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Smithworks and Southern Electric earn 2021 APHA World Champion Running Horse titles

Photos courtesy Dustin Orona/Remington Park

Orphan foal Smithworks overcame the odds to win APHA’s top racing title for 2021, being named World Champion Running Horse alongside his solid Paint-bred counterpart Southern Electric. The pair came out on top of Paint racing’s annual award categories for 2021, showcasing their prowess on the track.

World Champion Running Horse: Smithworks

Smithworks, a 2-year-old sorrel tobiano colt by Painted Turnpike and out of Shesa Mighty Chick, won his first Running World Championship honor along with a pair of championships in the 2-year-old bracket. In 2021, he won five out of 10 starts, including two stake races—the Grade 1 $198,100 Oklahoma Paint & Appaloosa Futurity and the $230,475 Speedhorse Graham Futurity—with career earnings of $215,689.

But Smithworks almost didn’t make it and was orphaned at birth. His dam didn’t survive the birth of her large foal, but Smithworks overcame the odds and proved an orphan can still thrive and win. On fire in 2021, Smithworks is following in the hoofprints of his sire Painted Turnpike, who is APHA’s all-time winningest Paint by money earned with $465,442.

Smithworks is owned by Bryan Hawk of Purcell, Oklahoma, and was bred by Matt Whitekiller out of Sallisaw, Oklahoma.

World Champion Solid Paint-Bred Running Horse: Southern Electric

In his third year running, Southern Electric was no less than electric in 2021, winning three stake races in seven starts and racking up an impressive $289,283 in lifetime earnings. His stake wins came in the Paul Harber Stake Race, Colors of Texas Maturity and the inaugural Karen Utecht Memorial Stakes.

Previously, Southern Electric won the 2019 World Champion and Champion Solid Paint-Bred 2-Year-Old, and the 2020 Champion Solid Paint-Bred 3-Year-Old titles; he added the 2021 Champion Solid Paint-Bred Aged Champion, Champion Solid Paint-Bred Aged Gelding and the World Champion Solid Paint-Bred Running Horse titles to his record this year.

The 2017 sorrel solid gelding by CRM Livewire and out of Ze Southern Girl (QH); he is owned and was bred by Dan and Kaye Jones of Kemp, Texas.

 

Congratulations to all the 2021 Paint racing champions.

2021 APHA Racing Champions

2021 Leading Breeder: Matt Whitekiller, with earnings of $239,902

2021 Leading Owner: Dan & Kaye Jones, with earnings of $207,148

2021 Leading Trainer: Dee Keener, with earnings of $680,467

2021 Leading Jockey: Cody Smith, with earnings of $365,859

2021 Paul Harber Distinguished Service Award: Virdin Royse

 

Champion 2-Year-Old & Champion 2-Year-Old Colt: Smithworks
2019 sorrel tobiano by Painted Turnpike x Shesa Mighty Chick, owned by Bryan Hawk, Purcell, Oklahoma

Champion 2-Year-Old Filly: RP Reckless Wire
2019 bay tobiano mare by CRM Livewire x RP Miss Reckless Dash (QH), owned by Roy Kent Perkins, Vernon, Texas

Champion 2-Year-Old Gelding: Fabulous Turnpike
2019 bay tobiano gelding by One Fabulous Eagle (QH) x Paint Me Turnpike, owned by Estate of Nolan D Pevehouse, Webbers Falls, Oklahoma

Champion 2-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred & Champion 2-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Gelding: RF Livies Livewire
2019 sorrel solid gelding by CRM Livewire x RF Livies Special (QH), owned by Marvin & Pam Wilcox, Kingfisher, Oklahoma

Champion 2-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Filly: Capo Cabana
2019 bay solid mare by Capo De Capi (QH) x Mai Dashing Hero, owned by Jay Ross, Coweta, Oklahoma

Champion 3-Year-Old & Champion 3-Year-Old Filly: Cuz Eyema Livewire
2018 bay tobiano mare by CRM Livewire x Eye Mongoose (QH), owned by Gary & Charity Hensley, Coalgate, Oklahoma

Champion 3-Year-Old Colt: Turnpikers Candy
2018 brown tobiano stallion by Jess Good Candy (QH) x Paint Me Turnpike, owned by Estate of Nolan D Pevehouse, Webbers Falls, Oklahoma

Champion 3-Year-Old Gelding: Break Away James
2018 bay tobiano gelding by Ivory James (QH) x Friona, owned by M Johnson & S Charette-Hill, Lexington, Oklahoma

Champion 3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred & Champion 3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Filly: Mammy Jammer
2018 gray solid mare by CRM Livewire x Dashin DD, owned by Roy Kent Perkins, Vernon, Texas

Champion 3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Gelding: WL Hector Lives
2018 sorrel solid gelding by Kool Wagon (QH) x Chivette, owned by Jeff Carter & Justin Massey, Calera, Oklahoma

Champion Aged Horse & Champion Aged Gelding: Live Moonshine
2016 black tobiano gelding by CRM Livewire x PRP Sedona Sunset, owned by Dan or Kaye Jones, Kemp, Texas

Champion Aged Mare: BP Political Policy
2017 sorrel overo mare by Apollitical Jess (QH) x CC Policy (QH), owned by Bill Price, Thackerville, Oklahoma

Champion Aged Solid Paint-Bred & Champion Aged Solid Paint-Bred Gelding: Southern Electric
2017 sorrel solid gelding by CRM Livewire x Ze Southern Girl, owned by Dan or Kaye Jones, Kemp, Texas

Champion Aged Solid Paint-Bred Mare: Snow Advisory
2016 brown solid mare by Lota PYC (QH) x Snow Warning, owned by Jennifer Chapa, Springdale, Arkansas

Broodmare of the Year: Shesa Mighty Chick
2013 sorrel tobiano mare by Mighty Invictus (QH) x Twenty Triple X, owned by Matt Whitekiller, Sallisaw, Oklahoma

Distance Champion: Bully Pulpit
2015 sorrel solid gelding by CRM Livewire x Judys Apollo, owned by Dan or Kaye Jones, Kemp, Texas

Claiming Champion: So Whatcha Want
2019 sorrel overo mare by CRM Livewire x Turbulence, owned by Samuel Gaytan, Sperry, Oklahoma

No horses eligible for 2-Year Old Solid Paint-Bred Colt, 3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Colt, Aged Stallion or Aged Solid Paint-Bred Stallion awards

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[Reprinting all or part of this news release is permitted, so long as credit is given to the Paint Horse Journal and a link provided back to apha.com.]

 

About APHA

The American Paint Horse Association is the world’s second-largest international equine breed association, registering more than a million horses in 59 nations and territories since it was founded in 1962. APHA promotes, preserves and provides meaningful experiences with Paint Horses.

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