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FORT WORTH, TEXAS—It has been said time and time again that Paint racehorse SM Country Snowman “has taken Paint racing by storm.” The phrase couldn’t be more true than it is now that the 3-year-old stallion recently became the first Paint racehorse in history to earn $250,000 as a 3-year-old. SM Country Snowman set the new record during a 330-yard allowance race at Blue Ribbon Downs in Sallisaw, Okla., on August 30. The impressive stature of SM Country Snowman’s newest record can be better understood when learning that only two other Paint racehorses—Got Country Grip and Calista Corona—have earned $200,000 during their careers, and only one of those has earned $250,000. Five-year-old Got Country Grip reached the top mark earlier this year on his way to winning his 16th consecutive career race to tie the North American record. Winning came naturally to SM Country Snowman from the beginning, along with breaking and setting new records. The loud-colored red roan overo Paint, sired by Country Quick Dash (also the sire of Got Country Grip) and out of Western Lineage, had a breakout season as a 2-year-old, quickly winning his first six starts before facing defeat. He finished the year with two additional second-place finishes, one third and $159,383 in earnings. He also became the first Paint racehorse to earn $150,000 as 2-year-old. This year, the Wagoner, Okla., Rafter SM Ranch-owned stallion returned to the track, again, with winning on his mind. In his nine starts of 2008, SM Country Snowman won all but one race and earned a speed index of 103—his highest to date. Not only did he win eight of his nine starts, but did so by large margins and also beat Got Country Grip in two of the seasons’ Stakes races. Only one other horse—Bust N Moves—has finished ahead of the great Got Country Grip. “They can’t beat him,” said Rafter SM Ranch-owner Sparky Mullins of Snowman. “He doesn’t lose often and when he does he has to beat himself. Nobody thought he would run because he is such a laid-back horse, but when he gets on the track he is all business.” And no one should know that better than Mullins, who acquired the talented stallion when he was only eight days old. After spotting him and noticing what a nice colt he was, Mullins started asking questions. “When I found out he was out of Country Quick Dash, who I own, I made his owners an offer. Then I had to convince my wife, Denise, to let me buy another horse. (Mullins already owned 35 horses.) Since it was her birthday, I told her he’d be hers.” Since that day, the Mullins’ have never looked back on their decision. Their young colt has transformed into a stellar performer who will soon make the transition to standing at stud. Beginning in 2009, SM Country Snowman will be available to the public for breeding. Many wonder if the stallion will continue to storm his way down the track. “I never say never,” said Mullins. “Some horses can handle breeding and running, others can’t. He will let me know, but right now the plan is to continue running him.” As of press time, SM Country Snowman is slightly more than $20,000 away from becoming the highest money-earning Paint racehorse—another goal Mullins would like to accomplish by the years’ end. “SM Country Snowman has once again shown that Paints can be very competitive on the track,” said APHA Director of Racing Karen Utecht. “We, here at APHA, are proud of ‘Snowman’s’ accomplishments and the interest he has brought to our sport. We truly enjoy watching him on the track, and are looking forward to watching his offspring continue his legacy.” Courtesy of PaintRacing.com http://www.paintracing.com/press/08_SMCountry250k.html
FORT WORTH, Texas—SM Country Snowman recently became the first Paint racehorse to earn $150,000 during its 2-year-old year. The red roan overo stallion has brought home $150,145 in earnings so far this season. While setting the new record, the racing sensation joined an elite group of Paint racehorses earning more than $100,000 during their 2-year-old year. Only five other Paints have reached the milestone, with the first being Texas Wildcat ($107,495) in 2001. Since that time some of the biggest names in Paint racing—Linda Lajolla ($104,109), Calista Corona ($103,565), Got Country Grip ($146,454) and Rio Rojo Jess ($115,889)—have achieved the feat. Along with amassing the highest earnings for a 2-year-old, SM Country Snowman, owned by the Rafter SM Ranch of Wagoner, Okla., ran undefeated in seven starts. However, his winning streak came to a halt during the Speedhorse Futurity on July 27 when he finished just over a length behind Royal Quick Treasure. SM Country Snowman, sired by Country Quick Dash and out of Western Lineage, and Royal Quick Treasure, a 2-year-old filly by Royal Quick Flash and out of Countin Treasures, have been considered two of the top 2-year-olds racing this year, and met for the first time in the Speedhorse. Royal Quick Treasure has earned $72,776 so far this year. SM Country Snowman win at Remington Park and was named Remington Park Champion Paint Horse. . While on his way to setting a new earnings record, the stallion who is trained by Sparky Mullins, owner of Rafter SM Ranch, and ridden by G.R. Carter, Jr., also set a new Paint racing 350-yard track record at Remington Park in Oklahoma City. SM Country Snowman beat the previous record set in 2005 by 14-time undefeated Got Country Grip by .019 seconds. He set the new record at 17.565 seconds, while earning his fastest speed index of 102. Although the horse continues to win races and set new records while increasing his bank roll, Mullins is most proud of all the honors his horse is receiving. “It’s not about the money for me,” said Mullins. “It’s about the horse and what he can do. He ran one bad race this year. It wasn’t his fault, there were some mistakes from the start and it costs us, but he is a real good horse.” Mullins owns several of the top horses racing on the Paint and Quarter Horse circuits today, including SM County Snowman’s sire, Country Quick Dash, who has sired 65 foals—including Got Country Grip— with 27 starters earning $640,464. Country Quick Dash’s success as a sire is one of the main reasons Mullins decided to purchase his stand out 2-year-old. “I bought him when he
was nine days old,” said Mullins. “His dam had If you haven’t had a chance to catch this loud-colored stallion blazing down the track, he will race in the Pot O’ Gold trials at Blue Ribbon Downs in Sallisaw, Okla., on October 13, and hopefully advance to the finals on October 20. Mullins plans to run SM Country Snowman as a 3-year-old then stand him at stud the following the year. Courtesy of PaintRacing.com http://www.paintracing.com/press/07_smcountrysetsrecord.html
FORT WORTH, TEXAS—SM Country Snowman earned his fifth consecutive lifetime win June 2 during the Graham Paint Futurity RG 1 at Remington Park in Oklahoma City. The race provided a purse of $214,338. The two-year-old red roan overo Paint stallion set a new Paint Horse track record for 350 yards as he finished the race in 17.565 seconds. The new Paint racing sensation beat the previous record set in 2005 by 14-time undefeated Got Country Grip by .019 seconds. For his win, SM Country Snowman earned $81,452 bringing his lifetime earnings to $131,805. The undefeated Paint was named the 2007 Remington Park Champion Paint Horse. Along with this title, SM Country Snowman’s owner, Sparky Mullins of SM Rafter Ranch in Wagoner, Okla., was named Remington Park Champion Owner, and jockey G.R. Carter, Jr., earned the title for Remington Park Champion Jockey. The stallion is sired by Country Quick Dash, the same sire of Got Country Grip, and out of Western Lineage. Biker Chick, a sorrel solid Paint-bred mare, posted a time of 17.852 seconds for second place. The two-year-old’s take of $36,437 increased her lifetime earnings to $43,547. The mare is also sired by Country Quick Dash and out of Audacious by Judys Lineage, who is the sire of Western Lineage—SM Country Snowman’s dam. Biker Chick is owned by Steven B. Wright of Coweta, Okla., was trained by Brandon Parum and ridden by Samuel Thompson. Courtesy of PaintRacing.com http://www.paintracing.com/press/07_rpchampionnamed.html
FORT WORTH, TEXAS—SM Country Snowman earned another commanding win this year during the Lewis Wartchow Memorial Stakes G1, as he again took on aged runners. The 350-yard race on July 5 at Fair Meadows track in Tulsa, Okla., offered $20,000. The 3-year-old red roan overo Paint stallion dominated another race this year as he finished nearly a length ahead racing sensation Got Country Grip. SM Country Snowman, sired by Country Quick Dash and out of Western Lineage, stormed the track in 17.51 seconds to earn $12,750, increasing his lifetime earnings to $227,196. The young stallion is owned by Rafter SM Ranch of Wagoner, Okla., was trained by Sparky Mullins and ridden by Kenny Muntz. Putting forth a solid effort, finishing second, was the 5-year-old bay Solid Paint-Bred gelding Got Country Grip. “Grip,” who has had more than a stellar race career, posted a time of 17.65 seconds—two lengths ahead of the next closest contender. Sharing the same sire as SM Country Snowman and out of Got A Grip, the gelding earned $4,250 for total lifetime earnings of $274,828. As the highest money-earning Paint racehorse in history, Got Country Grip is owned by Jimmy Maddux of Weatherford, Texas, was trained by Brandon Parum and ridden by Roy Brooks. Following in third-place was the Appaloosa racehorse Moon Bully. The 4-year-old, trained by Tina Seely and ridden by Adam Roughley, posted a time of 17.95 seconds to earn $2,338. Another Appaloosa racehorse, Dashboard Drummer, rounded out the race with a posted time of 18.15 seconds. The 7-year-old, trained by Bill Griffin and ridden by Benny Landeros, won $1,275. Courtesy of PaintRacing.com http://www.paintracing.com/press/08_LewisWartchowMemStakes.html
FORT WORTH, TEXAS—SM Country Snowman proved he can beat the best of the best, despite his young age, during the $25,000 Cowboy Hall of Fame Handicap G1 held at Remington Park in Oklahoma City on May 24. The 3-year-old red roan overo Paint stallion, who took the 2007 racing season by storm, proved he plans on continuing to do the same this year. For the first in his career, the loudly-colored Paint, who runs in pink silks, was matched against older horses, including Paint sensations—Got Country Grip and Bust N Moves—in the 440-yard race. As most racing fans know, “Grip” ran undefeated in 16 races, tying the North American record held by Thoroughbred greats Cigar, Citation, Hallowed Dreams and Mister Frisky before being stopped short of his 17th win by Bust N Moves on April 19 during the Mister Lewie Memorial Handicap. The stage was set and was possibly one of the most hyped race so far this season as the above three Paints entered the starting gate together. Although “Snowman” ran a nearly perfect race—leading from the gate—he was almost scratched prior to the race because his jockey, Kenny Muntz, was injured when the colt reared on the way to the gate. Luckily for Snowman and owner SM Rafter Ranch of Wagoner, Okla., jockey Stormy Smith was sitting the race out, getting ready to leave the track and had previously ridden the colt. Despite the last minute rider change, Smith and Snowman posted a time of 21.88 seconds to finish three-quarters of a length ahead of Got Country Grip. SM Country Snowman earned $17,500 to increase his career earnings to $199,976 in 13 lifetime races. The stallion, trained by Sparky Mullins, was sired by Country Quick Dash and out of Western Lineage. Got Country Grip finished second for the second time in his race career after stumbling badly out of the gate and making contact with Bust N Moves. The 5-year-old bay Solid Paint-Bred gelding put forth a game effort try under jockey G.R. Carter, Jr., but failed in his attempt to overcome Snowman. The duo posted a time of 22.01 seconds to earn $6,500. Grip is the highest money-earning Paint Horse in history with total career earnings of $270,578. Owned by Jimmy Maddux of Weatherford, Texas, and trained by Brandon Parum, Grip was also sired by Country Quick Dash and is out of Got A Grip. After colliding with Got Country Grip, Bust N Moves also made a worthy attempt to overcome SM Country Snowman, but fell short finishing third—a neck behind Got Country Grip. Bust N Moves, sired by Judys Lineage and out of Meaningfully AQHA, posted a time of 22.04 seconds. The 4-year-old gray Solid Paint-Bred gelding, owned by the Cowboys and Indians Partnership of Inola, Okla., earned $3,750 to increase his lifetime earnings to $164,663. Bust N Moves was trained by Dee Keener and ridden by Adalberto Candanosa. Other horses completing the race included Braggin Rights (ApHC) and Elegant Extacy G (ApHC). Courtesy of PaintRacing.com http://www.paintracing.com/press/08_CHoFhandicap.html
FORT WORTH, TEXAS—SM Country Snowman easily won the $56,210 Graham Paint & Appaloosa Derby on March 22 to remain undefeated in seven starts at Remington Park in Oklahoma City. The 3-year-old red roan overo Paint stallion by Country Quick Dash and out of Western Lineage finished the 350-yard race nearly two lengths ahead of the pack after qualifying for the race with the fastest time during the trials on March 7. SM Country Snowman and jockey Kenny Muntz quickly covered the track in 17.40 seconds to earn a speed index of 103. Owned by Rafter SM Ranch of Wagoner, Okla., and trained by Sparky Mullins, SM Country Snowman earned $21,365 to bring his lifetime earnings to $182,476. Royal Quick Treasure followed behind SM Country Snowman for the second-place finish. The 3-year-old sorrel Solid Paint-Bred mare owned by Glenda Parum of Springer, Okla., posted a time of 17.68 seconds to finish a length ahead of Chicks Lacerta. Royal Quick Treasure was trained by J. Parum and ridden by Alex Baldillez, Jr., to earn $9,555. The mare’s lifetime earnings are now $89,153. The third-place finisher—Chicks Lacerta—battled for her finishing position, crossing the line a neck ahead of the other horses. The 3-year-old sorrel Solid Paint-Bred mare by First Smart Money AQHA and out of Treasured Chick posted a time of 17.83 seconds. Ridden by jockey Debbie Freeman, the duo earned $6,183 for a lifetime earnings of $46,804. Chicks Lacerta is owned by Sammy Hester of Tulsa, Okla., and Charles Trochta of Oklahoma City. Hester also trains the mare. Other horses completing the race, along with times, include Special Indian Summer (17.88), Royal Harlot (17.92), Azure Mountain (17.99), Knee High Country (18.09), Solid Cowboy (18.10), G I Jana (ApHC) (18.13) and Blue Oyster Cult (ApHC) (18.63). Courtesy of PaintRacing.com http://www.paintracing.com/press/08_SMCountryGrahamPADerby.html
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