Page 218 - Speedhorse April 2019

Speedhorse Graham Paint & Appaloosa Derby-G1
BULLET BONNIE
by John Moorehouse
Dee Keener has been riding, running, and training race horses for most of his life. While wins are always nice, he admitted that a
surprise victory tends to be more satisfying. Sorrel Paint filly Bullet Bonnie supplied
one of those surprises on March 23 at Remington Park.
The three-year-old filly kicked off her sophomore campaign with a stunning upset victory in the $61,100 Grade 1 Speedhorse Graham Paint & Appaloosa Derby, prevailing as a 20-1 underdog for her first ever win in stakes company.
“It was a surprise, but a good surprise. She outran some good horses,” said Keener, who trains Bullet Bonnie and home-bred the filly in partnership with Steven Wright.
“This mare’s kind of come into her own,” he continued. “She’s gotten bigger and stouter than last year.”
Making her 2019 racing debut, Bullet Bonnie made it into the winner’s circle for the third time overall in what marked her eighth career start. The filly was making her first out since Sept. 15, but showed no signs of rust after the six-month layoff, outracing the competi- tion and bringing home a $23,218 payday that improved her total bankroll to $36,776.
“Last year, it kind of looked like she was getting better,” Keener said of Bullet Bonnie, whose record includes a second-place effort in last year’s Tulsa State Fair Stakes and a third in the APHA Claiming Futurity at Fair Meadows.
In the Speedhorse Graham Paint & Appaloosa Derby-G1, Bullet Bonnie broke well in second place from the four-gate. The filly swerved a little, lost a bit of ground and was running in third at the first call.
Jockey James Flores urged his mount and she moved into the lead by a head enter- ing the stretch.
Bullet Bonnie held on to
the lead for the rest of the
contest, withstanding a strong charge by Memories Of Lil
Hero to hit the wire first by a neck.
The 350-yard stakes-winning trip was covered in a time of :17.557, generating an 88 speed index.
This race victory was also part of a big night for Flores, who logged six wins on the March 23 card at Remington.
“James had never been on her, but that night he was pretty hot,” Keener said of the jockey. “It looked like he fit her good, anyway.”
Bullet Bonnie was bred by Keener and Wright out of SW Eye Candy, who won
three of 16 outs during her own racing career, includ- ing the 2011 version of
the Speedhorse Paint & Appaloosa Futurity-G1.
SW Eye Candy was named the 2012 APHA Champion Running Three- Year-Old Filly and was also the #1 Honor Roll Mare that year.
As a broodmare, SW
Eye Candy has foaled three offspring to date, two of them are of race age, both starters and money earners. Bullet
Bonnie becomes the first stakes winner and is the top earner of the brood.
Keener said that he planned to try
Bullet Bonnie in a few more stakes events at Remington, starting with the Paul Harber Memorial, which is scheduled to run on April 12. The trainer/co-owner also said Bullet
Remington Park $61,100 • 350 yards :17.557 • si 88
Wave Carver
Duke Kahanamoku QH
Sky Chicks
BULLET BONNIE APHA, ‘16-f.
Country Chicks Man QH
SW Eye Candy
Ms Painted Eyeopener
216 SPEEDHORSE, April 2019
Bullet Bonnie and James Flores finish strong to win the $61,100 Speedhorse Graham Paint & Appaloosa Derby-G1
RACING NEWS
Dustin Orona Photography