Painting the Sky now a dual citizen

Painting the Sky will be racing as a Paint for the first time Wednesday night at Evangeline Downs, but the start will come against her fellow Thoroughbreds.

Whaaaaat?

Painting the Sky is a Thoroughbred, but her markings resemble those of a Paint, and her connections had submitted paperwork to have her dual-registered as a Paint. Painting the Sky on Monday received her certificate of registration from the American Paint Horse Association.

“She’s got her dual citizenship, and hopefully we can put it out in lights Wednesday,” said Brett Brinkman, who trains Painting the Sky for her breeder, Sandra New.

Painting the Sky will be seeking her third straight win when she starts in the eighth race, a nonwinners-of-three allowance for fillies and mares bred in Louisiana. It will be run at a mile and will be Painting the Sky’s first start since taking a first-level allowance March 11 at Delta Downs. She had been entered back in a turf race at Evangeline in late May, but it ended up being canceled due to inclement weather.

“We’re looking forward to running her,” Brinkman said. “She’s done fine, worked good, and has developed quite a bit. She’s grown some. She’s just right at 16 hands now and has kind of filled out.”

Painting the Sky is a 3-year-old daughter of Yankee Gentleman. She has made four starts, all at two turns at Delta Downs. Painting the Sky’s maiden win came Feb. 20. Junior Inirio has been aboard for all of her races and has the mount Wednesday from post 2.

Brinkman said Painting the Sky could advance to the Louisiana Legends Night program July 2 at Evangeline. He said Painting the Sky would be a candidate for the $100,000 Soiree, a one-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies bred in Louisiana.

As for the new Paint designation, Painting the Sky falls under the cropout category among Paints because her parentage is Thoroughbred. Her markings had to fit certain criteria to be registered, and then her application for registration had to come before a review committee, according to procedures of the APHA.

The new registration opens up the question of whether Painting the Sky can race against Paints, and when asked about the topic, Brinkman said he has to do some “homework” to see if she is eligible to compete. However, he added that the traditional shorter distances of Paint races might not suit Painting the Sky.

“This probably is more for her next career,” he said of the registration. “Maybe the possibility of breeding her to a Paint racing stallion, get something to run a little shorter, get a Paint racing horse. The possibilities open up a little bit at this point.”

Painting the Sky is out of the Lone Star Sky mare Lone Star Quest. She is a chestnut, but there are about four paragraphs describing her markings on the foal papers issued by The Jockey Club, said Brinkman.

“The color scheme on this filly is pretty exceptional,” he said.