R Cowgirl (#2, green blinkers), under champion jockey James Flores, holds on to win the Speedhorse Graham Paint & Appaloosa Futurity on Saturday at Remington Park.

© Dustin Orona Photography/Remington Park

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK–JUNE 3, 2023–Talent from the barn of trainer Dee Keener dominated the starting gate for the Grade 1 $257,675 Speedhorse Graham Paint and Appaloosa Futurity and with six of the 10 horses entered, he had a 60 percent chance of winning.

Keener did just that and it was R Cowgirl who proved his best in the world's richest race for the breeds.

Keener combined with jockey James Flores to win the race and R Cowgirl remained undefeated after four starts in her career. The 2-year-old filly Appaloosa beat nine Paints to the wire as the sole representative to her breed, giving Keener and owner Jeff Adams their second win in a row in this Speedhorse Graham Paint and Appaloosa Futurity. They also won last year with Signs of Livewire. Keener has won the race five times now; Adams twice. It was Flores' first win in the series.

Keener's other three stakes wins in this race were Texas Silk (Pt) 2014, PHQ Goodbye Earl (Pt) in 2016 and Power Fade (Pt) in 2020.

Keener was worn out after the race. It is unclear whether it was from sweating out the win or trying to figure out who to root for among his six stablemates.

''I think I rode her halfway down the track myself,'' said Keener. ''I'm fortunate to have her.''

Adams felt the same about his trainer.

''It's this one,'' he said, pointing at Keener, ''That one right there who makes the horses what they are.''

R Cowgirl hit the line first, up by a neck over the 3-5 post-time favorite, Whiskey and Rain, who was another nose ahead of third-place finisher Triple L Xpress (5-1 odds). Keener's horses ran first, third, sixth, seventh, eighth and 10^th.

R Cowgirl, a 2-year-old daughter of Flying Cowboy 123 (QH), out of the PYC Paint Your Wagon (QH) mare Paint This Kitty, broke her maiden at Remington Park against Oklahoma-bred maidens on March 23, followed by win in the $20,000 Victoria Ennis Stakes on April 29 and then the trials for this stakes. She was bred in Oklahoma by the owner.

Her winning time for the 350 yards was :17.451 for a speed-index of 95 over the fast track. As the 7-2 second favorite in the race, R Cowgirl paid $9.20 to win, $2.80 to place and $2.60 to show. She is now 4-for-4 lifetime, earning $97,917 to improve to $128,206 in lifetime earnings.

Post-time favorite Whiskey And Rain (APHA), ridden by Francisco Calderon, broke her winning streak for a second place finish in the Grade 1 futurity. The Monty Arrossa trained filly won the Oklahoma P&A Futurity [G1] early this season and the $43,805 runner up's share of the purse increases her earnings to $130,893.

Bred and owned by Dunn Ranch of Oklahoma, Whiskey And Rain is a half-brother to APHA champions Baileys And Run and Baileys N Corona. The son of CRM Livewire is out of the Real Easy Cash mare Bailey N Sunsets, who is a half-sister to world champion A Ransom.

Triple L Xpress, also broke his three run winning streak with a third place finish under the guidance of Bryan Candanosa. The CRM Livewire colt has a race record of 3(1)-1-1 from six starts and $105,097 in the bank, including his PSBA American Paint Classic [G1] victory in April.

Nancy Yearsley and J. Garvan Kelly bred Triple L Xpress, who is currently owned by Planefun, LLC and conditioned by Dee Keener. The two-year-old colt is out of Maggie Redmond by Wave Carver.

The remaining order of finish is Wired Red Head, Tess The Wire, Railway Cafe, Wf Candy Tellin Tales, Mighty Mocha, V Golden Game and El Flying Cowgirl.

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Tracked by more than 172,000 fans on Facebook and 10,700 Twitter followers, Remington Park has provided more than $316 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 features the 2023 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa season through June 3. Remington Park presents simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.