OQHRA

OKLAHOMA CITY - March 26, 2016 - Paint Me Turnpike has emerged as the newest star in the Nolan Pevehouse breeding operation of Paint racehorses with her win in the $127,600, Grade 1 Oklahoma Paint & Appaloosa Futurity.

Pevehouse, of Webbers Falls, Okla., bred Painted Turnpike, the 2015 Paint Horse Triple Crown Winner. Paint Me Turnpike is by PYC Paint Your Wagon (Qh), out of the Texas Hero mare Turnpikes Texas Hero. The 2-year filly earned $49,702 for the win and covered the 300 yards in :15.534 seconds over a fast track to win by a nose at 9-2 odds under jockey Cody Smith.

“She’s not real big. There’s not much to her but she’s got a lot of heart,” Smith said. “She had to show up tonight. The 1-horse (Sexy Painted Wagon) gave her a run for her money. She had to run her down. We didn’t get there until four or five jumps from the wire. She was heads-up with (Sexy Painted Wagon) but it took me a little longer than I anticipated to get passed her. She had every opportunity to lay down but she gutted up and got there.”

“She’s a gutty thing,” said winning trainer Matt Whitekiller. “She came in here and got a little sick and has been playing catch up the whole time. She’s always been behind some of the others. She’s just gritty.”

Paint Me Turnpike paid $11.40 to win, $4.60 to place and $3.20 to show. Sexy Painted Wagon was off at 19-1 odds and paid $19.40 to place and $7.80 to show. CL Trap Queen was the fastest qualifier to the race and even-money favorite, but ducked in at the start and was never in contention, to pay $3.00 to show.

------

PAINTED TURNPIKE RETURNS TO DOMINATE DERBY FIELD IN 2016 BOW

OKLAHOMA CITY – Painted Turnpike maintained his grip on the Paint & Appaloosa racing division, as the reigning Paint Horse Triple Crown winner rolled over the competition in his 2016 racing debut, winning by 2-1/4 lengths in the Grade 1, Speedhorse Graham Paint Derby on Saturday night at Remington Park.

Sent off as the 1-2 favorite, the race was never in question after the opening strides with Painted Turnpike covering the 350 yards in :17.238 seconds over a fast track while earning $16,796 of the $44,200 total purse. Jockey Cody Smith, who has been aboard the popular 3-year-old colt in all nine of his lifetime races and has learned the key to success.

“I just stay out of his way and let him do his thing,” Smith noted. “He’s an honest, hard-trying, big-hearted horse. He’s everything you look for in a racehorse. From flag fall, that’s all. I couldn’t see anybody across (the track) at all. I quit asking him and just kind of let him finish on his own.”

In his early days, winning trainer Matt Whitekiller worked for trainer Lewie Wartchow, who is an Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame Trainer and is known as the “King of Paints.” Whitekiller spoke sentimentally, “It’s just a blessing to have this horse. He is something else. I worked for a man named Lewie Wartchow for about 10 years and he would have been proud to have this one. He’s just special.”

Painted Turnpike is by PYC Paint Your Wagon (Qh) out of the SF Royal Quick Flash mare High Class Turnpike. Owned and bred by Nolan Pevehouse of Webbers Falls, Okla., Pevehouse was grateful for the win but had few words to describe it. “Unbelievable, unbelievable. It’s been a long story. I’ve been fighting this game since 1962. Now, I’m kind of getting on the down-slope. I might race another one or two.”

Painted Turnpike paid $3 to win, $2.80 to place and $2.20 to show. Imahotchicken was nearest throughout to finish second and pay $8.80 to place and $4 to show. Wagonette was a 21-1 longshot who gained ground late to finish third and pay $5.20 to show.

Painted Turnpike has now won nine of 10 career starts and remains undefeated at Remington Park, a perfect six-for-six. His lifetime earnings now stand at $248,269.

-----

There will be no live racing at Remington Park on Easter Sunday. The 2016 American Quarter Horse Season at Remington Park resumes Thursday thru Sunday, March 31-April 3. The Grade 1, $100,000 Leo Stakes and the Grade 3, $50,000 Decketta Stakes headline the racing next week on Saturday night April 2. The first race nightly is at 6pm. Sunday afternoon racing starts at 1:30pm. All times are Central.

Open daily for casino gaming and simulcast racing, Remington Park features the Bricktown Brewery on the casino floor. Admission, general parking and valet parking are always free at Remington Park, home of the $800,000 (estimated) Remington Park Futurity on April 23, 2016.

Tracked by over 94,000 fans on Facebook and 7,000 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided over $147 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Oklahoma City’s only Racetrack & Casino and is located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District. For more information, reservations and group bookings please call 405-424-1000, 866-456-9880 or visit remingtonpark.com.