Local trainer/owner qualifies 5 horses for American Paint Classic finals
OKLAHOMA CITY — As expected, the top two trainers in paint racing history dominated the Paint Stallion Breeders’ Association American Paint Classic trials April 17 at Remington Park, with local trainer Matt Whitekiller qualifying five of the field of 10. Among them, the top two horses of the night — Pretty Lil Poison and KJ All of the Marbles.
OKLAHOMA CITY — As expected, the top two trainers in paint racing history dominated the Paint Stallion Breeders’ Association American Paint Classic trials April 17 at Remington Park, with local trainer Matt Whitekiller qualifying five of the field of 10. Among them, the top two horses of the night — Pretty Lil Poison and KJ All of the Marbles.
Remington Park leading trainer Dee Keener qualified three others for the final of the Grade 1, $120,800 American Paint Classic. The stakes final for 2-year-old Paints at 330 yards is scheduled for Friday.
Pretty Lil Poison, under leading rider Francisco Calderon was the only Paint to break the 17-second mark in the four trials Thursday, stopping the timer in 16.932 seconds, earning a speed-index of 85 into a strong headwind of 21 mph over a fast racing surface.
The domination of the two top lifetime trainers in paint racing (Keener 455 wins, Whitekiller 416, according to the American Paint Horse Association website), was expected, but Pretty Lil Poison’s win was a bit of a surprise. The 1-5 wagering favorite in the fastest qualifier’s heat, Turbulent, broke as poorly as she ever has and could only finish fourth in the trial. She did, however, run fast enough to qualify for the finals as the seventh-fastest of the night.
It will be an interesting rubber match in the finals. Turbulent had defeated Pretty Lil Poison in the $215,800 Oklahoma Paint and Appaloosa Futurity on March 22 at Remington Park by three-quarters of a length. Pretty Lil Poison checked in third in that final.
On April 17, Pretty Lil Poison, a 2-year-old daughter of multiple world champion Painted Turnpike, from the Tac It Like a Man (QH) mare, Miss Fly On Tac (QH), took advantage of Turbulent’s malevolent beginning to the trial, going on to win by a margin of 1.25 lengths in eye-popping fashion. Turbulent, who had not been defeated in two official races at Remington Park, finally tasted a loss, running 1.75 lengths back of the winner after breaking seventh in a field of eight starters (Run for Miles was a gate scratch).
Pretty Lil Poison did not look like a filly that was breaking her maiden for Whitekiller, her breeder, trainer and owner, but that’s what she did. She had run second in her Oklahoma Paint/ Appaloosa Futurity trial to another of the top 10 qualifiers on April 17, Slingshot Engaged (qualified as fourth-fastest). In the final, Pretty Lil Poison showed improvement, running third, beaten less than a length. She ran her best race ever in these American Paint Classic trials.
Going into the finals, Turbulent will still have the most impressive record, moving to three starts, two wins and a bankroll of $87,368 while Pretty Lil Poison earned $3,300 for the trial win and improved to three starts, one win, one second and one third for earnings of $28,148.
Whitekiller’s other three horses to qualify for Friday’s big race were Liveries Apollo, PT Got a Filly and Gigis Gucci Glasses.
