TRAINER WHITEKILLER QUALIFIES HALF THE FIELD FOR THE AMERICAN PAINT CLASSIC FUTURITY, INCLUDING FASTEST – PRETTY LIL POISON

As expected, the top two trainers in Paint racing history dominated the Paint Stallion Breeders’ Association American Paint Classic trials Thursday night at Remington Park, with Matt Whitekiller qualifying five of the field of 10. Among them, the top two horses of the night – Pretty Lil Poison and KJ All of the Marbles.

Remington Park leading trainer Dee Keener qualified three others for the final of the Grade 1, $120,800 American Paint Classic. The stakes final for 2-year-old Paints at 330 yards is scheduled for Friday, May 2.

Pretty Lil Poison, under leading rider Francisco Calderon was the only Paint to break the 17-second mark in the four trials Thursday, stopping the timer in :16.932, earning a speed-index of 85 into a strong headwind of 21 mph over a fast racing surface.

The domination of the two top lifetime trainers in Paint racing (Keener 455 wins, Whitekiller 416, according to the American Paint Horse Association website), was expected, but Pretty Lil Poison’s win was a bit of a surprise. The 1-5 wagering favorite in the fastest qualifier’s heat, Turbulent, broke as poorly as she ever has and could only finish fourth in the trial. She did, however, run fast enough to qualify for the finals as the seventh-fastest of the night.

It will be an interesting rubber match in the finals. Turbulent had defeated Pretty Lil Poison in the $215,800 Oklahoma Paint and Appaloosa Futurity at Remington Park on March 22 by three-quarters of a length. Pretty Lil Poison checked in third in that final.

On Thursday, Pretty Lil Poison, a 2-year-old daughter of multiple world champion Painted Turnpike, from the Tac It Like a Man (QH) mare, Miss Fly On Tac (QH), took advantage of Turbulent’s malevolent beginning to the trial, going on to win by a margin of 1-1/4 lengths in eye-popping fashion. Turbulent, who had not been defeated in two official races at Remington Park, finally tasted a loss, running 1-3/4 lengths back of the winner after breaking seventh in a field of eight starters (Run for Miles was a gate scratch).

Pretty Lil Poison did not look like a filly that was breaking her maiden for Whitekiller, her breeder, trainer and owner, but that’s what she did. She had run second in her Oklahoma Paint/Appaloosa Futurity trial to another of the top 10 qualifiers Thursday night, Slingshot Engaged (qualified as fourth-fastest). In the final, Pretty Lil Poison showed improvement, running third, beaten less than a length. She ran her best race ever in these American Paint Classic trials.

Going into the finals, Turbulent will still have the most impressive record, moving to three starts, two wins and a bankroll of $87,368 while Pretty Lil Poison earned $3,300 for the trial win and improved to three starts, one win, one second and one third for earnings of $28,148.

Other than Pretty Lil Poison, the fastest of the 10 qualifiers Thursday night, were (with jockey, trainer, trial number (race number), times and speed index:

KJ All of the Marbles, Cordarelton Benn, Matt Whitekiller, trial one (race four), :17.079, 81
Turnpike Jammer, Erik Esqueda, Ray Enlow, trial four (race seven), :17.140, 79
Slingshot Engaged, Rolando Raudales, Dee Keener, trial three (race six), :17.143, 79
Livewires Apollo, Bryan Candanosa, Matt Whitekiller, trial four (race seven), :17.166, 78
PT Got a Filly, Bryan Candanosa, Matt Whitekiller, trial one (race four), :17.224, 76
Turbulent, Roman Cruz, Dee Keener, trial four (race seven), :17.231, 76
Vexing Queen, Juan Pulido, Dee Keener, trial one (race four), :17.234, 76
Gigis Gucci Glasses, Francisco Calderon, Matt Whitekiller, trial one (race four), :17.320, 73
WL Post Malone, Oscar Andrade, Jr., Zackery Rios, trial two (race five), :17.425, 70

Remington Park racing continues Friday and Saturday, April 18 & 19, at 6pm-Central nightly. Saturday is Remington Park Futurity Night featuring seven stakes events and total purses of more than $1.6 million. There is no Remington Park racing on Easter.

Remington Park has provided more than $377 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. The 2025 American Quarter Horse Season, features the $868,455 Remington Park Futurity on Saturday, April 19. 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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