R Cowgirl, piloted by Roman Cruz, wins the Ray Graves Memorial Stakes at Fair Meadows on Saturday.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

TULSA, OK–JUNE 28, 2025–Against a battle-tested field of seasoned horses, R Cowgirl (ApHC) delivered a powerful statement Saturday night at Fair Meadows, notching her tenth career win—and sixth in stakes company—in the $13,700 Ray Graves Memorial Stakes.

The Oklahoma-bred filly broke awkwardly, veering inward at the start, but quickly recovered under jockey Roman Cruz to surge past the field and stop the clock in 17.573 seconds for the 350-yard distance. The win came with a 99 speed index, achieved while facing a five mph headwind.

The daughter of Flying Cowboy 123 earned $8,292 for the victory, bringing her career bankroll to $225,237. With 10 wins from 14 starts, R Cowgirl has become one of the most decorated Appaloosas in recent years, holding multiple Appaloosa track records, including the 330-yard world record set last year at Will Rogers.

Her stakes resume includes wins in the Masterpiece Derby and Victoria Ennis Memorial this year, and the Speedhorse Graham P&A Futurity [G1], Speedhorse Graham P&A Stakes, and the Speedhorse P&A Futurity [G3] from her freshman season.

The winning connections of R Cowgirl accept the Ray Graves Memorial trophy at Fair Meadows on Saturday.
© Jack Coady Photography

R Cowgirl earned the titles of Appaloosa Horse of the Year, Supreme Champion Two-Year-Old, and Champion Two-Year-Old Filly in 2023, and repeated as Appaloosa Horse of the Year while taking Champion Three-Year-Old Filly honors in 2024.

Trained by Dee Keener and owned and bred by Jeff Adams, R Cowgirl is out of Paint This Kitty, by Pyc Paint Your Wagon.

Finishing second was Wire Tap, a multiple stakes-winning Paint gelding who broke sharply and led early but was overtaken late. Under jockey Cody Smith and trained by Matt Whitekiller, he crossed the wire in 17.668 seconds with a 96 speed index, finishing three-quarters of a length behind the winner.

Wire Tap earned $2,464 for owners Dan and Kaye Jones of Oklahoma, who also bred the gelding. He is by Crm Livewire and out of Lindys Sign, by Second Painted Sign. Wire Tap has a solid record with seven wins and six second-place finishes from 22 starts and career earnings of $93,334.

Chief Iron Eagle completed the trifecta in a gritty effort under Cordarelton Benn for trainer Luis Villafranco. He finished 1 3/4-lengths behind Wire Tap, with a final time of 17.918 seconds and an 89 speed index, earning $1,520 for owner Judith Robles.

The son of Gray Chief, bred by Jose Vicente Robles, is out of Feature Lauren, by Feature Mr Jess. A winner of the Cricket Bars Appaloosa Futurity last year, Chief Iron Eagle has now hit the board in 10 of 15 starts and earned $86,732 in his young career.

Also finishing in the field were Drank Like Hank in fourth, Queen for Cash in fifth, Ancestry in sixth, and Pevs Wire to Wire, who trailed the field in seventh.

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