And with three runners on the
A two-time World Champion, Flashthechicks has more than $311,000 in earnings and is currently No. 2 on APHA’s Lifetime Leading Money-Earners Chart.
Now in his third year of racing,
Flashthechicks has a top speed index of 102 and more than $311,000 in lifetime earnings. Currently No. 2 on APHA’s Lifetime Leading Money-Earners chart, the gelding is steadily chipping away at Got Country Grip’s record of $361,881 for the No. 1 spot. Imachickenkicker, a 2010 sorrel solid mare by Dos Poruno, is Game Chicken’s second foal, and she’s proven just as successful as her half brother. Last year’s Champion SPB 2-Year-Old and 2-Year- Old Filly, Imachickenkicker has already racked up $140,527 in 14 starts and has a top speed index of 103.
In an interesting twist, the half sib- lings have gone head-to-head twice this year. In both races—the Paul Harber Memorial Handicap in March and the Cowboy and Western Heritage Handi- cap in May—Imachickenkicker outran Flashthechicks in tight races, surprising even the Wheelers.
“We were really surprised about her
outrunning ‘Flash.’ That was really amazing,” Shirley said. “Some horses don’t mature as early as others, so maybe she was just late maturing. Whatever the case, she’s certainly made it interesting for us this year.” Making his debut in 2013 was Game Chicken’s third foal, Imflashinthechicks. A full brother to Flashthechicks, the 2011 sorrel solid gelding started strong,
20 JULY 2013 PAINT HORSE RACING
capturing three wins, one second and one third in five starts, including a win in the Oklahoma Paint Futurity. He’s already earned nearly $64,000.
Raising and running their homebreds has been a rewarding experience, and the last three years have been particu- larly surreal for the Wheelers, thanks to Game Chicken and her progeny. “We sit around and talk about it, and ask ourselves ‘Can you believe it?’” Shirley said. “We’ve just been so blessed these last three years.”
ground, it’s becoming apparent that Game Chicken is stamping her foals with consistent quality. “She’s just one of those big, well-put- together mares. She has great conforma- tion,” Shirley said. “You’ve got to say her breeding is awful good, too. But I can’t say she passed on her disposition because her disposition is way better than her offspring—her offspring are pretty rank when they first start working with them! But she gives the colts a lot of her conformation.” Game Chicken also has a wean- ling filly on the ground this year—a full sister to Flashthechicks and Imflashinthechicks. “She is something else,” Shirley said.
“She is ornry—a little spitfire!” With the success of the Game Chicken–Royal Quick Flash cross so far, it’s hard for the Wheelers to consider diverging from the proven nick, though Imachickenkicker has made a powerful case for trying another cross on Dos Poruno. Thanks to breeding technol- ogy, however, the Wheelers might not have to choose—they’re tossing around the idea of breeding to one stallion via embryo transfer while letting Game Chicken carry a foal by the other. “That’s what we’re thinking about doing, since she’s really turned out to be
Game Chicken’s second foal—Imachickenkicker, a 2010 filly by Dos Poruno—earned her first Champion titles last year and has more than $140,000 in earnings.
DUSTIN ORONA PHOTOGRAPHY
COADY PHOTOGRAPHY
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