TRAINER MATT WHITEKILLER QUALIFIES 6-OF-10 IN AMERICAN PAINT CLASSIC FUTURITY TRIALS, INCLUDING FASTEST – WIRE TRANSFER

by Richard Linihan

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – April 15, 2024 – It was the Matt Whitekiller Show during the American Paint Classic Futurity trials Sunday at Remington Park as that trainer qualified six of the top 10 for the Grade 1 finals, including fastest qualifier Wire Transfer.

The 2-year-old Paint filly by CRM Livewire, out of the Tac It Like a Man (QH) mare Miss Fly on Tac (QH), stayed undefeated after three starts as she won the first trial of the night and her time held up the rest of the way. She will be the prohibitive favorite in the estimated $159,600 final set for Sunday, April 28.

Wire Transfer, ridden to victory by regular rider Salvador Martinez, broke her maiden at Remington Park on March 7 by a head at 34-1 odds in the Oklahoma Paint and Appaloosa Futurity trials and then came back at 8-1 in the finals of that big race on March 23 by 1-1/4 lengths. If it’s possible, she was even more impressive Sunday, winning her trial by four lengths. She stopped the timer for 330 yards in :16.770 on a fast track for a 90 speed-index. The second-fastest time of the day was an 86 speed-index.

Wire Transfer has earned $89,602 in three tries. Her 90 speed index performance was so impressive that the runner-up in her trial could do no better than a 71. She was sent off at 1-5 odds and figures to be close to that on finals night. On Sunday, she paid $2.40 to win, $2.20 to place and $2.10 to show.

Wire Transfer was bred in Oklahoma by her owner, Robin Haggard of Gans, Okla.

Whitekiller’s qualifiers were first-fastest, third, fifth, seventh, eighth and 10^th. The current King of the Paints, trainer Dee Keener, placed two into the finals after qualifying four for this race last year.

Keener became the all-time top trainer among Paint racing conditioners on May 3, 2020, passing the late, great Lewis Wartchow, who had held that mark for years.

On Sunday, Keener qualified the second-fastest, PFR Road Rage, and the ninth-fastest, WF Jess Candy. The most eye-catching thing about jockey Rolando Raudales booting home 25-1 longshot PFR Road Rage to the win was that this was the only one to get in the finals from a rail post position. Most of the winners were racing from an outside post. She is a 2-year-old gray filly by multiple World Champion Painted Turnpike, out of the Dos Poruno mare Domestic Diva, with one win in two starts.

Here are the 10 fastest qualifiers with horse, time, speed index, jockey, trainer and trial number (race number):

• 1) Wire Transfer, :16.770, 90, L. Salvador Martinez, Matt Whitekiller, trial one (race three)
• 2) PFR Road Rage, :16.930, 86, Rolando Raudales, Dee Keener, trial three, race five
• 3) Shadowing PT, :16.967, 84, Francisco Calderon, Whitekiller, trial two, race four
• 4) WL Karma, :16.979, 84, Cody Wainscott, Zackery Rios, trial four, race six
• 5) Frionas Turnpike, :16.999, 83, Randy Vega, Whitekiller, trial three, race five
• 6) Turnpike Tripping, :17.008, 83, Justine Klaiber, Eddie Willis, trial three, race five
• 7) Painted to Be Quick, :17.009, 83, Calderon, Whitekiller, trial three, race five
• 8) T Rexie, :17.013, 83, Martinez, Whitekiller, trial two, race four
• 9) WF Jess Candy, :17.044, 82, Ricky Ramirez, Keener, trial two, race four
• 10) Favorite Turnpike, :17.073, 81, Vega, Whitekiller, trial four, race six

Remington Live racing returns next week with a Thursday-Sunday schedule, April 18-21, that includes Extreme Racing, one of the biggest promotions every year at Remington Park, Sunday, April 21. There will be races that include zebras, camels, ostriches, pigs and new this year – turtles. The event is one of the biggest fundraisers for Remington Park charities. Live racing with American Quarter Horses, Paints and Appaloosas starts at 6 p.m. nightly next week except for Sunday when it is 4 p.m.

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Remington Park has provided more than $345 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 simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. The Remington Park Futurity for Oklahoma-breds is featured on April 27. The 2024 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season continues through June 1. starts its 50-date season. Parking and admission are always free. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.