. 3, Payday Hope (T. Beckner) 4.40. Q - 3-5 $22.60. TRI - 5-3-4 $101.40. Time - 18:22. SIXTH RACE TB Clm, 61/2 F. 1, Science Fiction (R. Sanchez) 10.60, 3.80, 2.60. 2, Understand (S. Barber) 7.20, 3.00. 3, Embree Road (B. Webb) 2.60. Q - 3-5 $57.80. TRI - 5-3-2 $441. Time - 1:23.17. SEVENTH RACE TB Clm, 61/2 F. 1, Nevets (R. Garcia) 3.00, 2.10, 2.60. 2, Larimor Road (B. Webb) 2.60, 3.00. 3, Reverend Jim (T. Beckner) 2.40. Q - 1-2 $11.40. TRI - 2-1-5 $37.80. Time - 1:23.07. EIGHTH RACE QH, 350 YD. 1, Isle Fly Easy (J. Creager) 20.00, 15.00, 3.20. 2, A Chancy Chick (B. Webb) 5.60, 2.40. 3, Win Potent Won ( D. Boag) 3.00. Q -1-3 $11.20. TRI - 3-1-2 $105.60. Time - 18.01. NINTH RACE Mixed Breed Clm, 600 YD. 1, Flyin for Ryan (R. Sanchez) 7.60, 5.80, 2.10. 2, MacGregors Alibi (T. Beckner) 13.20, 2.10. 3, Beda be Best (B. Webb) 2.10. Q -1-3 $9.20. TRI - 3-1-4 $53.20. D/D - 3-3 $56.60. Time - 30.20. Reach reporter Frank Silow at 776-4480, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.