WF TURNPIKE CANDY SHOWS WORLD CHAMPION SIRE’S TRAITS IN WINNING GRADE 1 $103,200 AMERICAN CLASSIC PAINT FUTURITY
WF Turnpike Candy is a son of multiple world champion Painted Turnpike, and already in his young career he is looking a lot like his sire, winning the Grade 1, $103,200 American Classic Paint Futurity on Saturday at Remington Park.
Heavily backed as the 4-5 wagering favorite, WF Turnpike Candy, pleased his followers with a half-length victory over This Wire is Hot. Jockey James Flores, the top rider at Remington Park the past two years and current leader, jumped on top early with this 2-year-old Paint gelding and never wavered, hitting the line first. It was his third of four wins on the card. Oddly enough, it was Flores’ first win in this race as well as owners Painted Faith Racing’s first.
It was trainer Dee Keener’s fifth win in this stakes race, putting him only one behind the all-time greatest Paint trainer Lewis Wartchow, who won this race an amazing six times. Keener’s other four wins of the American Classic Paint Futurity came with PHQ Goodbye Earl in 2016, Texas Silk in 2014, Lajollas Mr Big Stuff in 2012 and Speed Bandit in 2008.
“Lew won a lot of stuff,” said Keener. “I hope we can catch him. It’s taken all these years since he passed for me to catch him in money and he’s been gone awhile. I hope we can catch him in this race. It would be such an honor. He was a nice man.”
The thing that makes one wonder if WF Turnpike Candy may turn into something as special as his dad is that he virtually equaled the stakes record Saturday night, stopping the timer at 350 yards in 17.581 seconds. The record was set by multiple world champion Got Country Grip in 2005. He established the record of 17.58, the last year before the timer went to thousandths of a second in 2006. WF Turnpike Candy’s speed index Saturday was 88.
“I don’t know if this one can be the same kind as Painted Turnpike, but this horse has a great mind,” said Keener. “I hope so.”
WF Turnpike Candy paid $3.60, $2.60 and $2.10 across the board. He won $39,216 for owner Painted Faith Racing of Inola, Okla. His record after four starts is three wins and one third for a total bankroll of $66,345. This Wire Is Hot finished another head in front of Mammy Jammer in third.
Keener likely trains the top two 2-year-old Paints on the grounds at Remington Park, if not this region of the country, in WF Turnpike Candy and Captain Capi. The latter won the $180,100 Oklahoma Paint/Appaloosa Futurity in March with WF Turnpike Candy finishing third in that race, his only loss.
“Captain Capi out broke him in the Oklahoma Futurity,” Keener said. “That had never happened and I think it kind of scared (WF Turnpike Candy). I don’t really know which one is the best right now. I have another one that broke his maiden here named Alota Cowboy Try who didn’t have a great trip his last start.”
Racing is scheduled to continue, with no public spectators, with Sunday’s 10-race card on tap. The main event is the Remington Park Distance Challenge, part of the American Quarter Horse Association Challenge Series. First post is 6pm-Central.
Tracked by more than 163,000 fans on Facebook and more than 10,200 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $242 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 the 2020 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season through May 30. Visit remingtonpark.com for free racing selections for every program.
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