TRAINER MATT WHITEKILLER TIES LEGENDARY LEWIS WARTCHOW FOR MOST WINS IN OK PAINT AND APP FUTURITY AS WIRE TRANSFER GIVES HIM FIFTH

Trainer Matt Whitekiller tied a historic figure in Paint racing, Lewis Wartchow, on Saturday night at Remington Park when Wire Transfer gave him his fifth win in the Grade 1 Oklahoma Paint and Appaloosa Futurity series.

Whitekiller has won this race in 2015-16, 2019, 2021 and now with Wire Transfer, a 2-year-old Paint filly by CRM Livewire, out of the Tac It Like a Man (QH) mare Miss Fly On Tac (QH). His previous winners were multiple American Paint Horse Association World Champion Painted Turnpike in 2015, Paint Me Turnpike 2016, DTL Chasin Tale 2019 and Smithworks 2021.

Wartchow’s winners started in 1996 with Poquito De Sol, followed by Fabulous Angel in 1998, Meddlin in Cash and Ima Macho Man dead-heating for the win in 2000 and Lady Corona in 2003.

Jockey L. Salvador Martinez was aboard for Whitekiller on Saturday night for his first win in the series and Wire Transfer won $81,526 from the $209,375 purse. The filly remained undefeated after two starts, having won her trial for these finals. Her record is two-for-two with $85,564 in earnings. She was bred in Oklahoma by owner Robin Haggard of Gans, Okla.

“She really broke good, much better than in the trials,” said Martinez. “When I asked her to run, left-handed, she gave me the race you saw.”

She was sent off at 8-1 odds, but Martinez took a peek over at the toteboard to see what kind of support she was getting.

“I looked over during the post parade and saw 9-1 and said to myself, ‘That’s OK. She doesn’t know how to read,’ “he said.

Wire Transfer prevailed by daylight, winning by 1-1/4 lengths at 300 yards in a time of :15.666 over the fast track for a speed index of 84. She paid $18.60 to win, $8.40 to place and $4.60 to show.

The 34-1 longshot Chief Iron Eagle, the lone Appaloosa in the race, got up for second, a nose ahead of third-place finisher OSC Is On Fire (5-1). The remaining order of finish was Toll Road (8-1) in fourth, Vesper Martini (11-1) fifth, RF Livies Buckshot (9-5 favorite) sixth, WF Apolitical Bullet (12-1) seventh, Handsomer (17-1) eighth, OG Nikki Sixx (3-1) ninth and Livewire Honey (32-1) 10th. Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission stewards determined that Vesper Martini impeded Livewire Honey and OG Nikki Sixx in their efforts during the race and Vesper Martini was eventually disqualified and placed last.

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.

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