WF Jess Candy & Vesper Martini win APHA 2024 World Champion Running Horse titles
The 2024 APHA World Champion Running Horse honors were presented January 16 to WF Jess Candy and Vesper Martini.
World Champion Running Horse: WF Jess Candy
Rising star WF Jess Candy, a 2022 sorrel overo gelding, earned his first world championship running horse title in 2024. Sired by PHQ Apollitical Jess and out of the APHA Champion mare SW Eye Candy, WF Jess Candy displayed talent and consistency in his first year on the track under the training of Dee Keener.
With 10 starts and three wins, including two Grade 1 stakes victories, WF Jess Candy earned $119,274 in 2024. His career highlights include a win in the $40,000 Oklahoma Paint & Appaloosa Juvenile Stakes and the prestigious Grade 1 $230,475 Speedhorse Graham Paint & Appaloosa Futurity. Painted Faith Racing of Inola, Oklahoma, owns WF Jess Candy. Steve and Dee Keener of Coweta, Oklahoma, bred the gelding.
World Champion Solid Paint-Bred Running Horse: Vesper Martini
Another standout 2-year-old, Vesper Martini, firmly established herself as a top Paint racing contender in 2024. In 11 starts under the guidance of trainer Dee Keener, Vesper Martini secured six wins, including two major stakes victories: the $74,000-added Grade 1 Pot O’ Gold Futurity and the $20,000-added Texas Hero Juvenile. These contributed to her $107,017 in career earnings.
A fan favorite, Vesper Martini is a 2022 bay solid mare by APHA world champion running horse Painted Turnpike and out of Martinis N Bikinis (QH). She is owned by 918 Bloodstock of Inola, Oklahoma, and was bred by Garvan Kelly and Lloyd Yother of Bermuda Dunes, California.
2024 APHA Champion Running Horses
- 2024 Leading Breeder: Garvan Kelly & Lloyd Yother with earnings of $197,335
- 2024 Leading Owner: 918 Bloodstock with earnings of $234,768
- 2024 Leading Trainer: Matt Whitekiller with earnings of $625,617
- 2024 Leading Jockey: Roman Cruz with earnings of $232,525
- Champion 2-Year-Old Colt: Handsomer, owned by Bertha Nunez
- Champion 2-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Colt: Jessys Hero, owned by Waylan Melton
- Champion 2-Year-Old Filly: Wire Transfer, owned by Robin Haggard
- Champion 2-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Filly & Champion 2-Year-Old: Vesper Martini owned by 918 Bloodstock
- Champion 2-Year-Old Gelding & Champion 2-Year-Old: WF Jess Candy, owned by Painted Faith Racing
- Champion 2-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Gelding: OSC Is On Fire, owned by Rogelio Sandoval
- Champion 3-Year-Old Colt: None Eligible
- Champion 3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Colt: Lin, owned by Jie Lin
- Champion 3-Year-Old Filly: Tess The Wire, owned by Bryan Hawk
- Champion 3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Filly: Wired Red Head, owned by Taylor Van Bebber, John Herrick & Connie Young
- Champion 3-Year-Old Gelding & Champion 3-Year-Old: Storms Livewire, owned by Edith Gutierrez
- Champion 3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Gelding & Champion 3-Year-Old: Wire Tap, owned by Dan & Kaye Jones
- Champion Aged Stallion: None Eligible
- Champion Aged Solid Paint-Bred Stallion: Strawflyin Eagle, owned by Jose Romero
- Champion Aged Mare: Turnpikes Judy, owned by Shari Burger and Vickie Mcbee
- Champion Aged Solid Paint-Bred Mare: KGS Wish, owned by Betty Charbonneau
- Champion Aged Gelding & Champion Aged Horse: Over The Shock, owned by Robin Haggard
- Champion Aged Solid Paint-Bred Gelding & Champion Aged Horse: Livewires Turnpike, owned by Bryan Hawk
- Broodmare of the Year: SW Eye Candy owned by Steve Wright and Dee Keener
- Distance Champion: KGS Wish, owned by Betty Charbonneau
- Claiming Champion: Pevs Wire To Wire, owned by Jackie Pevehouse
World Champion Regular Registry Running Horse: WF Jess Candy, owned by Painted Faith Racing
World Champion Solid Paint-Bred Running Horse: Vesper Martini, owned by 918 Bloodstock
2024 Regional Racing Awards
Northwest
Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah
Horse: KGS Wish
Owner: Betty Charbonneau
Breeder: Kenneth D. Groce
Trainer: Jeff Charbonneau
Southwest
Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, California, Nevada
Horse: Ima Chili
Owner: Michael Read
Breeder: Susan & Wade Leggett
Trainer: Zackery Rios
Central
Oklahoma, Colorado
Horse: Cowboy On The Fly
Owner: Painted Faith Racing
Breeder: Garvan Kelly & Lloyd Yother
Trainer: Matt Whitekiller
There were no qualifiers for Eastern (Michigan, Kentucky, Florida) or Canada.
Learn more about APHA racing opportunities at apha.com/racing.
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About APHA
The American Paint Horse Association is the world’s second-largest international equine breed association. Since it was founded in 1962, APHA has registered more than a million horses in 59 nations and territories. APHA promotes, preserves and provides meaningful experiences with Paint Horses. Learn more at apha.com.