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admin March 25, 2025 0 Comments

TRAINER DEE KEENER BECOMES SIX-TIME WINNER IN OKLAHOMA PAINT & APPALOOSA FUTURITY AS TURBULENT HELPS HIM BREAK THREE-WAY TIE

by Richard Linihan

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – March 24, 2025 – The top three trainers in the Paint and Appaloosa industry, Dee Keener, Matt Whitekiller and the late Lewis Wartchow, were tied at five wins apiece in the Oklahoma Paint and Appaloosa Futurity going into Saturday night’s $215,800 edition at Remington Park.

When Turbulent crossed the finish line first, it put Keener in the lead with six wins in the stakes final ahead of the other two legendary trainers.

There was never any doubt that the 2-year-old Oklahoma-bred Paint daughter of three-time World Champion Painted Turnpike would be something special from the first day she stepped onto the track. Turbulent won the fastest training race of the day on Feb. 17 at Remington Park, blazing 250 yards in 13.63, faster even than any of the American Quarter Horses that day. She won that training event by 3-3/4 lengths.

Keener entered Turbulent in the trials for the Oklahoma Paint & Appaloosa Futurity and she won by 1-3/4 lengths in a time of :15.72. No other finalist, including all other trial winners, could manage a time in the :15:70s. The second-fastest of the qualifiers was :15.85. So, it was no surprise when Turbulent surged to the lead in Saturday’s final under jockey Roman Cruz for his third win of the night. She won by three-quarters of a length for the 300-yard race in :15.506 for a speed-index of 90. It was Cruz’s first win in this series.

“She is really impressive,” said Cruz, who won the Triple Crown for Oklahoma jockeys last year, taking riding titles at Remington Park, Will Rogers Downs in Claremore and Fair Meadows at Tulsa. “She was just waiting for the bell to open the gate. I knew I was going to have to ride hard tonight because that 8-horse (Old Habits New Tricks) was right beside me the whole way. But this filly does everything on her own. I just try not to mess with her and she will take you to the winner’s circle.”

Turbulent, from the SF Royal Quick Flash mare Turbulence, is owned by 918 Bloodstock (Jay Ross, D.V.M.) of Coweta, Okla., and was bred by Alexia Willis. Turbulent gained a lot of her talent from not only her World Champion sire, but also her dam (mother), Turbulence. That Paint won 5-of-14 lifetime and earned $72,946. The daughter, Turbulent, passed her mother in earnings Saturday in less than 16 seconds, pocketing $83,654 for her victory. After two starts, she is two-for-two with a total of $87,038 in her wallet.

“A buddy of mine bred her,” said Ross, who won this race for the first time. “I just sort of stumbled into the deal.”

Looks like when he stumbled, he fell backwards into a pile of money with this filly.

“She really is nice,” said Keener, of Inola, Okla. “We are really happy with the way she has performed.”

Keener also ran second with Old Habits New Tricks (5-1) and fourth with PT Angel (31-1). Whitekiller’s third-place finisher Pretty Lil Poison (14-1) spoiled the party, finishing a half-length ahead of PT Angel.

The rest of the finishers were Cardiac Cowgirl (6-1) fifth, Slingshot Engaged (9-1) sixth, River Flower (19-1) seventh, Cuz Eyema Cowboy Baby (18-1) eighth and Turnpike Jammer (13-1) ninth. Sexy Ross was a scratch from the race early in the day.

Turbulent paid $3.40 to win, $2.80 to place and $2.40 to show.

Keener’s other winners in the Oklahoma Paint and Appaloosa Futurity were:

  • Signs of Livewire, 2022
  • Captain Capi, 2020
  • Miss Movin On, 2014
  • Fast Attitude, 2009
  • Lady Corona, 2003

Remington Park racing continues Sunday, March 23 with a card that begins at 4pm-Central.

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Remington Park has provided more than $376 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 $800,000 (estimated) 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.