Photos courtesy Coady Photography
Stakes racing for Paints in the Lone Star State jumped out of the gate for 2015 with a bang down in Houston with the running of a pair of G2 stakes at Sam Houston Race Park April 18.
$24,590 Colors of Houston Paint Futurity (G2)
EMS Baileys N Coffee, a 2013 bay solid mare owned by Kaye and Dan Jones of Kemp, Texas, was an impressive winner in the $24,590 Colors of Houston Paint Futurity (G2).
The Oklahoma-bred daughter of Cartel Success (QH) broke her maiden on March 6 at Remington Park and notched her first stakes win in the April 18 Colors of Houston under jockey Francisco Calderon. She rallied strongly to catch second-place finisher Caleb Reed, a 2013 gray tobiano mare, crossing the wire of the 300-yard dash in :16.05.
Bred by Bill Price of Thackerville, Oklahoma, the filly is out of Baileys N Sunsets, a proven producer of running horses and the dam of BP Cartels Paint, earner of more than $100,000.
Tooter Jordan saddled the filly for trainer Matt Whitekiller, who remained at Remington Park in Oklahoma.
“She was perfect in the paddock; couldn’t have asked for anything better,” Tooter said. “Matt sent her to me five days ago. All I did was feed her and lead her up here. The credit goes to Dan and Kaye, Matt and his crew in Oklahoma.”
Sent off as the heavy favorite, EMS Baileys N Coffee paid $3.60 for the win. Caleb Reed held on for second and Political Upheaval completed the trifecta.
$27,020 Colors of Texas Paint Maturity (G2)
A full field of eight Paints went postward in the $27,020 Colors of Texas Paint Maturity (G2), and 2013 APHA World Champion Running Solid Paint-Bred Imaflashinthechicks was the dominant winner.
The 4-year-old Oklahoma-bred had not run since last July at Fair Meadows at Tulsa, but the sorrel solid gelding was fresh and ready, drawing off by three lengths under jockey Francisco Calderon. Trained by Bobby Touchet, Imflashinthechicks covered 300 yards in :17.453.
“He broke well and I didn’t have to do anything,” Francisco said.
The win marked the gelding’s seventh from 17 starts and added $12,429 to his career bankroll, which now tallies in excess of $165,000. Bred and campaigned as a 2- and 3-year-old by Shirley Wheeler of Boynton, Oklahoma, Imflashinthechicks—who is by $5 million sire Royal Quick Flash and out of APHA’s top racing broodmare Game Chicken—is now owned by RacinRNS of Wapanucka, Oklahoma.
“We’ve had him for close to a year,” said Oscar Montero, who spoke on behalf of the ownership group. “We gave him a long layoff, and he came back really well. The whole team is really proud of him.”
Last year’s futurity winner, Cat Scratch Dash was second and Sis B Grand was third.
Sam Houston Race Park is Houston’s premier racing and entertainment facility, located just 15 minutes from downtown Houston, and offers a variety of attractions including 16 recently renovated luxury suites overlooking the race track, The Pavilion Centre, and award-winning dining options at the Winner’s Circle Restaurant and Jockey Club. For more information on upcoming shows, events and tickets, visit shrp.com.