APHA Announces 2012 Running Champions

PRESS RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Karen Utecht, Director of Racing
(817) 222-6444
Email: [email protected]

 

APHA announces 2012 Running Champions

FORT WORTH, TEXAS—Logging a fantastic year on the track, CRM Livewire and Flashthechicks were named the American Paint Horse Association’s 2012 Running World Champions. CRM Livewire took home the World Champion title for Regular Registry Paints, and Flashthechicks was the Solid Paint-Bred World Champion. They topped the field of 20 APHA Running Champions for the 2012 season.

The Running Champion awards are presented annually to Paint Horses that demonstrate athleticism on the racetrack. Selection is based on their level of competition, location, races won and earnings. Awards are presented in three age categories for both Regular Registry and Solid Paint-Bred Registry horses, and the winners are selected by the APHA Racing Committee. Canadian/International, Distance and Claiming Champions were also named, along with racing Honor Roll champions.

2012 World Champions

Last year’s Champion 2-Year-Old Colt and No. 1 Honor Roll Stallion, CRM Livewire came back even stronger for his 3-year-old season, winning his first World Champion Running Horse title along with Champion 3-Year-Old and Champion 3-Year-Old Colt honors. He also repeated his 2011 title as the No. 1 Honor Roll Stallion.

In 11 starts, the 2009 bay tobiano stallion logged a record of five wins and three seconds, including a trio of stakes victories in the Speedhorse Paint& Appaloosa Derby, the Masterpiece Challenge and the Talimena Handicap. The stallion earned a 2012 bankroll of $72,790 for owner/breeder Dan Jones of Kemp, Texas, which brought the stallion’s lifetime earnings to more than $90,000. By Cartel Success (QH) and out of Elaina Go Go, CRM Livewire was trained by Matt Whitekiller.

Earning his first World Champion Regular Registry Running Horse title in 2012, CRM Livewire also took home top honors as APHA’s Champion 3-Year-Old, Champion 3-Year-Old Stallion and No. 1 Racing Honor Roll Stallion. The 2009 bay tobiano stallion was bred and is owned by Dan Jones. Photo courtesy Lone Star Park.

With a stellar year that added $87,532 to his earnings record, Flashthechicks successfully defended his 2011 World Championship and claimed the 2012 World Champion Solid Paint-Bred Running Horse title, Champion 3-Year-Old SPB and 3-Year-Old SPB Gelding titles, and No. 1 SPB Honor Roll Gelding award.

A record of five wins, three seconds and three thirds over 12 starts helped Flashthechicks capture earnings of $87,532 in 2012, bringing his lifetime earnings to $273,539. Like his counterpart, the 2009 sorrel solid gelding captured three stakes wins in 2012: the PSBA Derby, the Oklahoma Horsemen’s Association Derby and the Green Country Handicap. Sired by Royal Quick Flash and out of Game Chicken, Flashthechicks was bred and is owned by Shirley Wheeler of Boynton, Oklahoma—2012’s Leading Breeder and Owner. Luis Villafranco trained the gelding.

Flashthechicks, a 2009 sorrel solid gelding owned and bred by Shirley Wheeler, claimed his second-consecutive World Champion Solid Paint-Bred Running Horse title in 2012, along with the Champion 3-Year-Old SPB, Champion 3-Year-Old SPB Gelding and No. 1 SPB Racing Honor Roll titles. Photo courtesy Dustin Orona Photography.

Additional Honorees

APHA also recognizes individuals who contribute to the success of the breed’s running champions. Each year, the association honors the leading breeder, owner, trainer and jockey.

Thanks in part to Flashthechick’s dominant performance on the track in 2012, Shirley Wheeler of Boynton, Oklahoma, was named the 2012 Leading Owner and Breeder—this is her second consecutive time to win both titles. In addition to World Champion SPB Running Horse winner Flashthechicks, Shirley also owns and bred Imachickenkicker, the 2012 Champion 2-Year-Old SPB and 2-Year-Old SPB Filly, and No. 1 SPB Honor Roll Mare.

Earning a second consecutive title as Leading Trainer of 2012 was Dee Keener of Inola, Oklahoma. With runners that included 2012 Champion winners Lajollas Mr Big Stuff, SW Eye Candy, Getta Dos Of This, Super Glide Harley and Sexy Senorita, Keener-trained horses captured $396,411 in earnings during 2012.

Earning his ninth Leading Jockey title was G.R. Carter Jr., who piloted his mounts to total 2012 earnings worth $281,441. Among his mounts last year were2012 Champions Imachickenkicker and Lajollas Mr Big Stuff.

“Congratulations to this world-class group of Paint Horses and people,” APHA Executive Director Billy Smith said. “We can’t wait to see you at the track in 2013.”

APHA congratulates all of its 2012 Champions:

Regular Registry Running Champions

2-Year-Old – Lajollas Mr Big Stuff
2-Year-Old Gelding
Royal Quick Flash x MCM Evelyn Lajolla
Owner/Breeder: Jane A. Cullum of Muskogee, Okla.
2012 earnings: $122,830

2-Year-Old Filly – Sexy Senorita
Royal Quick Flash x Texas Showboat
Owner: Wade Leggett of Muskogee, Okla.
Breeder: Steele Farms Inc. of Fort Gibson, Okla.
2012 earnings: $37,952

2-Year-Old Colt – Getta Dos Of This
Dos Poruno x Royal Sooner Chick
Owner: Crazy Wenches Inc. of Skiatook, Okla.
Breeder: Tom Denham of Glenpool, Okla.
2012 earnings: $25,974

Aged Horse– PF Chief Runnin Bear
Aged Gelding
Grand Point x SC Running Cloud (QH)
Owner: Sherry Koltiska of Lander, Wyo., and Lynn and Betty Bettinger of Waco, Texas
Breeder: Randy Davis of Vinita, Okla.
2012 earnings: $24,197
Lifetime earnings: $167,570

Aged Stallion – Dos Jakes
Dos Poruno x Bug Lover (QH)
Owner: Nancy Roberts of Lockesburg, Ark.
Breeder: Milford G. Roberts Jr. of Lockesburg, Ark.
2012 earnings: $7,224
Lifetime earnings: $29,507

Aged Mare – Onlytreasureofmine
Judys Lineage x Treasured Mayor
Owner/Breeder: Scott Mills of Ada, Okla.
2012 earnings: $8,330
Lifetime earnings: $76,330

World Champion – CRM Livewire
3-Year-Old
3-Year-Old Colt
Cartel Success (QH) x Elaina Go Go
Owner/Breeder: Dan Jones of Kemp, Texas
2012 earnings: $72,799
Lifetime earnings: $90,190 

3-Year-Old Filly – SW Eye Candy
Country Chicks Man (QH) x Ms Painted Eyeopener
Owner: Steve Wright & Dee Keener of Inola, Okla.
Breeder: Linda Fox of Maud, Okla.
2012 earnings: $20,209
Lifetime earnings: $78,314

3-Year-Old Gelding – Hungry For Money
Quick Racing Stripes x Smore Money
Owner/Breeder: Bonnie Wilson of Vian, Okla.
2012 earnings: $19,035
Lifetime earnings: $19,843

Regular Registry Honor Roll
No. 1 Racing Honor Roll Stallion: CRM Livewire
Owner: Dan Jones of Kemp, Texas

No. 1 Racing Honor Roll Mare: SW Eye Candy
Owners: Steve Wright & Dee Keener of Inola, Okla.

No. 1 Racing Honor Roll Gelding: Super Glide Harley
Owners: Paint Horse Queens of Coweta, Okla.

Solid Paint-Bred Running Champions 

2-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Champion – Imachickenkicker
2-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Filly
Dos Poruno x Game Chicken
Owner/Breeder: Shirley Wheeler of Boynton, Okla.
2012 earnings: $83,007

2-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Colt – None Eligible

2-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Gelding – LD Flashback
Royal Quick Flash x Invisible Jolene (QH)
Owner/Breeder: Desiree Harbour-Buck of Wilson, Okla.
2012 earnings: $41,439

Aged Solid Paint-Bred Horse – Barney Ofield
Aged Solid Paint-Bred Gelding
Judys Lineage x Shero
Owner: Julie Haywood and Joni Willis of Sallisaw, Okla.
Breeder: Marion Hoskin of Ada, Okla.
2012 earnings: $54,486
Lifetime earnings: $166,223

Aged Solid Paint-Bred Mare – Uno Machine
Dos Poruno x Magical Dreams
Owner/Breeder: Dave or Shirley Gates of Blanchard, Michigan
2012 earnings: $13,665
Lifetime earnings: $26,678

Aged Solid Paint-Bred Stallion – None Eligible

Solid Paint-Bred World Champion – Flashthechicks
3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred
3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Gelding
Royal Quick Flash x Game Chicken
Owner/Breeder: Shirley Wheeler of Boynton, Okla.
2012 earnings: $87,532
Lifetime earnings: $273,539

3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Colt – General Gordiz
Awesome Chrome x Killer Corona (QH)
Owner/Breeder: Javier Lujan of Pharr, Texas
2012 earnings: $9,013
Lifetime earnings: $31,003

3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Filly – Crazy Mother Trucker
Sweet First Down (QH) x Texas Fourwinds
Owner: Wade Leggett of Muskogee, Okla.
Breeder: Charles Leggett of Okmulgee, Okla.
2012 earnings: $44,356
Lifetime earnings: $66,301

Solid Paint-Bred Honor Roll
No. 1 Solid Paint-Bred Racing Honor Roll Stallion: Dash Poruno
Owner: Mike Grewell of Joliet, Mont.

No. 1 Solid Paint-Bred Racing Honor Roll Mare: Imachickenkicker
Owner: Shirley Wheeler of Boynton, Okla.

No. 1 Solid Paint-Bred Racing Honor Roll Gelding: Flashthechicks
Owner: Shirley Wheeler of Boynton, Okla.

Specialty Champions 

International/Canadian Champion: Mantracker
Country Quick Dash x Treasure Winner
Owner/Owner: Dr. Guylaine Paquin of Baltimore, Ontario, Canada
2012 earnings: $31,736
Lifetime earnings: $35,603

Distance Champion: DSP Annies Flash
Royal Quick Flash x Streakin Peacock (QH)
Owner: Darrel or Billie Farrow of Terlton, Okla.
Breeder: Doug or Susie Peacock of Sand Springs, Okla.
2012 earnings: $26,154
Lifetime earnings: $36,904

Claiming Champion: Ride Me Easy
Judys Lineage x A Golden Jet
Owner: Andrew Golden & Randy Hill of Lexington, Okla.
Breeder: Andrew Golden or Vel Smith of Norman, Okla.
2012 earnings: $18,850
Lifetime earnings: $21,472

Complete stories on all of the 2012 APHA Racing Champions will be in the March 2013 Paint Horse Racing—a free digital publication dedicated to Paint racing and speed-event horses. Sign up to receive your free digital subscription here.

For more information on Paint Horse racing, contact APHA’s Racing Department at (817) 222-6444, email [email protected], or visit racing.apha.com.