Courtesy Remington Park; images by Dustin Orona Photography/Remington Park
Three Paint Horse claimed victory in races at Remington Park on April 26-27, adding cash and prestige to their APHA race records. Included was Ima Real Livewire’s record setting sprint over 400 yards in the G1 American Paint Derby.
G1 American Paint Derby
Despite winning for the fourth time in five starts lifetime, the betting public overlooked Ima Real Livewire and he made them pay for it. This 3-year-old gelding won the Grade 1 $67,200 American Paint Derby at Remington Park.
Ima Real Livewire (pictured above), a 2016 gray tobiano by CRM Livewire and out of Ima Stormy Valentine, was laid off for almost a year after beginning his racing career with two wins from three tries as a 2-year-old in 2018. His victories include a stakes win almost exactly a year ago tonight, on April 28, when he won the Victoria Ennis Memorial.
“He colicked last year and had to have surgery,” said the gelding’s trainer Michelle Hurdle. “That’s why he was off so long. But he sure has come back good.”
Ima Real Livewire is two-for-two in 2019. He earned $25,536 for the win and now has $63,206 lifetime in those five starts. Jockey Jose Vega has been in the irons for all four wins for owner Carole Stacy of Warner, Oklahoma.
Ima Real Livewire appears to be getting better and better since the surgery, winning tonight by 1-1/2 lengths at 400 yards and setting a track record for Paints or Appaloosa at Remington Park. His running time was 19.320 seconds over the fast track, good for a 101 speed index and the new record. The old mark for the distance was 19.414, set by Major Tom, an Appaloosa, on April 19, 2014.
“He left the gates real good,” Jose said. “Never looked back. He beat them pretty easy. I just sat there the last 100 yards. We really liked this horse as a 2-year-old and have a lot of confidence in him.”
Live Moonshine ran second, a neck in front of third-place finisher Memories Of Lil Hero. Ima Real Livewire was bred in Oklahoma by his owner. He won his third consecutive race dating back to his victory here in the 2018 Victoria Ennis Memorial.
This was Michelle’s first win in this stakes race and Jose’s second; he also won the American Paint Derby in 2016 aboard Sturgis.
Victoria Ennis Memorial Stakes
Owner Dean Lester of DTL Teel Partnership in Skiatook, Oklahoma, is hoping with all fingers crossed that DTL Chasin Tale is the gelding to break the dark clouds that have followed the offspring of his dam, Shez Showin Off.
If the last two outings for the 2-year-old are any indication, the silver lining is beginning to form in that dark cloud. DTL Chasin Tale won the $157,578 Oklahoma Paint & Appaloosa Futurity at Remington Park on March 23 and then came back to win his second stakes in a row, getting up late on the outside to score in the $25,579 Victoria Ennis Memorial Stakes here.
“I owned his mother and she produced some real runners that were colts, but they all had dark clouds that followed them,” Dean said. “His mother was a world champion. This one is turning out real nice, so we’re hoping he breaks that pattern.”
Jockey Cody Smith rode this gelding, whose maternal grandsire was Royal Quick Flash, in all three of his races and was only a neck away from being three-for-three. He had to close like a bullet to get to the line three-quarters of a length in front of runner-up Banking On Kool, who was a longshot at 28-1 odds. The winning time was 16.779 seconds for DTL Chasin Tale, who earned a speed index of 90 for the win over the fast track at Remington Park.
“He kind of false broke,” Cody said, “so it wasn’t the best break, but he finishes awesome. You can’t beat two-for-two in stakes races.”
Trainer Matt Whitekiller said he’s turning out to be a pretty nice horse.
“He’s classy,” Matt said. “Easy to keep. Does everything you ask of him. This worked out well for a prep for the next set of trials. We’ll use this as a work.”
Lovin De Capo ran third Saturday night, a head back of the second-place finisher..
DTL Chasin Tale, a 2-year-old bay solid gelding, was bred in Oklahoma by Dean & Tonya Lester. He is by Wagon Tales (QH) and out of Shez Showin Off. Earning $14,835 for the effort, DTL Chasin Tale has now made $78,843 over this three races this season.
The gelding’s win provided Matt and Cody with their second career victory in the Victoria Ennis Memorial. They teamed up to win with multiple Paint World Champion, Painted Turnpike, in 2015. The Victoria Ennis Memorial is named in honor of the Oklahoman who was a prominent breeder and owner for many years before her passing in 2009.
G1 American Paint Classic Futurity
After winning the Victoria Ennis Memorial Stakes earlier on the Saturday card, trainer Matt Whitekiller and jockey Cody Smith doubled up with a big win in the Grade 1 $129,500 American Paint Classic Futurity in the 10th race at Remington Park with Southern Electric.
Southern Electric, a 2-year-old sorrel solid gelding by CRM Livewire and out of Ze Southern Girl (QH), won by three-quarters of a length over runner-up Bell N Wire, and was another nose ahead of third-place finisher Wired Special. Southern Electric went off at even-money odds and looked every bit like the favorite the way he ran for owners Dan and Kaye Jones of Kemp, Texas. He was bred in Texas by his owners and stopped the timer for 350 yards in 17.659 seconds over a fast track, earning an 86 speed index.
It was the third year in a row that Matt, Cody and the Joneses have teamed up for the win in this futurity. The owner-trainer-jockey combo also won in 2018 with Live Moonshine and in 2017 with Bully Pulpit.
Southern Electric earned $49,210 for first place and added that to his bankroll for a $63,123 total. He now has a record of three wins from four starts, all this season at Remington Park. The only time the gelding has lost was when Cody decided to ride another finalist in the $157,578 Oklahoma Paint and Appaloosa Futurity on March 23.
“I was second-guessing my decision, but luckily I picked the horse that won that futurity,” said Cody, who won the event aboard DTL Chasin Tale, who managed to win the Victoria Ennis Memorial earlier on the Saturday night card at Remington Park.
Back in the saddle for Southern Electric on Saturday night, Cody got just what he wanted: another win with him.
“It was a perfect trip,” Cody said. “Got out of the gate well and moved straight down the track. That’s exactly what you want in a futurity.”
Matt says he had an inkling this horse might be able to run some from what he saw last year.
“He’s a full brother to a filly we had last year that made a lot of money,” Matt said. “We’re very happy for the owners. They’ve been having some health issues. I wish they could have been here.”