Page 46 - 23 November 2012

lone Star Speedhorse Paint and appaloosa Futurity-G1
iMaChiCKenKiCKeR
by Tracy Gantz
imachickenkicker is tough for a 2-year-old. She took her lumps at the start of the Nov. 3 Lone Star Speedhorse Paint and Appaloosa
Futurity-G1 and overcame them to grab the victory. In the process she added to what her big brother, World Champion Flashthechicks, has started, to make their dam, Game Chicken, one of the top Paint
racing broodmares around. Jim and Shirley Wheeler
of Boynton, Oklahoma, bred and own Imachickenkicker, with Shirley listed as the offi- cial owner and breeder. The Lone Star race was particu- larly special for them because they were able to bring their son, Scott Moore, daughter- in-law Liz, and 16-year-old grandson Jayce with them.
“They live in Oklahoma
City,” said Shirley. “We went
over to the Heritage Place sale the Friday before, and we were able to bring them along with us to Texas. It was a good win having everybody there.”
Shirley admits, though, that she and Liz didn’t see much besides their filly.
“We were jumping up and down screaming so much that I didn’t see the other horses,” said Shirley.
They did witness the start of the 400-yard race, and it wasn’t pretty.
“When she came out of the gate, she bumped with another horse a couple of times,” said Shirley. “She kind of wavered a little bit for about 50 yards. But once she got lined out, she kind of found her gear.”
Jockey Roy Baldillez urged Imachickenkicker forward, and she responded to take the lead. They came home in excellent fashion, the filly scoring by a half-length over Super Glide Harley in :20.059 for trainer Luis Villafranco.
“We really didn’t think she would win,” said Shirley. “She was in against so many good horses. That Lajollas Mr Big Stuff is a very nice horse. He had beaten us, and we had beaten him.”
Lajollas Mr Big Stuff was the second-fastest qualifier for the Speedhorse behind Hesa Sweet First Down and went off as the 6-5 favorite. Imachickenkicker, the fourth-fastest qualifier, was the third choice at nearly 5-1.
Imachickenkicker didn’t immediately
follow in half-brother Flashthechicks’ foot- steps. She finished sixth in two futurities at Remington Park and came out of that meeting with a stress fracture.
“We brought her home and gave her some time off,” said Shirley. “She didn’t need sur- gery. After the vet X-rayed her and said the leg
looked good, we sent her back to Luis. Once Luis started getting her going good, she really began running well.”
Imachickenkicker returned during the summer meeting at Fair Meadows, where she ran third in the Tulsa State Fair Stakes-G2. When the circuit moved
to Will Rogers Downs,
she won the Pot O Gold Paint Futurity-G1, which Flashthechicks had won the year before. In that race, she Mr Big Stuff.
Game Chicken has a yearling colt by SF Royal Quick Flash named Imflashinthechicks, which makes him a full brother to Flashthechicks. The mare, a half-sister to Paint Champion
Eye Opening Chick and stakes winner Kickin Texas, is back in foal to SF Royal Quick Flash. Berkley Packer rode Super Glide Harley-
APHA (Awesome Chrome-Biker Chick) to second for trainer Dee Keener. The Paint Horse Queens own the gelding, who finished third in the Speedhorse Graham Paint and Appaloosa Futurity-G1, Oklahoma Paint Futurity-RG1, and American Paint Classic Futurity-G1.
Judy Seeley’s Rah-APHA (Awesome Chrome-Bullamia) finished third with Rodrigo Vallejo in the irons. Judd Kearl trains the colt, who won his trial for the Speedhorse after running eighth in his racing debut at Will Rogers Downs.
Completing the field were Lajollas Mr Big Stuff-APHA (SF Royal Quick Flash-McM Evelyn Lajolla), Hesa Sweet First Down- APHA (Sweet First Down-Emilys Valentine), LD Flashback-APHA (SF Royal Quick Flash- Invisible Joene), Kaylees Krazy Paint-APHA (Judys Lineage-Angel Easter Flash), Laus Deo-APHA (Awesome Chrome-Shero), and Jes Dance (Awesome Chrome-Just Streakin). Honky Tonk Podie-APHA was scratched.
44 SPEEDHORSE, November 23, 2012
Lone Star Park $103,762 • 400 yards :20.059 • si 82
Mr Eye Opener
Dos Poruno
Send Me Satin
IMACHICKENKICKER APHA, ’10-f.
Game Patriot
Game Chicken
Kickin Chicken
defeated Lajollas
“It was so neat to win that race back to
back,” said Shirley.
The filly then finished third in her
Speedhorse trial to Lajollas Mr Big Stuff before capturing the final.
“We’ve been really blessed this year and last,” said Shirley.
The Wheelers bred Imachickenkicker and Flashthechicks out of winner Game Chicken. They have had the family back to the fourth dam, the Thoroughbred Emma W. Game Chicken so far has just the two starters, but both are multiple graded stakes winners.
From left, Speedhorse’s John Bachelor joins owners Jim and Shirley Wheeler, jockey Roy Baldillez and trainer Luis Villafranco (far right).
Racing news
Reed Palmer Phhotography Reed Palmer Photography