MW BCAUSE IM ALIVE WINS TIGHT PHOTO TO SCORE SPEEDHORSE GRAHAM PAINT & APPALOOSA FUTURITY

by Richard Linihan 

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – May 31, 2026 – No one thought Big Rotney could be beaten after he won the first five races of his career, but it happened Saturday at Remington Park in the world’s richest mixed-breed race – the Grade 1, $230,243 Speedhorse Graham Paint and Appaloosa Futurity – as MW Bcause Im Alive was on top.

In retrospect, the connections of MW Bcause Im Alive were all about their chances of pulling off the upset.

“Yes, sir, I thought we could beat Big Rotney,” said jockey Christian Cardenas, who booted home MW Bcause Im Alive.

The big question after the race, however, was whether he thought MW Bcause Im Alive beat Chilinator as those two horses came together like conjoined twins in a tight photo finish.

“Panchito (Francisco Calderon, aboard runner-up Chilinator) looked over and looked at me and said, ‘Hey, did I get you?’ And I said, ‘No, I don’t think so. I think we got it.’ “

After a couple of tension-filled minutes, the numbers popped up on the giant TV screen in the infield and they said 10-4-8-2, with the 10-horse being MW Bcause Im Alive. Chilinator (5-1) was second and the best Big Rotney could do as the 9-5 second betting favorite was finish seventh in the field of eight. MW Bcause Im Alive was liked so much by his connections and his followers that he was bet down to be the favorite in the late going and went off at 8-5 odds, slightly better than Big Rotney.

Still, trainer James J. Gonzales III wasn’t sure if his jockey, Cardenas, was right about winning.

“I told all the grooms and all the assistants it was a hell of a race, to be happy no matter what and be proud of what we’ve done,” Gonzales said. “But I really thought we lost, to tell you the truth. Horse races can be deceiving, though. It does some weird things. Thank God they hung the 10 (his horse’s number first).”

MW Bcause Im Alive, a 2-year-old Oklahoma-bred Paint colt by Cause Im a Hero (QH), out of the CRM Livewire mare Pistol Grippin Gal, was a winner by the slimmest of noses when all was sorted out and he paid $5.40 to win, $3.40 to place and $3.20 to show. He stopped the timer in :17.867 for 350 yards over a fast track, earning a speed index of 82, same as the runner-up. Dulce Dinero (10-1) finished third, another three-quarters of a length back.

”You know, I’ve always liked this little horse,” Cardenas said. “I started him at the ranch and he always showed potential. The first futurity that we ran, we had a little quirk. He didn’t have the best race, so we ran him back in a stakes race and it wasn’t the best again. Trial race, he ran a perfect race, and today he did it again. It was awesome. I was never surprised; I always expected this horse to be where he was today and thank God we got the job done.”

MW Bcause Im Alive earned $87,932 from the purse and improved lifetime to 5-3-1-0, $104,992. He was bred by James and Wendy Howard.

The rest of the order of finish past the top three was Zazas Coconut Cartel (25-1) fourth, DW Showin D Off (9-2) fifth, Dallas North Tollway (30-1) sixth, Big Rotney (9-5) seventh and Ima Hot Mess (32-1) eighth, Two horses were scratched from the race early – Limited Jesse and Bella BC.

Gonzales ended a streak of four wins in a row in this race for trainer Dee Keener and Cardenas ended James Flores’ streak of three wins in a row in this. It was the first win for all connections of MW Bcause Im Alive in this stakes series.
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Remington Park has provided more than $411 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. The 2026 Thoroughbred Season at Remington Park will begin on August 21. Remington Park presents year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. Guests must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or to enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.