OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—JUNE 2, 2017—The heavy-wagering favorite at 2-5 odds, Painted Turnpike won like the World Champion Paint he is, taking his second straight Grade 1, $35,000 National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Stakes by one length on Friday night at Remington Park.

Owned and bred in Oklahoma by Nolan Pevehouse of Webbers Falls, Okla. and trained by Matt Whitekiller, Painted Turnpike overcame some contact from both his inside and outside rivals at the start. The bumping slowed his start but jockey Cody Smith was able to get him into full stride soon enough. and on to his 10th career win at Remington Park and his 16th win overall.

"It wasn't the break we were looking for by no means," Smith noted. "About five jumps out he's a half or three-quarters of a length in front. He's a fun little horse and makes my job easy. I never rolled the whip over and stayed out of his way as much as possible."

Painted Turnpike continues to outshine his opponents, overcome obstacles and pile up the career victories as the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Stakes was his 10th career win at Remington Park and his 16th win overall.

Painted Turnpike, a 4-year-old Paint colt, has already started his stallion career and didn't come back to the races this season until April. The way he goes about all of his business continues to impress his connections, especially Whitekiller.

"That horse is just stupid-good. That's just all there is to it. It's not the trainer, it's not the jockey. He loves to run. He's a joy to be around. You'd never know he's a stud. He covered, I don't know how many mares, and he came back to his stall and just loves his job. He is something special."

Painted Turnpike handled 440 yards in 21.648 seconds over a fast track. PYC Ballerina was second with BP Apollitical Sun another half-length behind in third.

Painted Turnpike paid $2.80 to win, $2.40 to place and $2.10 to show. PYC Ballerina paid $6.80 to place and $3.40 to show. BP Apollitical Sun paid $6.40 to show.

The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum win made Painted Turnpike another $20,892 to roll his career earnings to $356,949. He is now just $4,914 away from equaling the all-time earnings mark by a Paint, set by multiple world champion Got Country Grip. Painted Turnpike's 10 victories at Remington Park surpassed the nine racked up in Oklahoma City by Got Country Grip over his career (2005-2010).

Painted Turnpike is by Pyc Paint Your Wagon (QH) from the SF Royal Quick Flash mare High Class Turnpike. He has never finished worse than second in his 19 career attempts.

Remington Park now moves to the final day of its 2017 American Quarter Horse Season. The "Mega-Card," loaded with eight stakes races and total purses exceeding $2.2 million will begin Saturday, June 3 at 5pm-Central.

The "Mega-Card" at Remington Park will include these stakes races, run in succession over the final portion of the program:

• Race 5: Grade 2, $100,000 Junos Request Stakes, fillies & mares, 3 & up, 400 yards
• Race 6: $100,000 Heritage Place Juvenile, 2-year-olds, 350 yards
• Race 7: Grade 1, $199,875 Speedhorse Graham Futurity, Paints & Appaloosas, 2-year-olds, 350 yards
• Race 8: Grade 2, $297,100 Heritage Place Derby, 3-year-olds, 400 yards
• Race 9: Grade 1, $250,000 Remington Park Championship, 3 & up, 440 yards
• Race 10: Grade 1, $1,154,700 Heritage Place Futurity, 2-year-olds, 350 yards
• Race 11: $50,000 Easy Jet Stakes, 2-year-olds, Oklahoma-breds, 350 yards
• Race 12: Grade 2, $50,000 Remington Park Distance Championship, 3 & up, 870 yards

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Tracked by over 125,000 fans on Facebook and 9,000 Twitter followers, Remington Park is the home of the Grade 1, $1,000,000 Heritage Place Futurity on June 3. Remington Park has provided over $167 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Open daily at 10:30am with free parking and admission, Oklahoma City's only Racetrack & Casino 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.