A perfect season was accomplished by the talented 2-year-old Paint runner Painted Turnpike as he won the world’s richest futurity for Paints and Appaloosas by a head.
Owned and bred by Nolan Pevehouse of Webbers Falls, Okla. and trained by Matt Whitekiller, Painted Turnpike was ridden by the only jockey he has known, Cody Smith. Painted Turnpike has started five times this season, winning each and every one of them. He adds the Speedhorse Graham Futurity to his March triumph in the Oklahoma Paint & Appaloosa Futurity.
Painted Turnpike has won three of his races by margins between 1-1/2 lengths and 2-1/4 lengths. It was a little tighter at the finish in the Speedhorse Graham as he edged the closing Psychedelic Scott in :17.567 seconds for the 350 yards. Smith explains the short margin.
“It was close, very close, too close,” Smith said. “Tonight he kind of false broke so he didn’t get away as good as he’s capable. I could see them over there (Psychedelic Scott) but too little too late. It pays the same to win by a nose as it does a length.”
The winning streak and total success in every start has not altered the belief Whitekiller has in his young charge. “I was really confident. He’s just a good horse but it’s never easy,” he said. “Lewie Warthchow (late champion Paint/Appaloosa trainer) once told me these futurities were the hardest thing to win because everyone is gunning for you. We’re just thankful we got it done and thankful for all my friends who threw a stinking birthday party for me. It’s been a good day.”
Whitekiller saddled Painted Turnpike to his biggest win yet on his 50th birthday.
Painted Turnpike is a 2013 bay solid stallion by PYC Paint Your Wagon (QH) from the SF Royal Quick Flash mare High Class Turnpike. He won $81,130 in the Speedhorse Graham Futurity, rolling his lifetime money to $157,772.
By winning the Speedhorse Graham Futurity, Painted Turnpike is the only runner that can possibly win the Speedhorse Triple Crown for Paints and Appaloosas. The next race in the series is the Fair Meadows Paint & Appaloosas Futurity this summer in Tulsa. The final leg is the Lone Star Park Paint & Appaloosa Futurity this fall at the Grand Prairie, Texas track.
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