The Cock Of The Walk wins G1 Lone Star Park Paint &
Appaloosa Futurity
FORT WORTH, Texas— The $62,500 Grade 1 Lone Star Park Paint and Appaloosa
Futurity is the final futurity for the year for Paints and Appaloosas, which
ends up reading more like a championship race. The Cock Of The Walk ran away
with the win for breeders Charles and son Wade Leggett who have been involved in
Paint racing for many years. The horse finished with a time of 17.40 seconds, a
103 speed index, and earned $25,000 in the 350 yard race.
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The Cock Of The Walk ran away with the win. Photo by Lone
Star Park.
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The Cock Of The Walk was a late-comer this year on the race circuit due to
an injury prior to his first schooling race in March. While in the paddock he
slipped and fractured his hock. This injury wasn’t detected prior to the race
and he was allowed to run, finishing a length and a half in the lead. Following
the schooling race the injury was diagnosed.
"We didn’t do surgery, just let it heal and brought him back late in the year
for the Grade 1 Pot O’ Gold Futurity where he ran second to Valdarama in the
trials and finished third in finals," Wade said.
This time the horse had a perfect start, running up the outside for the win. "We
knew if he got out good that he could outrun them," Wade commented.
"Our jockey Kenny Muntz really likes this horse. He’s been riding at Will Rogers
Downs, but he flew down to ride this horse," said trainer Luis VillaFranco.
The Leggett family, Charles, Wade and Stephanie co-own all of their horses and
this was their first Paint stakes win with one of their home-bred Paint horses.
Country Strummer, who finished fifth is also owned by the Leggett Family. The
Cock Of The Walk is a sorrel solid Paint-bred gelding by Royal Quick Flash and
out of Corona Lace, by Corona Cartel AQHA. He was trained by Luis VillaFranco
and ridden by Kenny Muntz. His lifetime earnings are now $33,784 with four
starts in his career.
"What’s special about winning this race is that we raised him. When he was born
he was outstanding. You could look at him and tell there was something special.
Larry Steele, owner of the sire Royal Quick Flash, came and looked at him and
said it was the best baby by Flash that he’d seen in a long time," Wade said.
"His dam is back in foal to Royal Quick Flash, so we’ll have a full sibling to
him next time."
The winners circle was full of electricity as Charles, Wade and Stephanie shared
hugs, kisses and thumbs-up. Wade was quickly on the phone telling everyone that
they had won.
When asked about the horses name, Wade admitted, "I just like to name horses
crazy names that people will remember. I love Saturday Night Live, especially
Christopher Walken’s character that says ‘I’m the cock of the walk, baby’."
The Cock Of The Walk will take a break from racing and will return next year in
the Graham and some other derbies, according to Wade.
Finishing second was Valdarama, a tough contender in this race. The chestnut
solid Paint-bred mare finished second in two futurities earlier this year
winning her trials. She finished with a time of 17.49. Her sire is Country Quick
Dash and out of Sheeza Lil Val AQHA, by Dashing Val AQHA. She is owned by Larry
Spurlock of Inola, Oklah., was trained by Dee Keener and ridden by G. R. Carter,
Jr. Valdarama earned $10,625 to make her lifetime earnings $69,955.
Third across the wire was Northernete, a flashy bay tobiano mare by Dos Poruno,
out of Rawhide Darling, by Cherokee Treasured. She crossed the wire with a time
of 17.57, earning $6,250. She is owned and bred by Larry Sherwood of Goliad,
Texas, trained by Robert Touchet and ridden by David Alvarez.
Other horses completing the race, along with times, include Roddy Mac Sorley
17.65 seconds), Country Strummer (17.66 seconds), Flashing Memories (17.66
seconds), Special Sign (17.85 seconds), Prize Jive (17.87 seconds), Country
Marauder (18.01 seconds) and Rockin To First (18.67 seconds).
More about Paint Horse racing
Horse racing has long been one of America’s favorite spectator sports. With the
recent growth of the Paint Horse breed, it’s no wonder that Paints have become
one of the hottest tickets in the horse racing industry.
Since 1966, when APHA officially recognized the sport, Paint racing has made
major strides forward. In that inaugural year, 17 starters ran for $1,290 in
just two states—Texas and Oklahoma. In 2009, more than 540 starters competed in
more than 530 APHA-recognized races for record purses totaling more than $4.7
million.
A total of 17 states now feature Paint racing, including Arizona, California,
Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota,
Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Paint
Horses also race in Canada.
"With a wealth of top performing Paint racehorses, dedicated owners and
talented trainers and jockeys, Paint Racing continues to remain a strong program
in the horse industry," said APHA Executive Director Lex Smurthwaite. "Paint
Racing enthusiasts recognized the amount of purse money available and have
jumped in to take advantage of the lucrative payouts."
For more information on Paint Horse racing, contact APHA’s racing department at
(817) 222-6444, email racing@apha.com, or
visit paintracing.com.