TWO-YEAR-OLD RACES ARE UNDER WAY

AND THE FIRST ONE GOT OFF TO A BANG!

A BANG! -- OH BOY! -- ARE WE EVER?

On Friday April 5, 2024, I made a pick in the first two-year-old race of the year and here it is:


Pick for Friday April 5, 2024:


LET'S GET THE FIRST TWO-YEAR-OLD RACE OF THE YEAR OFF TO A BANG!

A BANG! -- OH BOY! -- DO WE EVER?


4 1/2 Furlongs | Open | 2 Year Olds | MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT | PURSE: $80,000

Track: Keeneland
Race: 2

Horse: Bostontonian (ML 9-5).


Field (in post position order):

1. Turnbuckle (ML 20-1)
2. Chado (ML 30-1)
3. Strummin (ML 6-1)
4. La Marinera (ML 30-1)
5. Jet Sweep Joe (ML 5-1)
6. El Dandi (ML 20-1)
7. Baytown Baracus (ML 12-1)
8. Fortheloveofrun (ML 30-1)
9. Bostontonian (ML 9-5)
10. Vinegar Hill (ML 15-1)
11. Indigo Wind (ML 10-1)
12. Shoot It True (ML 4-1)
13. Ace It (ML 8-1)



I picked Bostontonian (ML 9-5) to win and place but he was scratched in favor of the second choice stable mate Shoot It True (ML 4-1).

Bostontonian is a 2-year-old gelding. He was sired by Bernardini out of the Forest Wildcat mare Falconess.

Shoot It True is a 2-year-old filly. She was sired by Munnings out of the Malibu Moon mare To The Moon Alice.

Both Bostontonian and Shoot It True are trained by Wesley Ward, so Wesley Ward knew all along that he wasn't going to run his two horses (Bostontonian and Shoot It True) against each other and just a matter of which one he wanted to scratch at scratch time Friday morning of April 5, 2024.

Wesley Ward ended up scratching Bostontonian instead, leaving the filly Shoot It True to carry his banner for the first two-year-old race of the year.


CARRY A BANNER -- OH BOY! -- DID SHE EVER?

YES, THAT IS RIGHT: A "SHE" -- A FILLY TROUNCED A GOOD GROUP OF TWO-YEAR-OLD COLTS -- A FAMILIAR THEME AS OF LATE.


Shoot It True obliterated a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight on Friday at Keeneland, opening up a four-length lead through an opening quarter-mile in 21.89 seconds before widening her advantage to win by 7 1/2 lengths in 52.04 seconds.

It's no telling how good Shoot It True is and if I have to guess right now, she is good enough to be sent overseas (in England) to compete in Royal Ascot's prestigious races beginning in June 2024.

That's how good she looks right now!

She belongs there!

Could Royal Ascot be in her future?

We'll have to wait and see once Royal Ascot gets underway.

Anywhere she goes she'll be a force to be reckoned with in the two-year-old season, whether overseas or here in the United States.

Stay tuned!