Leading trainer Dee Keener had a massive 17-win lead in the trainers’ race at Remington Park and that lead skyrocketed after winning six races Saturday, including the three fastest qualifiers for the Grade 1 estimated $250,000 Speedhorse Graham Paint and Appaloosa Futurity.
Turbulent came out in the first of six trials to determine the 10 qualifiers for the finals set for Saturday, May 31. The 2-year-old Oklahoma-bred Paint filly, a top runner from Keener’s barn, is by multiple World Champion, Painted Turnpike. She put up a blazing time in her 350-yard race and said, “match that.” No one did. She stopped the timer, under jockey Roman Cruz, in a time of :17.383 seconds, earning a 97 speed-index.
The winner of this meet’s $215,800 Oklahoma Paint and Appaloosa Futurity on March 22, Turbulent, a daughter of the Sf Royal Quick Flash mare Turbulence, has had her ups and downs this meet. She looked like the top Paint on the grounds through March and then she didn’t win a race in April or May until this trial. Pretty Lil Poison upset her in the Grade 1 $120,000 PSBA American Paint Classic on May 2 and then another Paint from Keener’s barn came along, JC Speeding, who set a Track Record for mixed breeds at Remington Park. All three of them would run in separate trials on Saturday and JC Speeding showed up as the second-fastest qualifier. Pretty Lil Poison didn’t display her usual explosive punch and failed to qualify for the final.
Keener and trainer Matt Whitekiller are the top two winningest trainers all-time in the mixed-breed industry and Thursday’s trials followed that story line. Whitekiller qualified five of the 10 finalists and Keener had four. Only Luis Villafranco could break the dominance of these two conditioners with one qualifier – River Flower. Three different jockeys won aboard Keener’s three fastest – Turbulent (Cruz), Jc Speeding (James Flores) and Old Habits New Tricks (Mario Delgado). Keener’s other three winners on the day were He’s Legit, a 4-year-old Appaloosa maiden winner in the first race; Upshot, a non-qualifier in the trials, winning the eighth race, and Wf Apollitical Bullet in an allowance race for Paints and Apps, the ninth event of 11 on the day.
Keener’s six-win day stretched his lead in the trainers’ standings from 17 wins to 22 over Whitekiller and Cristian Alcala at 45-23.
The Grade 1 estimated $250,000 Speedhorse Graham Paint and Appaloosa Futurity finals will be run for these mixed breeds on closing night, Saturday, May 31 at 350 yards.
Turbulent was sent off at 1-9 odds on the toteboard and paid $2.10 to win, place and show in the race. She won by an increasing 3-3/4 lengths in impressive fashion. Turbulent improved her career record for owner 918 Bloodstock of Inola, Okla., to five starts, three wins and one third for earnings of $104,581. She was bred by Alexia Willis.
Cruz has been Turbulent’s regular rider this meet and describes her as, “really impressive. I just try not to mess with her and she will take you to the winner’s circle.”
Other than Turbulent, the fastest of the 10 qualifiers Saturday, were (with jockey, trainer, trial number (race number), times and speed index:
- Jc Speeding, James Flores, Dee Keener, trial four (race six), :17.407, 96
- Old Habits New Tricks, Mario Delgado, Dee Keener, trial three (race five), :17.548, 92
- Pt Angel, Francisco Calderon, Matt Whitekiller, trial three (race five), :17.710,87
- Wired Cartel, Cody Smith, Matt Whitekiller, trial five (race seven), :17.725, 87
- Flight Risk, Cody Smith, Matt Whitekiller, trial two (race four), :17.754, 86
- River Flower, Arturo Alvarez, Luis Villafranco, trial three (race five), :17.774, 85
- Mia Chilitos, Francisco Calderon, Matt Whitekiller, trial four (race six), :17.774, 85
- Cardiac Cowgirl, Juan Pulido, Dee Keener, trial four (race six), :17.817, 84
- Painted Fury, Francisco Calderon, Matt Whitekiller, trial two (race four), :17.840, 84
Live racing continues Sunday with the first race post time at 4 p.m. CDT.
