WF JESS CANDY GIVES TRAINER DEE KEENER THIRD CONSECUTIVE WIN IN SPEEDHORSE GRAHAM FUTURITY AT REMINGTON PARK

by Richard Linihan

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – June 3, 2024 – WF Jess Candy hit the wire first, giving trainer Dee Keener the win in the Grade 1, $230,475 Speedhorse Graham Paint and Appaloosa Futurity on Saturday at Remington Park. The 350-yard race for 2-year-olds is the richest race for Paints and Appaloosas in the world.

It was the third year in a row a Keener horse has won this race. Not only has Keener dominated this race lately, he also has won it six times overall. It had to be even more special for Keener this year as horses he trains ran first-second-third-and-fourth in the race. He qualified five into this final this year.

Jockey James Flores won with WF Jess Candy, a 2-year-old Paint colt by PHQ Apollitical Jess, out of the Country Chicks Man (QH) mare SW Eye Candy. It was the second consecutive year Flores had won this race. He was also aboard R Cowgirl (Appaloosa) last year when she won for Keener.

Keener’s other Speedhorse Graham Futurity winners include Signs of Livewire (Paint) in 2022, Power Fade (Paint) in 2020, PHQ Goodbye Earl (Paint) in 2016 and Texas Silk (Paint) in 2014.

Another special aspect for Keener in this year’s win had to be getting it done for his wife, Wendy Ingersoll, who won the race as owner of WF Jess Candy for Painted Faith Racing of Inola, Okla. The winner was bred in Oklahoma by Steve Wright and Keener.

“I’m obviously very happy for this stallion,” said Ingersoll. “It was a huge win for all of us. I really can’t ask for anything more.”

WF Jess Candy was sent off as the 5-2 second-betting favorite and paid $7.80 to win, $3.80 to place and $2.80 to show. The 5-2 beaten favorite, Vesper Martini, finished second, a neck ahead of third-place runner OG Nikki Sixx (19-1), who was another head in front of fourth-place PFR Road Rage (7-2). All four come from Keener’s barn. There’s a reason he is the modern-day King of the Paints and the winner of the most races in the history of the game with the Paints.

WF Jess Candy earned $87,581 for Painted Faith Racing and improved lifetime to six starts, three wins and one third for $114,224 total bankroll. It was the second stakes win of the career for the winner. WF Jess Candy also won the $40,000 Oklahoma Paint & Appaloosa Juvenile Stakes on March 23 at Remington Park. Running time for the Paint was :17.719 in Saturday’s futurity on the fast track for an 88 speed-index.

The rest of the order of finish past Keener’s top four was Painted to Be Quick (5-1) fifth, Cowboy On the Fly (9-1) sixth, Straightaway Turnpike (35-1) seventh, Cowgirl Chaos (23-1) eighth, MH Cold Nights (22-1) ninth and Baileys N Blood (13-1) 10^th. Cowgirl Chaos was the only Appaloosa in this years Speedhorse Graham Futurity. She is also trained by Keener.

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Remington Park has provided more than $349 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 2024 Thoroughbred Season will begin on August 16. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.