2024 APHA Champions Banquet Will Be Held On February 22 in Shawnee, Oklahoma

FORT WORTH, TX–JANUARY 25, 2025–The American Paint Horse Association has announced their 2024 American Paint Horse Champions Banquet will be presented at the Grand Casino Hotel & Resort in Shawnee, Oklahoma, on February 22, 2025, in conjunction with the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association Awards Banquet.

Just to remind you, the annual racing participation fee for owners of race starters is required for eligibility for any year-end awards. Non-payment of this fee will not affect a horse’s past performance, but they will not be eligible to receive any awards until all fees are paid.

Additionally, all racing year-end awards will be presented to the owner or lessee on record as of December 31 of the qualifying year, as long as all fees are paid and the owner or lessee is a current member. Submit your fees here.

The 2024 APHA World Champion Running Horse honors will be presented to WF Jess Candy and Vesper Martini.

Rising star WF Jess Candy, a 2022 sorrel overo gelding, earned his first world championship running horse title in 2024. Sired by leading APHA first-crop-sire PHQ Apollitical Jess and out of the APHA Champion mare SW Eye Candy, WF Jess Candy displayed talent and consistency in his first year on the track under the training of Dee Keener.

With 10 starts and three wins, including two Grade 1 stakes victories, WF Jess Candy earned $119,274 in 2024. His career highlights include a win in the $40,000 Oklahoma Paint & Appaloosa Juvenile Stakes and the prestigious Grade 1 $230,475 Speedhorse Graham Paint & Appaloosa Futurity. Painted Faith Racing of Inola, Oklahoma, owns WF Jess Candy. Steve and Dee Keener of Coweta, Oklahoma, bred the gelding.

In addition to the World Champion Running Horse title, Wf Jess Candy also earned the Champion Two-Year-Old and Champion Two-Year-Old Gelding honors.

Another standout 2-year-old, Vesper Martini, firmly established herself as a top Paint racing contender in 2024. She earned the World Champion Solid Paint-Bred Running Horse honors as well as Champion Two-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Filly and Champion 2-Year-Old.

In 11 starts under the guidance of trainer Dee Keener, Vesper Martini secured six wins, including two major stakes victories: the $74,000-added Grade 1 Pot O’ Gold Futurity and the $20,000-added Texas Hero Juvenile. These contributed to her $107,017 in career earnings.

A fan favorite, Vesper Martini is a 2022 bay solid mare by APHA world champion running horse Painted Turnpike and out of Martinis N Bikinis (QH). She is owned by 918 Bloodstock of Inola, Oklahoma, and was bred by Garvan Kelly and Lloyd Yother of Bermuda Dunes, California.

The 2024 APHA Champions Leaders:
2024 Leading Breeder: Garvan Kelly & Lloyd Yother with earnings of $197,335
2024 Leading Owner: 918 Bloodstock with earnings of $234,768
2024 Leading Trainer: Matt Whitekiller with earnings of $625,617
2024 Leading Jockey: Roman Cruz with earnings of $232,525

The 2024 APHA Champion Running Horses:
Champion 2-Year-Old Colt: Handsomer, owned by Bertha Nunez
Champion 2-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Colt: Jessys Hero, owned by Waylan Melton
Champion 2-Year-Old Filly: Wire Transfer, owned by Robin Haggard
Champion 2-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Filly: Vesper Martini owned by 918 Bloodstock
Champion 2-Year-Old: Vesper Martini owned by 918 Bloodstock
Champion 2-Year-Old: WF Jess Candy, owned by Painted Faith Racing
Champion 2-Year-Old: WF Jess Candy, owned by Painted Faith Racing
Champion 2-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Gelding: OSC Is On Fire, owned by Rogelio Sandoval
Champion 3-Year-Old Colt: None Eligible
Champion 3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Colt: Lin, owned by Jie Lin
Champion 3-Year-Old Filly: Tess The Wire, owned by Bryan Hawk
Champion 3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Filly: Wired Red Head, owned by Taylor Van Bebber, John Herrick & Connie Young
Champion 3-Year-Old Gelding: Storms Livewire, owned by Edith Gutierrez
Champion 3-Year-Old: Storms Livewire, owned by Edith Gutierrez
Champion 3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Gelding: Wire Tap, owned by Dan & Kaye Jones
Champion 3-Year-Old: Wire Tap, owned by Dan & Kaye Jones
Champion Aged Stallion: None Eligible
Champion Aged Solid Paint-Bred Stallion: Strawflyin Eagle, owned by Jose Romero
Champion Aged Mare: Turnpikes Judy, owned by Shari Burger and Vickie Mcbee
Champion Aged Solid Paint-Bred Mare: KGS Wish, owned by Betty Charbonneau
Champion Aged Gelding & Champion Aged Horse: Over The Shock, owned by Robin Haggard
Champion Aged Solid Paint-Bred Gelding: Livewires Turnpike, owned by Bryan Hawk
Champion Aged Horse: Livewires Turnpike, owned by Bryan Hawk
Broodmare of the Year: SW Eye Candy owned by Steve Wright and Dee Keener
Distance Champion: KGS Wish, owned by Betty Charbonneau
Claiming Champion: Pevs Wire To Wire, owned by Jackie Pevehouse
World Champion Regular Registry Running Horse: WF Jess Candy, owned by Painted Faith Racing
World Champion Solid Paint-Bred Running Horse: Vesper Martini, owned by 918 Bloodstock

2024 Regional Racing Awards
Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah)
Horse: KGS Wish
Owner: Betty Charbonneau
Breeder: Kenneth D. Groce
Trainer: Jeff Charbonneau

Southwest (Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, California, Nevada)
Horse: Ima Chili
Owner: Michael Read
Breeder: Susan & Wade Leggett
Trainer: Zackery Rios

Central (Oklahoma, Colorado)
Horse: Cowboy On The Fly
Owner: Painted Faith Racing
Breeder: Garvan Kelly & Lloyd Yother
Trainer: Matt Whitekiller

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