(Saturday, November 17, 2007) - Tim Lange and Charlie Forbes' Dash For Cash Futurity runner-up Illegal Memories clocked 400 yards in :19.706 Saturday night at Lone Star Park and was the fastest qualifier to the Grade 1, $1,069,297 Texas Classic Futurity, which is scheduled for closing night of the Fall Meeting of Champions on Saturday, Dec. 1.

Nine trial races were staged for 2-year-old American Quarter Horses and the 10 fastest of 89 recorded times earned berths in the final, which features a first prize of $475,837. Trainer Heath Taylor qualified six of the horses and matched the late Steve Van Bebber's Nov. 28, 1999 Fall Meeting of Champions record of five wins on a single Lone Star Park program.

Illegal Memories, a Texas-bred gelded son of Illegal Runaway out of the Leaving Memories mare Good Ole Memories, broke well from post No. 9 and was much the best under jockey Roy Baldillez while beating First Prize Fancy by 1 ¼ lengths.

Illegal Memories, who has a history of jumping the photo finish light beam at the wire while racing at night, did his usual leap at the end of the race. "We've had a lot of problems with him jumping the lights at the finish, but he knows he's a runner - he's a real racehorse," said trainer Doug McMullen.

Illegal Memories, beaten just a half-length by Rock Solid Jess as the favorite in the Grade 1, $432,090 Dash For Cash Futurity on Oct. 27, improved his record to 8-3-3-0-$102,079. He also was the fastest qualifier to the Dash For Cash Futurity.

"He doesn't have a strong pedigree and we only gave $5,500 for him, but he can't read or write, so he doesn't know how he's bred," McMullen said. "We're real proud of him."

In addition to Illegal Memories, who prevailed in the fifth trial (Race 7), the finalists are Grade 2 TQHA Sires' Cup Futurity and Grade 3 Texas Juvenile Challenge winner Pool (:19.744, ridden by Manuel Garcia, trained by Ricardo Hinojosa, owned by Legacy Partnership, Race 6); Grade 2 Harrah's Entertainment Futurity and Dash For Cash Juvenile Stakes winner Eyesa Jumpn (:19.749, Santos Carrizales, Jose Ramos, Jesus Huitron, Race 5); Separatist Baby (:19.772, Gilbert Ortiz, Heath Taylor, Ramiro Lopez, Race 5); Retama Park and Manor Downs Futurity winner Swingin Jess (:19.774, Gilbert Ortiz, Heath Taylor, Keilani Farms, Race 4); Red Storm Cat (:19.826, G.R. Carter Jr., Heath Taylor, The G A Connection, Race 11); Always Cumminatcha (:19 830, Juan Vazquez, Sammy Martinez, Johnny & Sammy Martinez, Race 3); Rebas in the House (:19.838, Gilbert Ortiz, Heath Taylor, Heath Taylor, Race 10); All American Futurity third Captain Courage (:19.838, G.R. Carter Jr., Heath Taylor, Burnett Ranches Ltd. & Chad Hart, Race 3); and unbeaten Grade 2 Firecracker Futurity winner Coronas Leaving You (:19.857, Gilbert Ortiz, Heath Taylor, Bob & Jerry Gaston, Race 8).

Taylor won with Swingin Jess ($3.20), Coronas Leaving You ($2.60), Mr Sin Tacha ($16.20), Rebas in the House ($7.60) and Red Storm Cat ($5.20).

"I have tremendous owners who give me the opportunity to train good horses," Taylor said. "It's a lot of work, but that's what you're in it for, and that's what gets you up every morning, and these are the kind of races that a trainer lives for. When they send you nice horses you just hope that it all works out."