Trainer Dee Keener and jockey Daniel Torres are Remington Park's weekly Lip Chip Honorees.

© Dustin Orona Photography/Remington Park

BY RICHARD LINIHAN

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK–MAY 22, 2024–Trainer Dee Keener qualified five of the top 10 fastest Paints or Appaloosas last week for the final of the Grade 1, $230,475 Speedhorse Graham Futurity, which is set for closing night, Saturday, June 1.

Jockey Daniel Torres won six races, including three on one night, to outdistance the rest of the jockey colony by two trips to the winner’s circle.

Because of these accolades, Keener and Torres earned Lip Chip Trainer and Jockey of the Week honors for May 16-19 at Remington Park.

Keener, known as the modern-day King of the Paints, qualified four Paints and one Appaloosa to the Speedhorse Graham, including the four fastest Paints of the trials – WF Jess Candy (:17.738 for 350 yards), PFR Road Rage (:17.757), OG Nikki Sixx (:17.7823) and Vesper Martini (:17.869). The App he qualified was Cowgirl Chaos, who was ninth-fastest in the trials at :17.936. Five different jockeys qualified each of Keener’s horses to the finals.

No one had a week as impressive as Torres among the jockeys. He won three races on Friday, May 17, and had won aboard an 18-1 longshot on Thursday. On Friday, he won the featured allowance race in the saddle of Big Lew Love, who won in his first trip around the hook at 870 yards.

Torres made fans stand up and take notice Thursday when he guided the longshot first-time starter Bernindaylite to the finish line first for trainer Fernando Manriquez. On his three-bagger night Friday, he got things started, booting home the maiden Paint named Firstapolliticaljese as a winner for trainer-owner Luz Chavira, followed by wins aboard Executive Train for Manriquez and then Big Lew Love for trainer Eddie Willis.

Torres took Big Lew Love straight to the lead and defeated a few horses that had already proven themselves around the turn – Rock Ya Later, Katch this Eagle and Kool Man Kenny. Those three had combined to win eight times at 870 yards. Big Lew Love races for owner Reliance Ranches, who lead the standings this meet. Big Lew Love held off his classy foes by a half-length for the win.

The closest to Torres’ six wins were Edwin Escobedo and Francisco Calderon, with four apiece. Keener may have qualified four Paints and one App to the finals for this breed's richest race in the country, but he only had four winners for the week. Still, with his dominance toward the futurity he still earned the trainer honor. His four wins for the week were one more than Jason Olmstead and Matt Whitekiller, who had three apiece.

Remington Park racing continues this week, May 23-26, with first post time of 6 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and the usual 4 p.m. first race on Sunday. All times are Central.

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About Remington Park
Remington Park has provided more than $349 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, Remington Park presents simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. The Remington Park 2024 American Quarter Horse, Paint and Appaloosa Season continues through June 1 with the biggest racing program of the season. The Champions Night boasts total purses in excess of $2,000,000, led by the $1,000,000 Heritage Place Futurity. Parking and admission are always free. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.