WIRE TAP WINS GRADE 1 AMERICAN PAINT STAKES, GIVING TRAINER WHITEKILLER HIS THIRD VICTORY IN THIS SERIES

by Richard Linihan

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – April 29, 2024 – Wire Tap won his third race in a row Sunday, giving trainer Matt Whitekiller his third trip to the winner’s circle in the Grade 1, $25,000 American Paint Stakes series.

This 3-year-old gelded Paint son of CRM Livewire, out of the Painted Sign (QH) mare Lindys Sign (QH), hit the finish line first as the 8-5 post-time favorite under jockey L. Salvador Martinez. He barely squeaked out a win, finishing only a neck ahead of runner-up Storms Livewire (6-1), who was another neck ahead of third-place finisher Tess the Wire (3-1).

Whitekiller also won this race in 2018 with Bully Pulpit and in 2009 with Awesome Fling.

Earlier this meet, Wire Tap was climbing through his conditions, winning an allowance for non-winners of two and then an allowance for non-winners of three before trying stakes company on Sunday.

Dan and Kaye Jones of Kemp, Texas, pocketed $10,575 for the victory as Wire Tap improved to 10 starts, four wins and one second for earnings of $38,546.

It was the first win in the stakes series for Martinez and the second for the Joneses. They also won with Bully Pulpit.

Running time for the 350-yard race for 3-year-old Paints was :17.638 for a speed-index of 90 for Wire Tap over the fast track. He was bred in Oklahoma by the owners. The gelding has now won three-of-six starts at Remington Park.

Wire Tap paid $5.40 to win, $4 to place and $3 to show. The rest of the order of finish past the top three was Wired Red Head (4-1) fourth, Pevs Wire to Wire (11-1) fifth and Jess a Livewire (7-2) sixth. Ancestry was a pre-race scratch.

Martinez has been in the saddle for all three wins this meet.

Remington Park will present a special program of racing on Monday, April 29, featuring the six stakes races postponed on April 27 due to weather. The stakes events are led by the $854,000-plus Remington Park Futurity. The first race on Monday is at 1pm-Central.

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Remington Park has provided more than $347 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 2024 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season continues through June 1 with the biggest racing program of the season. The Champions Night boasts total purses in excess of $2,000,000, led by the $1,000,000 Heritage Place Futurity. 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.