Page 116 - November 2015

Speedhorse Lone Star Paint & Appaloosa Futurity-G1
PAINTED TURNPIKE
by Tracy Gantz
American Pharoah wasn’t the only Triple Crown winner in horse racing this year. Painted Turnpike became the first horse ever to win the Speedhorse Paint and Appaloosa Triple Crown when he captured the Oct. 30 Speedhorse Lone Star Paint & Appaloosa Futurity-G1.
To accomplish the feat, Painted Turnpike not only had to defeat eight rivals, he had to contend with a torrential rainstorm.
“It was a muddy mess,” said Nolan Pevehouse, who bred and races the colt.
“We had a couple of horses in the 3-year-old race (the Masterpiece Challenge Paint and Appaloosa Stakes), and it wasn’t bad then. But by the time of the eighth race, it was just coming down. I couldn’t see much of the race and didn’t even see the horses coming across the finish line.”
Pevehouse needn’t have worried. The rain didn’t bother Painted Turnpike. Under jockey Cody Smith, who has been aboard for every one of his nine starts, the colt quickly went
to the front in the 400-yard race and coasted home to win by 1 1/2-lengths in :20.150 as the 3-10 favorite.
By winning the Speedhorse Lone Star Paint & Appaloosa Futurity, Painted Turnpike completed the triple, begun earlier this year with a victory at Remington Park in the
Speedhorse Graham Paint & Appaloosa Futurity-G1. The colt followed that with the second leg at Fair Meadows, the Speedhorse Paint and Appaloosa Futurity-G1.
This is the fourth year of
the Triple Crown. In addition
to the purse money in each
race, Painted Turnpike earned
Pevehouse a three-horse
gooseneck 4-Star Trailer, a
$35,000 discount towards the
purchase of a SportChassis, LLC heavy-duty truck, a trophy and a buckle. The colt was also named Speedhorse High Point Champion, which includes a $5,000 cash bonus.
Pevehouse was especially pleased to win the Triple Crown because his good friend Charles Leggett nearly won it last year with Texas Silk.
“We’ve been on many hunting trips together,” said Pevehouse. “We’re good friends.”
Before the final leg last year, Pevehouse had offered to buy the trailer from Leggett if he won it. Leggett turned down the offer, and Texas Silk finished second in the Lone Star leg anyway. This year Painted Turnpike won the trailer for his owner.
Matt Whitekiller trains Painted Turnpike for Pevehouse. In addition to the Speedhorse
Triple Crown, the colt has won the Oklahoma Paint and Appaloosa Futurity-G1 and the Victoria Ennis Memorial Paint & Appaloosa Stakes.
He has only lost once, in his trial for the Speedhorse Paint & Appaloosa Futurity at Fair Meadows on July 11 when his back feet slipped right after he left the gate where he placed second.
After the Lone Star race, Pevehouse brought Painted Turnpike back to
his farm in Webbers Falls, Oklahoma. “The colt pulled up good,” said
Pevehouse. “I’ve got him turned out here in one of my paddocks.”
Pevehouse said he will point Painted Turnpike for next year’s derbies, the first one likely the Speedhorse Graham Paint and Appaloosa Derby-G1 at Remington Park.
“It’s been quite a year,” said Pevehouse. “My brother wins the All American, and then I come along and win the Speedhorse Paint & Appaloosa Triple Crown.”
Pevehouse’s brother, the late Carl Pevehouse, bred Jess Good Candy, this year’s All American Futurity-G1 winner. Though Nolan couldn’t get to Ruidoso Downs for the
Lone Star Park $89,780 • 400 yards :20.150 • si 83
Corona Cartel
PYC Paint Your Wagon QH
Dashin Follies
PAINTED TURNPIKE APHA, ’13-c.
SF Royal Quick Flash
High Class Turnpike
Turnpikes Texas Hero
Painted Turnpike & Cody Smith lead from start to finish to win the Speedhorse Lone Star Paint & Appaloosa Futurity, sweeping the Triple Crown
114 SPEEDHORSE, November 2015
RACING NEWS
Dustin Orona, Dustin Orona Photography, LLC