MOONPIEBYWIRE BENEFACTOR OF DISQUALIFICATION IN WIN OF AMERICAN PAINT DERBY

The Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission stewards put up the inquiry sign right after the horses hit the wire in the Grade 1, $32,201 American Paint Derby. When the dust had settled, Moonpiebywire was placed first, ahead of super-heavy 1-9 wagering favorite Southern Electric in the event for 3-year-old Paint racers.

Southern Electric, from the number-one post position, began bearing out halfway down the track in the 400-yard sprint. After review, the stewards determined that Moonpiebywire, in the number-two post, was compromised in her chances to win because the two horses veered right until they were closer to the outside rail of the track than they were to the inside rail by the time they reached the finish line.

Southern Electric finished a half-length in front of Moonpiebywire. The disqualification gave jockey Daniel Torres his third win on the night as he took races two-through-four.

“I can’t take anything away from that other horse,” Torres said of Southern Electric. “We could have run better, if we had run straight. I don’t know if we would have passed him without the trouble, but we would have been right there.”

Moonpiebywire’s trainer Gary Jacobs has only two horses that have run at Remington Park this meet and they have now started four times with three wins. Moonpiebywire has two of those victories and WB Stevie Nix has the other. Moonpiebywire had raced against Southern Electric on several occasions and never been that close to defeating him. She finished more than two lengths behind him in a trial at Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla., last September, and ran two lengths behind him in the American Paint Classic Futurity last April.

“I talked to the trainer,” said Torres, “and he said she has matured a lot and is more focused than she was last year. She’s a really nice horse; does everything right.”

She is two-for-two ever since Torres got the mount. The winner was bred in Texas by Wendell Blankenship.

Moonpiebywire, a 3-year-old Paint filly by CRM Livewire, out of the Royal Shake Em (QH) mare Moonpie Marauder, has now raced 11 times, won four, and run second and third once for lifetime earnings of $43,656. She earned $13,247 from the purse for owner Wag Ranches of Lubbock, Texas. Onefastheifer ran third 1-1/2 lengths behind the top finisher that was disqualified.

Moonpiebywire, at 21-1 odds, paid $45.40, $6.60 and $3.60 to win, place and show. The DQ kept Southern Electric from winning his third in a row at 400 yards and winning his for the sixth time at Remington Park.

The Moonpiebywire victory gave Jacobs his second victory in the American Paint Derby. He also saddled the 1998 winner, Suchanimage. Torres and Wag Ranches enjoyed their first win in the derby.
Racing is scheduled to continue with Sunday’s 10-race card on tap. First post time is 6 p.m.

Tracked by more than 163,000 fans on Facebook and more than 10,200 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $242 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District, Remington Park presents the 2020 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season through May 30. Visit remingtonpark.com for free racing selections for every program.

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