Speedhorse Paint & Appaloosa Futurity Championship Trials Set The Stage for Grade 1 Finale At Will Rogers Downs

The road to the Grade 1 Speedhorse Paint & Appaloosa Futurity Championship continues Sunday afternoon at Will Rogers Downs, where thirteen juveniles will compete in two trial heats to advance to the championship finale.

The ten-race card begins at noon, with the first two races featuring the 400-yard trials. The ten fastest qualifiers will return on November 17 for the third and final leg of the Grade 1 $15,000-added Speedhorse Paint & Appaloosa Futurity Championship Finals.

The opening trial, scheduled for noon, features seven juveniles, led by multiple stakes winner Big Rotney. The son of Painted Turnpike enters with five wins from seven starts and earnings of $143,617. The Oklahoma-bred gelding captured the $188,500 Oklahoma Paint & Appaloosa Futurity in March and added the $115,300 Remington Park Juvenile Stakes in April. He also won his trial for the $231,400 Speedhorse Graham Paint & Appaloosa Futurity in May.

Bred and trained by Matt Whitekiller, Big Rotney is out of the Crm Livewire mare Crm Country Girl. He races for Apple R Racing from post three, with jockey Cody R. Smith aboard. He will look to rebound from a fourth-place finish in his most recent start, a 400-yard trial at Lone Star Park on October 16.

Kentucky Owl enters the opening trial after an impressive victory in the $30,000 Pot O Gold Futurity at Will Rogers Downs on October 5. The gelding pulled away late to win by one length, securing his first career victory and raising his earnings to $34,430.

The son of This Is An Eagle is out of the Awesome Chrome mare Aguascalientes. Bred and owned by Mark and Lori Dolan, Kentucky Owl is trained by Stacey L. Capps and will break from the outside post seven with Aram S. Martinez returning to the saddle.

Bella Bc also brings winning form into the opening heat. The daughter of Phq Apollitical Jess has won two of five starts and earned $31,151. She enters after a narrow allowance victory at Will Rogers Downs on September 27, when she rallied late to win by a neck.

Bred by Fabiola Calleros, Bella Bc is out of the Teller Cartel mare Jesstell Cartel. She races for Real Eagle Racing Stables LLC and trainer Marco Adair Chavez-Gutierrez. Randy Vega has the riding assignment from post two.

Paddy Powers and Bawitdaba add depth to the opening trial. Paddy Powers, a son of Phq Apollitical Jess, finished second to Big Rotney in the Remington Park Juvenile Stakes and has earned $64,628 for owner Planefun LLC. Bawitdaba, a son of Crm Livewire, has earnings of $19,114 and most recently finished second to Bella Bc at Will Rogers Downs.

The second trial, scheduled for approximately 12:25 p.m., features six juveniles, including Zazas Coconut Cartel, which enters as one of the leading contenders after a runner-up finish in the Pot O Gold Futurity on October 5.

Flying Cowboy 123's daughter has recorded two victories, one second-place finish, and three third-place finishes in seven starts, earning $45,896. She captured her qualifying trial for the Pot O Gold Futurity on September 21, then returned to finish second to Kentucky Owl in the final.

Bred by Russell Trull, Zazas Coconut Cartel is out of the Lota Pyc mare I Like It Alota. She races for Russell M. Trull and Melissa Trull, with trainer Kasey Willis. Gonzalo Gutierrez will ride from post four.

Wf Manfredi also returns for the second trial after winning his September 21 qualifying heat in the Pot O Gold Futurity. The son of Phq Apollitical Jess has three wins from ten starts and earnings of $31,338. He also finished third in the $40,000 Speedhorse Paint & Appaloosa Futurity at Fair Meadows in July.

Bred and owned by Steven B. Wright, Wf Manfredi is out of the Country Quick Dash mare Biker Chick. Trainer Michael Moss will saddle the gelding, and Mario Delgado will return to ride from post five.

Ima Hot Mess, a daughter of Crm Livewire, brings stakes experience to the second heat. The Texas-bred filly has earned $20,668 from six starts, including a win in her Remington Park Futurity trial in May. She is owned by Kaye Jones, trained by Matt Whitekiller, and will be ridden by Cody R. Smith from post three.

Dw Showin Sin Off will also aim to secure a place in the championship final. The son of Dulce Sin Tacha has finished second in two of his three career starts, including a runner-up effort behind Chilinator in his September 21 trial at Will Rogers Downs. The Oklahoma-bred gelding races for owner and breeder Danny J. Watkins and trainer Michael Moss, with Jasten Pedraza aboard from the rail.

With only ten qualifying spots available, Sunday's two trials will determine which juveniles earn the right to return for the November 17 championship. The competition brings together proven stakes winners, seasoned finalists, and emerging contenders, all vying for a spot in the Grade 1 finale.

The first trial is scheduled for noon, with the second heat at approximately 12:25 p.m. at Will Rogers Downs.

The races at Will Rogers Downs can be watched on Q-Racing Video.

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