Page 26 - 22 February 2013
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FLASHTHECHICKS si 102, 2012, $273,539
Breeder/Owners: Shirley Wheeler
2012 Record: 12-5(3)-3(1)-3(3), $87,532, 1st PSBA
D.-G1, OHA P&A D.-G2, Green Country H., 2nd Speedhorse P&A D.-G1, Cowboy Hall of Fame S.-G1, Lorelei D.-G2, Talimena H., 5th Speedhorse Graham P&A D.-G1
by Stacy Pigott
Flashthechicks successfully defended his 2011 World Champion Solid Paint-Bred Running Horse title in 2012, racing through a stellar
season that resulted in the titles of 2012 World Champion Solid Paint-Bred Running Horse, Champion 3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred and Champion 3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Gelding.
“We were really blessed and shocked and grateful the first year,” said Wheeler, who raises Paints along with her husband Jim. “But then the second year, when he did as well as he did, we were amazed.”
Following his 2011 campaign, Flashthechicks had surgery to remove bone chips in his knees.
The uncertainty was amplified. Would he show
the same speed at 3 that he had at 2? On March
2, Flashthechicks ran second in a trial to the Speedhorse Graham Paint & Appaloosa Derby-G1. Two weeks later, he dead-heated for fifth in the finals. “He had a few bumps the first part of the year, but then got lined out and did really good,” she said.
Flashthechicks rebounded to win the trials and finals of the PSBA Derby, and was third in the Cowboy Hall of Fame Handicap-G1. In seven more starts he was never off the board, winning the OHA Derby and Green Country Handicap, running sec- ond in the Speedhorse Paint & Appaloosa Derby-G1, and third in the Lorelei Derby-G2 and Talimena Handicap. Trained by Luis Villafranco, he earned $87,532 in 2012, for lifetime earnings of $273,539.
Flashthechicks will receive his 2012 awards at ban- quets in March, and when Shirley and Jim Wheeler accept the honors it will be with a new sense of appre- ciation as Jim had a massive heart attack December. “I’ve been teasing him,” Shirley said. “I told him I didn’t know if his heart was going to be able to stand all the racing this year! He had to retire after the heart attack, so he’s anxious for the horse races to start.”
The Wheelers have plenty to look forward
to in 2013 as Flashthechicks returns to the track joined by sister Imachickenkicker and brother Imflashinthechicks. “Game Chicken was always
a good-natured mare,” she said of Flashthechicks dam. “Her colts have a little attitude and fire. They get that from the great grandma Kita Wheeler. She was a mean old sister. It makes it pretty neat when you’ve raised this many generations and have seen them all. It will be pretty cool to have three of her foals running in the same year. We’re anxious to see what’s going to happen.”
Flashthechicks goes wire-to-wire winning the 2012 Green Country Handicap by 1 1/4-lengths at Will Rogers Downs.
First Down Dash
Royal Quick Dash QH
Dash For Cash
First Prize Rose
Beduino TB
Flicka Your Bic
Indian Hemp
Serry
Easy Jet
Venice Ann
Beduino TB
A Classy Chick si 89
First Down Dash
Short And Fleet
Special Lineage TB
Judys Chick
Kitaman
Emma W. TB
Rocket Wrangler Find A Buyer TB Gallant Jet Rose Bug Romany Royal Jo-Ann-Cat Tiny Charger
Hy Flicka Nasrullah Sabzy
Spy Song
Santa Roseanna Jet Deck
Lena’s Bar TB Venetian Jester TB Mayflower Ann
Romany Royal Jo-Ann-Cat
Chick’s Deck Mayshego TB
Dash For Cash
First Prize Rose Sold Short
Fleet Anne
Alydar
Champagne Woman Walters Chick
The Lady Sadie QH Go Man Go Kitabar
Lillolkid
Emma Sue
Rocket Bar TB Go Galla Go To Market Hide And Seek Jet Deck
Leo Jewel
Lady Bug’s Moon Casco Rose
Grey Sovereign Romany Belle Rejected
Quick Eye
Depth Charge TB Clabber Tiny Hysitian TB Flicka
Nearco
Mumtaz Begum Stardust
Sarita
Balladier
Mata Hari Rosemont Sandury
Moon Deck
Miss Night Bar Three Bars
Lena Valenti Tom Fool
Venice
Tonto Bars Hank Lena’s Bar TB
Grey Sovereign Romany Belle Rejected
Quick Eye
Three Chicks si 100 Decketta si 100 Mayhego
Aegean Goddess Rocket Wrangler Find A Buyer Gallant Jet Rose Bug
Go Man Go Carlotta 2
Fleet Kirsch TB Hopes Clabberlou Raise A Native Sweet Tooth Barbizon
L’Amour Toujours Walter Bee QH O. R. Levan Gentleman Gem Panal’s Dot
Top Deck Lightfoot Sis Three Bars TB Wakita
Jack High Amaranth Breathing Time Viola C.
Royal Quick Flash
Venice Song QH
Harems Choice
Hempen TB
Venice
FLASHTHECHICKS, ‘09-g. Chicks Beduino si 104
Game Patriot QH
Game Chicken
Kickin Chicken
Fire And Nice
Judys Lineage
Kita Wheeler QH
24 SPEEDHORSE, February 22, 2013
Kellie Johnston: Coady Photography
