TWO-TIME DEFENDING CHAMPION REMINGTON PARK TRAINER DEE KEENER HAS FASTEST QUARTER HORSE, PAINT IN TRAINING RACES

By Richard Linihan

OKLAHOMA CITY, Ok – February 17, 2025 – Trainer Dee Keener of Inola, Okla., sent out the fastest runners among American Quarter Horses and among Paints on Monday from 13 training races at Remington Park.

Training races, also known as schooling races, are run this time of year to prepare 2-year-old horses for the first starts of their careers. No Appaloosas were entered in schooling events Monday.

Keener, who has won the past two training titles at Remington Park during the Quarter Horse-Paint-Appaloosa meets of 2023 and 2024, will be searching for his third trophy in a row when the meet begins Thursday, March 6. On Monday, he sent out Cyber Star, a Quarter Horse filly, in race 11 of the day for owner Kelly Yother Equine of Culver City, Calif. That 2-year-old Oklahoma-bred by Cyber Monday, out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Goddess Artemis, put up the fastest time for Quarter Horses with her :13.746 over the fast track at 250 yards. That was good for a speed index of 71.

Keener had 37 wins in both 2023 and 2024 to earn the Remington Park trainer trophy.

Cyber Star broke from post-position two under jockey Roman Cruz and finished a head in front of First Cash Boy, racing in post position eight for trainer Juan Triana. It was the swiftest time of the day for Quarter Horses, but well back of the time that was the most impressive showing by a horse on the day.

Turbulent, a Paint, had the fastest time of the day overall when the 2-year-old Oklahoma-bred filly Paint by the multiple world champion Painted Turnpike, out of the SF Royal Quick Flash mare Turbulence, blew them away in race two on the afternoon. She beat her field of eight horses by an eye-opening 3-3/4 lengths in a time of :13.636 for a 75 speed index, also with Cruz in the saddle.

Cruz won the Remington Park riding title last year for the first time and was able to boast the Triple Crown of Oklahoma racing – winning top jock at Remington Park, at Fair Meadows in Tulsa, Okla., and at Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla.

Cruz won his Remington Park title with 43 trips to the winner’s circle in 2024, two more victories than runner-up Edwin Escobedo.

Keener was somewhat surprised that the five Paint training races of the day produced three of the of top five times of the session. There were eight Quarter Horse schooling events on the day.

Keener thinks he has something special in Turbulent, owned by 918 Bloodstock (Jay Ross, D.V.M.) of Coweta, Okla.

“Yeah, he’s my vet; he has about 14 horses with me,” said Keener. “We paid a good price for her. We’ve run her whole family.”

Does Ross know what a nice Paint that Turbulent appears to be.

“After today, he does,” said Keener. “Is she the best Paint (in the barn)? It sure looked like it today.”

Of the 13 training races, Keener had the winner in five.

All training races were run from the gate at 250 yards.

The other training race winners (Quarter Horses unless otherwise noted), their times (in order from fastest to slowest winners), speed index, trainers and race number were:

• Wired Cartel (Paint), :13.694, 73, Matt Whitekiller, race five
• Coronas Fancy Wagon, :13.794, 69, Dee Keener, race 13
• Slingshot Engaged (Paint), :13.811, 68, Dee Keener, race three
• Pretty Lil Poison (Paint), :13.882, 65, Matt Whitekiller, race one
• Royal Chil (Paint), :13.911, 64, Matt Whitekiller, race four
• Asher, :13.972, 62, Mike Joiner, race 10
• Mi Reina Janette, :14.003, 60, Mike Joiner, race six
• Valiant Geronimo, :14.043, 59, Luis Villafranco, race seven
• Alstarr, :14.104, 56, Mike Joiner, race eight
• Leave Em Behind, :14.109, 56, Dee Keener, race 12
• Famous Dream Flyer, :14.439, 43, Luis Villafranco, race nine

The next training races are scheduled for Friday, Feb. 21. However, winter weather is moving into Oklahoma City, possibly compromising training throughout the week.

The 2025 Remington Park American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season will begin on Thursday, March 6.

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Remington Park has provided more than $375 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 will begin on March 6. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.