TRAINER MATT WHITEKILLER RECORDS FIFTH WIN IN PAUL HARBER MEMORIAL STAKES, THIS TIME WITH LIVEWIRES TURNPIKE
Trainer Matt Whitekiller won the Grade 2, $25,000 Paul Harber Memorial Stakes for Paints and Appaloosas on Saturday night at Remington Park as Livewires Turnpike won for the 11th time in 16 career races.
It was the third win in this stakes series in the last five runnings for Whitekiller. His winners in the Paul Harber began with multiple World Champion Paint Painted Turnpike in 2016, followed by Painted Turnpike in 2018, Live Moonshine in 2020 and Southern Electric in 2021. It was the first win in this stakes for jockey Francisco Calderon and owner Bryan Hawk of Shawnee, Okla.
Livewires Turnpike, a 4-year-old gelded Paint, by arguably the most proficient sire in the Paint game these days – CRM Livewire – out of the Paint Your Wagon (QH) mare Wagon on Turnpike, stopped the timer at 300 yards in :15.446 on the fast track for a speed index of 91. He won by a half-length over the Shock (9-2 odds), who was another head in front of third-place finisher Turnpikes Judy (13-1).
Livewires Turnpike was sent off as the even-money favorite and returned $4.20 to win, $3.20 to place and $2.60 to show. He has proven to be as prominent a Paint runner as his sire, probably better. CRM Livewire was a multiple stakes winner in his career and was a two-time American Paint Horse Association World Champion.
Livewires Turnpike earned $14,838 from the purse and improved to $210,132 in earnings. The winner was bred in Oklahoma by Nolan Pevehouse.
The rest of the finish saw the only Appaloosa in the race running fourth, Queen for Cash (6-1), followed by Drank Like Hank (5-2), BF Hannas Wagon (32-1), JH Wildcat (18-1) and WL Trapwire (38-1).
Remington Park has provided more than $345 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 simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. The Remington Park Futurity for Oklahoma-breds is featured on April 27. The 2024 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season continues through June 1. starts its 50-date season. Parking and admission are always free. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
-30-