TRAINER DEE KEENER, JC SPEEDING BOTH SET TRACK RECORDS, WINNING SPEEDHORSE GRAHAM PAINT & APPALOOSA FUTURITY AT REMINGTON PARK

JC Speeding set his second track record of the meeting and his trainer Dee Keener broke a record as well, winning more races in a Remington Park American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season than any other conditioner. The pair took down the Grade 1, $238,200 Speedhorse Graham Paint & Appaloosa Futurity on Saturday, May 31.

JC Speeding, a 2-year-old Oklahoma-bred Paint by Chilitos (QH), out of the High Rate of Return (QH) mare High Speed Kitty (QH), broke the track record for mixed breeds in the process, covering 350 yards in :17.176. The old record was :17.185, set by Southern Electric on April 19, 2021.

With this win, Keener passed Eddie Willis’ old mark for most wins in a season of 53 with his 54th trip to the winner’s circle. Willis set the record in 2011.

Jockey James Flores was aboard JC Speeding both times he set the track record. This Paint also broke the track record for 330 yards in :16.522 on April 25. That record has since been broken again on May 29 by another horse, a Paint also trained by Keener – Cowgirl Chaos (:16.330).

Keener said he thought today’s track record was the more impressive of the two set by JC Speeding for an obvious reason.

“It was worth more money,” he said with a laugh.

Flores, who has his flying license and pilots his own plane from one racing venue to another, had an interesting outlook on just how fast JC Speeding is.

“As fast as this horse ran today, it might have felt like flying a plane,” Flores said with a laugh. “I love flying, but definitely riding horses that are dominant like this is more exciting. He’s probably the fastest Paint that I have ridden by far.”

Keener, from Inola, Okla., was thrilled to be setting all kinds of records on this day and in this race.

“I’m really happy,” Keener said. “To surpass Eddie Willis, who is a great horseman, I’m really happy. I thought (JC Speeding and Turbulent) would both run good. This is a nice colt, though.”

JC Speeding was sent off as the prohibitive 3-5 favorite at post time and remained undefeated after four starts and paid $3.40 to win, $3.40 to place and $2.60 to show. He was bred by Richard Joneson. JC Speeding earned $90,516 for owner Planefun (Carl Duggins) of Broken Arrow, Okla., and improved his record to 4-4 for a bankroll of $119,341.

Running behind JC Speeding in the Futurity were PT Angel (36-1) second, Wired Cartel (11-1) third, Mia Chilitos (57-1) fourth, Cardiac Cowgirl (20-1) fifth, Flight Risk (39-1) sixth, Turbulent (2-1) seventh, Old Habits New Tricks (8-1) eighth, River Flower (31-1) ninth and Painted Fury (66-1) 10th.

The Speedhorse Graham Futurity is for both, Paints and Appaloosas. The field was comprised of 10 Paints this season.

This was the fourth year in a row Keener has won this race and the seventh time overall, another Remington Park record for this stakes series. His other six wins came with WF Jess Candy (Pt, 2024), R Cowgirl (Ap, 2023), Signs of Livewire (Pt, 2022), Power Fade (Pt, 2020), PHQ Goodbye Earl (Pt, 2016) and Texas Silk (Pt, 2014). It was the third year in a row that Flores has won this race for Keener and third overall. Planefun won the race for the first time.

Remington Park has provided more than $380 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 year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.

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