Livewires Turnpike (10) wins the Mister Lewie Memorial for the third time in the last four years at Remington Park, winning with Francisco Calderon up on Saturday, May 9, 2026.

© Dustin Orona Photography

By Richard Linihan

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK–May 9, 2026— Livewires Turnpike won the Grade 1, $24,000 Mister Lewie Memorial Stakes for the third time in four years on Saturday night at Remington Park. The triumph gives his trainer, Matt Whitekiller, his seventh trip to the winner’s circle in this stakes series.

When asked what this horse winning again means, he said, “It means he’s getting old.”

Livewires Turnpike is now a 6-year-old Oklahoma-bred Paint by CRM Livewire, out of the PYC Paint Your Wagon (QH) mare Wagon On Turnpike. He has won the Mister Lewie as a 3-, 4-, and 6-year-old. Livewires Turnpike, who was sent off as the 9-5 favorite over the second choice, Wire Tap at 2-1, outlasted last year’s winner of the Mister Lewie by 1-1/2 lengths in the 400-yard race.

Wire Tap won the 2025 edition of this stakes when Livewires Turnpike ran seventh. The two Paints are barn-mates for Whitekiller. The last time Whitekiller didn’t win the Mister Lewie was 2022 when the Appaloosa, Queen for Cash, was the winner from the barn of trainer Jesus Ruiz.

Jockey Francisco Calderon recorded a riding double Saturday night when Livewires Turnpike crossed the finish line first. Calderon has won this race the past four years and that moved him past the all-time winningest Paint jockey Cody Smith for most wins in the series. Smith has won the Mister Lewie three times.

“(Livewires Turnpike) looked really good in the paddock,” Calderon said. “He looked like his old self tonight. He ran a great race. Matt had him right and ready to go.”

Whitekiller said this horse has had some feet problems and gave his barn staff all the credit for him running like he did Saturday night.

“He has always been a sound horse,” Whitekiller said, “but he’s had those problems. My staff has done an amazing job with him.”

This was just Livewires Turnpike’s third race in the past two years.

“He is something special,” said owner Bryan Hawk. “He was going to tell us when he was ready to run again and he did just that tonight. He is really something special.”

Livewires Turnpike gave Hawk his third win in the series, moving him into first place for most wins by an owner as he has surpassed several with two victories. The winner was bred by Nolan Pevehouse.

Livewires Turnpike covered the 400 yards in :19.553, earning a 96 speed index. His time was so much faster than the American Quarter Horses qualifying for the Heritage Place Derby on Saturday night as a thunderstorm was beginning to move through Remington Park just about the time these Paints and Appaloosas were entering the gate for this race. They benefitted from a strong tailwind while the Quarter Horses ran into a headwind all evening.

Livewires Turnpike paid $5.80 to win, $3.60 to place and $2.80 to show. Wire Tap, with Smith in the saddle, was another head in front of third-place finisher Turbulent (5-1). Whitekiller ran first, second and fourth in this Mister Lewie as he also had Over the Shock (7-1) check into the top four, a neck back of Turbulent, trained by the all-time winningest conditioner of the mixed breeds, Dee Keener.

Livewires Turnpike pocketed $14,520 from the $24,000 purse to improve his lifetime record to 23 starts, 14 wins, two seconds and two thirds for a bankroll of $262,094.

The rest of the order of finish past the top four was Valiant Anthem (35-1) fifth, Storms Livewire (8-1) sixth, Nota Pocahontas (16-1) seventh, Gitter Dunn Belle (39-1) eighth and Wired BB (8-1) ninth.

Wired Bb, a supplemental entry to this stake, lost his jockey, Jonathan Dominguez, at the gate as the horse leaned backwards and the flipping halter he was utilizing kept his gate closed a split second longer because of his actions. When the gate stall doors did finally open, Wired BB reared up, losing Dominguez. The horse was a starter as he had caused his own issues.

The Mister Lewie Memorial Stakes is named in honor of the late, great Lewis Wartchow, who was the King of the Paints, winning more all-time races for this breed for years and years before passing away in 2003, shortly after his 65th birthday. He held the Remington Park record for stakes wins in the Quarter Horse and Mixed-breed seasons with 34 at the time of his passing.

Remington Park racing continues Sunday at 4 p.m. with 12 races carded, including seven trials for 3-year-old fillies trying to qualify for the finals of the Grade 2, $373,800 Heritage Place Oaks, set for May 30. Those trials, races 4-10, have been carded for 400 yards.

About Remington Park
Remington Park has provided more than $411 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 $1,000,000 Heritage Place Futurity takes place on the final night of the spring season on Saturday, May 30. 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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