With Welder in career form, trainer Luneack eyes bigger prizes

There is a secret to the success Welder has had this meet at Remington Park.

And, it’s a very sweet one, according to trainer Theresa Luneack.

“Welder is fueled by peppermints,” she said. “He is the most spoiled animal on the planet. He’s everybody’s favorite and he gets his way. He’s very spoiled, and I feel like the more he’s spoiled, the better he runs.

“We keep the peppermints flowing.”

Welder is an Oklahoma-bred standout who has emerged as the dominant sprinter at Remington. He’s won four stakes in his four starts at the meet in a Remington record for stakes victories in a season. He captured the $70,000 Remington Park Sprint, which came off the turf, on Sept. 7; the $159,000 David M. Vance when facing open company Sept. 30; the $130,000 Oklahoma Classics Sprint on Oct. 19; and the $67,000 Silver Goblin in his most recent start Nov. 16.

For the Silver Goblin, in which Welder covered 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.61, he earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 97.

“He came back wonderful,” Luneack said. “He’s already bouncing and jumping. You’d never even knew that he ran.”

Welder is based on a farm in Claremore, Okla., which is near Tulsa. He races for Ra-Max Farms. Welder shipped into Remington for each of his races, and he will do the same early next year when he makes his first-ever start at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.

“We’re going to shoot for Oaklawn,” Luneack said. “I think we’ll try him down there and see how our luck plays out there. Hopefully, things go well. The King Cotton is the first race we’re interested in. It’s a big step. He’s really training well. He’s had a really good year this year. I feel like we’re on the right track with him. We’ve got to try.”

The $100,000 King Cotton will be run Feb. 9 at Oaklawn. It is the first race in the track’s series for sprinters, which culminates with the Grade 3, $400,000 Count Fleet on April 13.

Welder has come along a year after Ivan Fallunovalot, the now-retired millionaire, won four runnings of the David M. Vance at Remington. Welder is a 5-year-old by The Visualiser. He’s gone 6 for 8 this year for earnings of $329,550.

“I think he’s matured now and he’s bigger and stronger,” said Luneack.

Welder's also packing plenty of peppermint power.