Known as the world’s richest futurity for Paint and Appaloosa runners, the Grade 1 $213,500 Speedhorse/Graham Futurity has another distinctive quality. The winner of the race is usually destined for a championship honor.
A large purse and high title are on the line Saturday, May 30 at Remington Park. The Speedhorse Graham, part of the “Mega-Card” worth more than $2.3 million overall, pulls together the top Paints thus far in 2015. Among the field of 10 are some notable young runners: undefeated Painted Turnpike, already a two-time stakes winner; Psychedelic Scott, victorious in the American Paint Classic in April; and others who will draw the interest of the wagering public.
The field, with nine wagering interests, qualified over five trials on May 16. The top prospects all raised eyebrows in their own way.
Painted Turnpike, the 7-5 morning-line favorite, racked up his fourth consecutive win of the Remington Park season, handling his trial by 1-3/4 lengths in easy fashion. Owned by Nolan Pevehouse of Webbers Falls, Oklahoma, Painted Turnpike is trainer Matt Whitekiller’s best charge in years. Jockey Cody Smith has only had to really ride the colt once, in winning the Victoria Ennis Memorial in April by a neck. The other attempts have all been won by at least 1-1/2 lengths. Painted Turnpike first gained notice in winning his Oklahoma Paint & Appaloosa Futurity trial on March 6 by 2-1/4 lengths.
Bull is the colt that made Painted Turnpike work in April and he had to do some amazing work of his own in putting up the top 350-yard trial time of :17.806 seconds for the Speedhorse Graham. He broke inward while lunging away from the starting gate, nearly going into a major stumble. Jockey Jorge Torres was able to get Bull straightened away and then went to work in getting him to rally to win the heat by a neck. The effort showed great resilience and also marks Bull as one to enjoy going longer than 350 yards.
Owned by Buddy Albin of Denton, Texas, and trained by Randy Hill, Bull is 9-2 in the morning line and will have Jorge up, as he has been for all of his starts.
American Paint Classic winner Psychedelic Scott has improved in each start of 2015 and has all but perfected the big closing move after an average start. While he was forwardly placed in taking the American Paint Classic, Psychedelic Scott doesn’t seem to be in a hurry when the doors open. He has the calm to gather the energy and reel his rivals in over the second half of the race. Owned by Steven Wright of Coweta, Oklahoma, and trained by Jeff Dean, Psychedelic Scott is the choice for jockey G.R. Carter.
G.R. also qualified WL Mr Worldwide for the Speedhorse Graham but elected to stay with the gray who likes to rally. The top all-time jockey usually has his options for the futurities and the fact G.R. selected Psychedelic Scott, 8-1 in the morning-line, speaks volumes.
Speaking of WL Mr Worldwide, he was fourth in the Oklahoma Paint & Appaloosa Futurity in March, then third behind Painted Turnpike (again) and Bull in the Victoria Ennis Memorial in April. Owned by Wade Leggett of Muskogee, Oklahoma, WL Mr Worldwide will be ridden by Cody Jensen.
Wade will also campaign J Woww in the Speedhorse Graham, coupled with WL Mr Worldwide in the wagering at 6-1 in the morning line. A fast starter, J Woww was the target to the amazing rally of Bull in the trial, unable to hold her lead and settle for second, beaten a neck.
The winner of the Speedhorse Graham has the early leg up on yearly honors and possibly the APHA World Champion’s title if recent history tells us anything. My selections will be the improving closer Psychedelic Scott to give Painted Turnpike his first career defeat. I’ll put Bull third with J Woww fourth.
Enjoy the Speedhorse Graham and follow these talented 2-year-olds throughout the rest of the Paint-racing year.
Grade 1 $213,500 Speedhorse Graham Futurity Field
No. Horse Trainer Jockey Odds
1. WL Mr Worldwide – Jeff Dean – Cody Jensen – 6-1
1a. J Woww – Cody McCart – Larry Payne – 6-1
2. Dashin Miss Judy – Randy Hill – Ricky Ramirez – 8-1
3. Painted Turnpike – Matt Whitekiller – Cody Smith – 7-5
4. Train Wreck (ApHC) – Jeff Dean – Edgar Martinez – 15-1
5. MT De Boss – Eddie Willis – Jose Vega – 15-1
6. Paleface Cartel – Ray Enlow – Mario Chavez –15-1
7. Bull – Randy Hill – Jorge Torres – 9-2
8. MT PYC – Eddie Willis – Jimmy Brooks –10-1
9. Psychedelic Scott – Jeff Dean – G.R. Carter – 8-1
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Dale Day is the track handicapper at Remington Park in Oklahoma City; follow him on Twitter @thedaleday. His “Pick a Winner” column is regularly featured during the Remington Park meet season at myflashyride.com.
[Reprinting this article is permitted, so long as credit is given to Flash/APHA and a link provided to myflashyride.com.]
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