ith an air of self-assurance, CRM Livewire stepped out onto the dirt track at Lone Star Park on November
3 ready to prove he was the top 3-year-old in the land. One of seven 3-year-old Paint and Appaloosa racehorses invited to participate in the inaugural Masterpiece Challenge in Grand Prairie, Texas, CRM Livewire didn’t disappoint in front of the hometown crowd. Piloted by jockey Cody Smith, the 2009 bay tobiano stal- lion took off like a shot, blazing down the track to earn a decisive victory. For trainer Matt Whitekiller, “Livewire’s” win didn’t come as a surprise. “I don’t want to say I was overconfi dent, but
he’s just turned into a little professional. He ran a good race,” Matt said. “We just waited for this, and I felt really good about it.” Owner Dan Jones and his wife, Kaye, agree. “We were nervous, but we knew if he got out on top and had no problems, he would run a good race,” the Kemp, Texas, horseman said. “We were in the seven hole on the outside— there were only seven horses in it. He kind of exploded out of the gate.” “I always feel like if you go around saying
your horse is going to win, that’s bad luck, but I couldn’t help myself,” Kaye said. “The stars aligned for us!” Running the 400 yards in :19.84, the stallion took home $16,670 of the $27,330 purse. For the Joneses, Livewire’s victory in the
Masterpiece Challenge was special for a number of reasons. Winning the inaugural race meant a lot to the family, but having their horse cross the wire fi rst in front of an enormous group of family and friends made it mean even more. A group of nearly 50 sup- porters crowded into the winner’s circle follow- ing Livewire’s win.
Dan Jones hopes to see the Masterpiece Challenge grow into the industry’s premier race for 3-year-olds. Click to hear more.
“You’d have thought it was the Kentucky
Derby!” Kaye exclaimed. “We very rarely get to run in our own back- yard, so most of the
people who have wanted to share in Livewire’s
success were with us here. Although they might not ever follow in our footsteps,
they are still vested in the excitement that we have. I’ve had people call and thank me a million times for letting them share in the experience.”
Though the Joneses have enjoyed other victories throughout their 30 years of involve- ment, they were pleased to capture a win of this magnitude with their homebred stallion. “We’ve waited a while for this,” Kaye said. “I said I was going to have to tie a string around Dan’s ankle and carry him around like a big balloon to keep him on the ground the other night. He was so excited.”
Sired by Cartel Success (QH), Livewire is out of Elaina Go Go, a Texas Hero daughter whom the Jones purchased in 2005 on Matt’s recommendation.
“I loved the way she was bred, being a daugh-
ter of Texas Hero and out of a daughter of Elaina Rae—there’s a lot of breeding there that the Rices had quite a bit of success with,” Matt said. “I kind of had in mind when I bought that mare for them for her to be a broodmare.”
Left: Masterpiece Challenge buckles were presented by APHA to the cham- pion’s connections: CRM Livewire’s
owner, Dan Jones; trainer Matt Whi- tekiller; and jockey Cody Smith.
About 50 friends and family mem- bers helped Dan and Kaye Jones celebrate Livewire’s win. Invited into the winner’s circle, they enjoyed taking part in the win photo and buckle pre- sentation; here, Dan accepts the Master- piece Challenge cham- pion owner’s buckle from APHA Executive Director Billy Smith.