Turnpike Special D, owned and trained by Sue Hunt, posted a bullet work at Remington Park Wednesday.

© Remington Park

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—FEBRUARY 5, 2025—Trainer Sue Hunt and her family have been in the horse racing business for decades, and horses like Turnpike Special D make her get up before most roosters every morning.

This 3-year-old Paint horse by the multiple World Champion, Painted Turnpike, out of the Euroears (TB) mare Eurodiamond Diva, worked the bullet at 250 yards on Wednesday morning of 14 horses of different breeds and it is always impressive when a Paint outworks the American Quarter Horses.

Turnpike Special D, owned and trained by Hunt, covered the distance in :13.82 seconds from the gate, going that distance, handily. The colt was the only one this morning that broke the 14-second mark with all 14 breaking from the gate.

Hunt is hoping that Turnpike Special D’s bloodlines ring true because Painted Turnpike was the best of the best. Painted Turnpike won 26-of-31 races lifetime for earnings of $465,442. Name a big Paint race and this horse won it, sometimes multiple times. Much like Turnpike Special D’s bloodlines, Hunt’s are filled with past Quarter Horse racing stars.

“My dad was a jockey; my mom rode," Hunt said, "and that’s how they met. My dad won lots of big races before becoming a trainer. My brother (Billy Hunt) rode the first Quarter Horse millionaire with Higheasterjet and he also rode Special Effort."

Those two Quarter Horses won the All American Futurity in back-to-back years – 1980 and 1981, respectively. The All American is the biggest annual race for Quarter Horses. Special Effort won 13-of-14 lifetime and was a millionaire, running out more than $1.2 million in earnings.

"My other brother (Jimmie J. Hunt) won the very first Quarter Horse race at Remington Park (Mystry Effort on May 25, 1989) and was leading rider here," Hunt said.

Now Hunt is trying to make her family as proud as her family has made her.

"I am with (my horses) at 4:30 in the morning seven days a week until 5:30 in the evening," she said."“They know me. I enjoy every minute of it. It’s like raising kids and watching them go play football when I see them race. It’s the most awesome feeling. I get so excited. You can’t get up at 4:30 every morning and not love this game."

Turnpike Special D has had one race at Remington Park on May 18, 2024, and did not fare well, finishing eighth against Paints and Appaloosas in a tough futurity trial. However, he immediately broke his maiden at Fair Meadows in Tulsa, Okla., his next out on June 21, 2024, against maidens. So, he returns to Oklahoma City as a winner.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Remington Park has provided more than $374 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District, Remington Park presents year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. The 2025 American Quarter Horse Season will begin on March 6. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.