Game Favorite (1) wins and sets the top qualifying time in American Paint Classic trials Thursday, April 9, 2026 at Remington Park.

© Dustin Orona Photography

By Richard Linihan

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK–APRIL 9, 2026– Game Favorite has improved with leaps and bounds since losing to Big Rotney in the Oklahoma Paint & Appaloosa Futurity by three lengths. Those two Paints were the fastest qualifiers Thursday night at Remington Park in trials for the American Paint Classic, but this time Game Favorite was the quickest.

The two Paints raced in separate trials, and granted, Big Rotney was not asked to run full out, but Game Favorite still had the fastest time of the night in four Paint trials for leading trainer Dee Keener.

The 10 fastest Paints from the four trials qualified for the finals of the $115,300 American Paint Classic, scheduled to be run Friday, April 24 at Remington Park. Game Favorite won for the first time in his three-race career, but his time of :17.250 was a tick faster than Big Rotney’s :17.304 for the 330-yard trials.

Game Favorite, with Roman Cruz in the saddle, cruised home an easy winner by 1-3/4 lengths as the 3-5 favorite in his heat. The 2-year-old Oklahoma-bred gelded son of multiple World Champion Painted Turnpike, out of the CRM Livewire mare Triple Sab O Tage, ran second in his trials for the earlier futurity this meet and then went off at 23-1 odds against Big Rotney in the finals. It appears we won’t know just how much Game Favorite has improved since that loss to Big Rotney until they meet again in a couple of weeks. After all, Game Favorite had an extremely awkward start in the futurity and never got to show what he truly is all about for owner-breeder Jeff Adams of Durant, Okla., against Big Rotney in that race.

Jockey Cody Smith had Big Rotney geared down at the end of his trial on Thursday night and he wasn’t that far off the time of the top qualifier, running the second fastest of the evening. Like Game Favorite, Big Rotney went off as the odds-on choice as he was hammered on the toteboard to the tune of 1-5 odds. Game Favorite paid $3.20 to win while Big Rotney paid $2.40 to win.

Whitekiller trains Big Rotney for owner Apple R Racing (Tim Reid) of McAlester, Okla. Big Rotney remains unbeaten after three starts in his career. He won his trial by three-quarters of a length over SW Sparkle, but in the last 100 yards, this strong winner was not touched by his rider. Big Rotney is an Oklahoma-bred gelded son of Painted Turnpike from the CRM Livewire mare CRM Country Girl. One can understand why these two fastest qualifiers are so talented when both have the same father and both have the same maternal grandsire.

View full qualifier list HERE. 

Here are the finalists (horse, jockey, trainer, time, speed index, trial number, race number):

• Game Favorite, Roman Cruz, Dee Keener, :17.250, 74, trial two, race seven
• Big Rotney, Cody Smith, Matt Whitekiller, :17.304, 72, trial four, race nine
• Paddy Powers, Mario Delgado, Dee Keener, :17.318, 72, trial one, race six
• Bella BC, Cristian Esqueda, Carlos Moreno, :17.367, 70, trial three, race eight
• WF Manfredi, Rolando Raudales, Dee Keener, :17.418, 69, trial three, race eight
• Splashing Turnpike, Cody Smith, Matt Whitekiller, :17.419, 69, trial one, race six
• SW Sparkle, Bryan Candanosa, Matt Whitekiller, :17.422, 69, trial four, race nine
• Apollitical Stephani, Mario Delgado, Dee Keener, :17.451, 68, trial three, race eight
• Ima Hot Mess, Randy Vega, Matt Whitekiller, :17.463, 67, trial one, race six
• Amplified Kool 918, Mario Delgado, Dee Keener, :17.464, 67, trial four, race nine

Only one trainer, Carlos Moreno, was able to crack the dynasties of Keener and Whitekiller for the finals, with fourth fastest qualifier, Bella BC, who won at first asking in her career debut. The other nine horses were either from the Keener or the Whitekiller barn. Keener had the first, third, fifth, eighth and 10^th-fastest qualifiers while Whitekiller conditions the second, sixth, seventh and ninth.

Remington Park racing continues Friday through Sunday, April 10-12. The first race nightly is 6pm with Sunday action underway at 4pm. All times are Central.

About Remington Park
Remington Park has provided more than $410 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District. The 2026 Remington Park Futurity, the richest race of the season for Oklahoma-breds, takes place on Saturday, April 18. Remington Park presents year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. Guests must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or to enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.

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