Page 130 - April 2016

Speedhorse Graham Paint & Appaloosa Derby-G1
PAINTED TURNPIKE
by Tracy Gantz
Painted Turnpike began 2016 the way
he started 2015 — with a victory at Remington Park.
The colt has already established himself
as one of the all-time talented Paints, and he scored a rare double when he won the Speedhorse Graham Paint & Appaloosa Derby-G1 on March 26.
“The horse is sound and doesn’t have any problems,” said Nolan Pevehouse, who bred and owns Painted Turnpike.
As a two year old in 2015, Painted Turnpike became the first horse ever to win the Speedhorse Paint & Appaloosa Triple Crown. The first leg came at Remington Park in the Speedhorse Graham Paint & Appaloosa Futurity-G1, and now he has completed the Speedhorse Graham Paint & Appaloosa Futurity/Derby double with this score.
Despite a full field of talented runners, Painted Turnpike was never really in much danger of losing the Speedhorse Graham Paint & Appaloosa Derby.
Bettors sent him off as the 1-2 favorite. He broke third from the rail under Cody Smith, who has ridden him in every start, but quickly took over the lead and pulled away to a 2 1/4-length win in :17.238 for the 350-yards. The time nearly broke Remington’s Paint and
Appaloosa record of :17.232, set by The Cock Of The Walk in 2011.
“The jockey told me if he had known he was that close to the track record, he might have turned him loose,” stated Pevehouse.
“I just stay out of his way and let him do his thing,” said Smith.
“He’s an honest, hard-
trying, big-hearted horse.”
the jockey continued. “He’s everything you look for in a racehorse. From flag fall, that’s all. I couldn’t see anybody across at all. I quit asking him and just kind of let him finish on his own.”
Matt Whitekiller trains Painted Turnpike for Pevehouse. “It’s just a blessing to have this horse,” said the conditioner. “He is something else. He’s just special.”
Painted Turnpike now ranks with the best of the Paints. A World Champion last year, he has earned $248,269, which is fifth on the list of all-time leading Paint earners. He won eight of nine races in 2015, including five stakes, missing only once in a trial, when he finished second after stumbling at the start.
“He carries his racetrack with him,” said Pevehouse.
Painted Turnpike won the three legs of the Triple Crown at Remington, Fair Meadows, and Lone Star Park.
After the colt succeeded in the Triple Crown, Pevehouse turned him out in a paddock next to his home in Webbers Falls, Oklahoma.
Pevehouse sent Painted Turnpike back to Whitekiller
in the middle of January to give him 60 days before the Speedhorse Graham Paint & Appaloosa Derby-G1.
Pevehouse said he has mixed emotions about whether to try Painted Turnpike against older horses.
Although, he said he would love to be able to run him against Quarter Horse three year olds, including 2015 All American Futurity-G1 winner Jess Good Candy, bred by his late brother, Carl, and raced by Carl’s estate.
Pevehouse bred Painted Turnpike in Oklahoma from stakes-placed High Class Turnpike, having developed the family back to the colt’s fifth dam, the Quarter Horse Turnpike Patty.
Remington Park $44,200 • 350 yards :17.238 • si 96
Corona Cartel
PYC Paint Your Wagon
Dashin Follies
PAINTED TURNPIKE ‘13-c.
SF Royal Quick Flash
High Class Turnpike
Texas Turnpike Hero
Painted Turnpike & Cody Smith win the $44,200 Grade 1 Speedhorse Graham Paint & Appaloosa Derby by 2 1/4-lengths
128 SPEEDHORSE, April 2016
RACING NEWS
Dustin Orona Photography