Bowman Rewarded for ‘Leap of Faith’ With Speed King

When Ted Bowman purchased Speed King he wanted to make a big splash. Mission accomplished in the $1 million Southwest Stakes (G3) Jan. 25 at Oaklawn Park. Triton Thoroughbreds' Speed King won the 1 1/16-mile Southwest at 14.30-1 odds, upsetting Sandman, who was purchased for $1.2 million; Patch Adams, a horse who nearly broke Churchill Downs' seven-furlong track record in his maiden win; and Gaming, an Eclipse Award finalist for champion 2-year-old male who shipped in from California for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. The victory earned Speed King 20 points toward qualifying for the 151st Kentucky Derby (G1) and has his connections squarely on the Triple Crown trail. Bowman, who races under the name Triton Thoroughbreds, said he took a "leap of faith" when he purchased the gray or roan colt by Volatile at the 2024 Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. "I spent more than I had planned," he said. "I had already bought two horses, but the one I really wanted was Speed King. I am not in the position to spend like some people who attend the sale. I paid $100,000. For me, that's a lot of money." Bowman grew up in the small community of Woodson, Ark., and has lived in the state his whole life. As a teenager, he came to Oaklawn a couple times a year with his parents. When he was in his 20s, he started working for Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones in the oil and gas business. Bowman retired from that industry a few years ago and moved two blocks from Oaklawn. He walks to the track several mornings a week for coffee and to watch morning workouts. Rarely missing a day of live racing, Bowman enjoys the camaraderie with friends in the adjoining boxes. His journey as an owner began on March 5, 2006. Bowman was prompted to claim his first horse—El Merlot for $5,000—because his wife, Kristi, enjoys red wine. Kristi became the bookkeeper for their operation. The entity, then known as Bowman Couch Racing, accelerated quickly. They teamed up with Ron Moquett, and he became their sole trainer. Two months after their first claim, on the eve of the Kentucky Derby, Moquett and Bowman dined with Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito, who was a mentor to Moquett. They made a nine-horse package deal that included Seek Gold and Go Now. Zito had previously nominated both horses to the Stephen Foster (G1). Seek Gold had not visited the winner's circle in 22 months, but an impressive workout led the team to believe in the horse. However, the betting public did not share this confidence, and Seek Gold went off at 91.70-1. Seek Gold pulled off a stunning upset as the longest-priced winner in the history of the race and one of the greatest upsets in the history of Churchill Downs, paying $185.40 to win on a $2 bet. It was the first grade 1 win for jockey Calvin Borel, Moquett, and Bowman. Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas—who calls Bowman "Bo"—was present and told Moquett, "You've spoiled this man." It may have been true. Borel won three out of the next four Kentucky Derbys. Moquett trained 2020 champion male sprinter Whitmore. Nineteen years later, Bowman is still seeking his second grade 1. But two other horses in the package went on to win listed stakes races for him: Go Now won at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort and Silver Lord struck at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Later, Bowman acquired Silver Valley, who also won a stakes race at Mountaineer. He's claimed many horses and promoted them to starter-allowance level and has experienced wins at Saratoga Race Course and Belmont Park. These were the highlights of his racing resumé until Speed King came along. Bowman was looking for a natural athlete at a good price, similar to what Moquett found with Whitmore. Speed King's workouts stood out at the sale, and the team was impressed by his height and stride. "I called Kristi when I was waiting to bid on that horse, and I told her, 'Look, I'm going to go for it. I want to make another big splash,' " Bowman said. "And I've been rewarded. If nothing else happens, I've been rewarded." Right now, Speed King has the second-highest Equibase Speed Figure in a stakes race among all 3-year-old males in the country and the second-highest Beyer Speed Figure in the division in races longer than a mile. He is expected to make his next start in the Rebel Stakes (G2) Feb. 22, Oaklawn's third of four Kentucky Derby prep races, and he is also under consideration for the Arkansas Derby (G1) March 29. "I've never had a horse that I thought could take me there. It's a feeling that not many people get to have," Bowman said. "We're trying not to think ahead too much, but we're hopeful. I think he's special. We'll see."