Vesper Martin, ridden by Roman Cruz, wins the Masterpiece Derby at Fair Meadows in Tulsa on Saturday.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Leann Noguera/StallioneSearch

TULSA, OK—SATURDAY, JULY 19, 2025—Leading trainer Dee Keener swept the trifecta in Saturday’s $20,900 Masterpiece Derby at Fair Meadows in Tulsa, sending out all three top finishers—Vesper Martini, Wf Apolitical Bullet, and Cowgirl Chaos in the 350-yard stakes for Paints and Appaloosas.

Breaking from the inside post, the heavy favorite surged to the outside early and opened up to a decisive 3/4-length win, stopping the clock in 17.778 seconds over a fast track. Her effort earned a 93 speed index despite a stiff 15 mph headwind.

The winning connections of Vesper Martini accept the Masterpiece Derby stakes trophy at Fair Meadows Saturday. © Jack Coady Photography

Under jockey Roman Cruz, Vesper Martini lived up to her billing and then some. The daughter of Painted Turnpike collected her second stakes win of the season for owner 918 Bloodstock, having also captured the Grade 3 Speedhorse Graham P&A Stakes at Remington Park in May. Saturday’s victory pushed her career bankroll to $135,756 from 14 starts.

As a 2-year-old, she put together an outstanding campaign that included wins in the Pot O’ Gold Futurity and the Texas Hero Juvenile, a runner-up finish in the Speedhorse Graham P&A Futurity-G1, and a finalist appearance in the Oklahoma P&A Futurity-G1. Those efforts earned her high honors as the 2024 APHA World Champion Solid Paint-Bred Running Horse, Champion Two-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Filly, and Champion 2-Year-Old.

Bred by J. Garvan Kelly and Lloyd Yother in Oklahoma, the filly is out of Martinis N Bikinis by Red Storm Cat. She was purchased for $11,000 at the Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale.

Runner-up honors went to Wf Apolitical Bullet, ridden by Mario Delgado. The black gelding rallied late but could not catch the winner, finishing a half-length ahead of third.

He covered the distance in 17.922 seconds with an 89 speed index. Bred by Steve Wright and Dee Keener, the son of #2 leading APHA sophomore sire PHQ Apollitical Jess is out of Bullet Bonnie by Duke Kahahamoku.

Owned by Painted Faith Racing, Wf Apolitical Bullet has now banked $15,720 with a 3-4-2 record from 14 starts. He was also second to Vesper Martini in the Grade 3 Speedhorse Graham P&A Stakes earlier this year.

Cowgirl Chaos ran a strong race, securing third by a neck over Chief Iron Eagle. Piloted by Jesus Ayala and rounding out Keener’s trifecta, the daughter of Flying Cowboy 123 clocked in at 17.948 seconds with an 88 speed index.

She is owned and bred by Jeff Adams and out of Jess Cuz, a daughter of Freighttrain B. The Appaloosa filly has now lit the board in seven of ten career outs, with three wins and $55,874 in earnings.

The remaining order of finish was: Chief Iron Eagle, Wf Jess Candy, Docs Panda, Valiant Anthem, Shadowing Pt, and Knuckle Buster.

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