Wire Tap (4) defeats R Cowgirl (2) to win the Mister Lewie Memorial on Saturday, May 10, 2025 at Remington Park. Jockey Francisco Calderon was up for the victory.

© Dustin Orona Photography

By Richard Linihan

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK–MAY 10, 2025–It was a big night for jockey Francisco Calderon as he won the Grade 1, $21,450 Mister Lewie Memorial Stakes aboard Wire Tap and also qualified the fastest horse in the Heritage Place Derby trials with House of Lords.

Calderon’s win in the Mister Lewie Memorial ended the winning streak of Livewires Turnpike, who was going for his third victory in a row in this stakes race. Wire Tap shares a barn with Livewires Turnpike under the tutelage of trainer Matt Whitekiller.

The end of that streak continued the streak of Calderon, who had ridden Livewires Turnpike the last two years in this race. On Saturday night, Cody Smith rode the 2-1 co-favorite for Whitekiller, and Calderon was on the eventual winner. Consequently, Calderon’s streak stands at three consecutive visits to the winner’s circle in this race.

The Mister Lewie Memorial Stakes is named in honor of the late, great Lewis Wartchow, who was the King of the Paints, winning more all-time races for this breed for years and years before passing away in 2003, shortly after his 65th birthday. He held the Remington Park record for stakes wins in the Quarter Horse and Mixed-breed seasons with 34.

On Saturday night, it seemed apropos that Whitekiller won the race as he was a Wartchow protégé in his early years. Wire Tap broke on top from the gate and led the field of nine Paints and Appaloosas the entire distance of 400 yards.

Wire Tap gave his stablemate, Livewires Turnpike, his first loss, racing this distance. Prior to Saturday night, Livewires Turnpike was five-for-five at 400 yards and 8-of-12 racing at Remington Park. It was the second time in his past three races that they had faced each other, and Wire Tap crossed the finish line ahead of Livewires Turnpike.

Wire Tap a 4-year-old Paint, a son of the breed’s most prominent sire, CRM Livewire, out of the Second Painted Sign (QH) mare Lindys Sign (QH), won the Mister Lewie at 6-1 odds and paid $14.60 to win, $5.60 to place, $4 to show.

He won $10,800 in the race for owners Dan and Kaye Jones of Kemp, Texas. Wire Tap’s record stands at 20 starts, six wins, five seconds, and one third for a bankroll of $81,495. He was bred by his owners.

Wire Tap beat co-favorite R Cowgirl (2-1) to the wire. R Cowgirl was another half-length ahead of third-place runner Nota Pocahontas (9-2).

Roman Cruz piloted R Cowgirl to her second-place finish. Dee Keener conditions the Jeff Adams Appaloosa homebred filly out of Paint This Kitty by Pyc Paint Your Wagon. The daughter leading sire Flying Cowboy 123 has lit the board 11 of 12 starts with nine wins and $212,640 in the bank.

Trainer Digo Arroyo saddled third-place finisher Nota Pocahontas for owners Rudy Ikeler and Juan Villa. Jon and Brant Barley bred the daughter of Crm Livewire in Oklahoma. The four-time winner out of Sweet First Leader by Sweet First Down has $35,960 in lifetime earnings.

The rest of the order of finish was Over the Shock (9-1) fourth, Storms Livewire (10-1) fifth, Queen for Cash (12-1) sixth, Livewires Turnpike (2-1) seventh, Chief Iron Eagle (21-1) eighth, and Js Ima Fancy Chicken (49-1) ninth.

Remington Park racing continues Sunday, May 11, with Heritage Place Oaks trials featured. The first race is at 4 pm Central.

ABOUT REMINGTON PARK
Remington Park has provided more than $377 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, features the $1,161,000 Heritage Place Futurity on May 31, the final night of this meet. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.

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