SIGNS OF LIVEWIRE STAYS UNDEFEATED, WINNING SPEEDHORSE GRAHAM FUTURITY
If there were any doubt who was the top 2-year-old Paint on the grounds before the Grade 1, $236,850 Speedhorse Graham Futurity on Saturday, Signs of Livewire put that argument to rest in a hurry.
The 2-year-old Paint colt by CRM Livewire, out of the PYC Paint Your Wagon (QH) mare Signs of PYC (QH), ran his record to 4-for-4 lifetime with a devastating victory. Signs of Livewire blasted from the gate on top and made the rest of his competition look like they were standing still as he hit the wire two lengths ahead. He covered the 350 yards in :17.493 over the fast track, good for a speed index of 94.
The colt, owned by Jeff Adams of Durant, Okla., and trained by the all-time winningest Paint trainer in history, Dee Keener, began his career with a win in the Oklahoma Paint and Appaloosa Futurity trials on March 4 by a neck. He then came back and won that $226,000 final by a half-length. His third trip to the racetrack also ended in a trip to the winner’s circle in the Speedhorse Graham trials, winning by three lengths. The colt appears to be getting better and stronger with each out.
Jockey Jesus Salazar has ridden him to victory in every start. He still remembers the first time he hooked up to ride for Keener.
“It was many years ago in the OHA Futurity,” Salazar said. “I don’t think they even run it anymore. I was riding a horse for Jeff Dean, Flash of Silk, and I won. Dee’s horse ran second with G.R. Carter up. I caught him right at the wire. That’s how I got in with Dee.
“It was very meaningful. Back in the day, I remember all I wanted to do was win one (stakes) buckle. But after I won that one, I wanted another one and I still keep winning them.”
He did just that Saturday, continuing the streak with Signs of Livewire, and winning a nice chunk of change along the way. Signs of Livewire earned $90,003 for Adams. Salazar gets 10 percent of that for less than 18 seconds of work in this race.
The colt went off as the prohibitive 1-2 favorite and paid $3 to win, $2.60 to place and $2.20 to show. PFR Quickwire (42-1) checked in second, another head in front of third-place finisher BF Hannas Wagon (26-1). The 50-cent trifecta with that favorite and two longshots behind him was worth $141.20.
The remaining order of finish in the richest race in the world for Paints and Appaloosas was Livewires Turnpike (4th), Turnpikers Eagle (5th), RP Dirty Barracuda (6th), PFR Corona N Lime (7th), Electric Tales (8th), Salt Wire (9th) and WL You Aint No Cowboy (10th).
Signs of Livewire was bred in Oklahoma by Alexia Willis.
“I saw her post a picture of him on Facebook when he was two days old and I bought him the next day,” said Adams with a laugh.
He’s laughing because it’s almost guaranteed that he didn’t pay the nearly $200,000 the horse has won in four quick starts as a 2-year-old. His record after the win is 4-4-0-0 for $187,297.
It was the fourth win in this stakes race for Keener who also took the trophy in 2014, 2016, 2020. His winners in those years, respectively, were Texas Silk, PHQ Goodbye Earl and Power Fade, all Paints. Salazar was aboard PHQ Goodbye Earl and now is a two-time winner of this race. It was the first win for Adams.
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