JS RUNNIN WIRE PULLS OFF MINOR UPSET IN GRADE 1 SPEEDHORSE GRAHAM PAINT & APPALOOSA STAKES
The two favorites in the Grade 1, $40,500 Speedhorse Graham Paint & Appaloosa Stakes were right there at the finish line together, but what they didn’t count on was JS Runnin Wire being with them.
Jockey Gonzalo Gutierrez sneaked his gelding past the favorites to win this stakes race by a nose at 6-1 odds. JS Running Wire, a 3-year-old Paint by CRM Livewire, out of the Willie Wanta Dash (QH) mare Iwilliewantarunner (QH), beat RP Reckless Wire (5-2) by a nose for the win. The post-time favorite, RF Livies Livewire (9-5) was next, another 1-1/4 lengths back.
It was the second win in a row for this Dee Keener trainee, coming into the race off an allowance win last winter at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas. He was the 6-5 favorite in that spot. Owned by Shirley Wheeler of Boynton, Okla., this gelding was at much higher odds Saturday night and paid $14.80 to win, $6.20 to place and $3.60 to show. He earned $24,138 with the winner’s share and improved his career record to 12 starts, five wins, two seconds and two thirds for $89,326 in his bankroll.
JS Runnin Wired stopped the timer for 350 yards in :17.64 over a fast track to earn a speed index of 90. It was this gelding’s second time among stakes horses as a winner, also taking down the Grade 1, $87,300 Pot O’ Gold Futurity at Will Rogers Downs on Oct. 2, 2021. Gutierrez was also in the irons for that big win.
Keener did nothing to hurt his record as the all-time leader among Paint trainers, ahead of Matt Whitekiller and Lew Wartchow. This was the third time Keener had won this race in the series. He also won with Bullet Bonnie in 2019 and with PHQ Goodbye Earl in 2017. It was the first victory of this stakes for Gutierrez and Wheeler.
The remaining order in the race for 3-year-old Paint and Appaloosas was DTL Hot Wired (4th), Wired To Win (5th), Shez Wired Up (6th), My Name Is (7th) and Getrekt By Vito (8th).
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