(Thursday, October 9, 2003) - Shero, a 2-year-old daughter of Texas Hero, was the fastest qualifier to the $100,000-estimated Graham Paint Futurity at the completion of four trial races Thursday night at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas.

Trained by Tommy Barnes and ridden by Randy Wilson, Shero collected her first career win with a swift 350-yard clocking of :18.014 over a main track labeled “muddy.”

“She’s still real green,” Wilson said of the immature daughter of Texas Hero. “She had a full sister that won this futurity.”

Wilson was referring to Runaway Rosie, who won the inaugural running of the race in 1998.

The complete list of qualifiers: Shero (:18.014; owned by Marion Hoskin; trained by Barnes; ridden by Wilson); Bold Bucephalus (:18.034; Charles Trochta and Sam Hester; Hester; Larry Payne); Tushkas Texan (:18.034; Bobby Barnett and Michael Zingelmann; Zingelmann; Gilbert Ortiz); Nee O Got See (:18.069; Trochta and Hester; Hester; Payne); Friona (:18.083; Herbert Graham; John Wartchow; Roy Brooks); Ima Texas Rebel (:18.097; Jayme Buck; David Drake; Mike Harvell); Ima Solid Hero (:18.109; Ponie McCrary; John Garvin; Denise Lambeth); Snafols Hero (:18.110; The Painted Pitchfork; Brandon Parum; G.R. Carter Jr.); Diamonds N Jets (:18.112; Bob Johnson; Matt Whitekiller; Juan Vazquez); and Town Painter (:18.127; Fred Wahlenmaier; Mark Sellers; Wilson).

The Graham Paint Futurity, set to be run for the sixth time on Oct. 25, is restricted to Paint Horses sired by stallions of the legendary horse breeder Hebert Graham, including Texas Hero, Raise A Jet, Relentless Jet and Lonesome Hero. Nine of the 10 qualifiers were sired by Texas Hero. The lone exception was the ninth-fastest qualifier, Diamonds N Jets, a daughter of Raise A Jet.

Texas Hero made his mark during the 1993-94 racing seasons, winning back-to-back World Championships as well as topping the $100,000 mark. The loud-colored bay tobiano stallion, by Raise A Jet and out of Breakaway Baby, won both the PSBA and Pot O’ Gold Futurities in 1993.

Graham, who resides in Gardendale, Texas, has a chance to win his race for the third time with Friona, a full sister to 2000 winner Verona. Graham’s other victory came in 2001 with Texas Wildcat.

Friona is conditioned by John Wartchow, the son of prominent trainer Lewis Wartchow, who passed away earlier this year.

The Graham Paint Futurity is the second richest race for Paint Horses in the nation and the richest of its kind in Texas. Paint Horses exhibit a minimum amount of white hair over unpigmented skin. Markings can be any shape or size, and located virtually anywhere on the Paint’s body. Although Paints come in a variety of colors with different markings, there are only three specific coat patterns: overo, tobiano and tovero.