BY BROCK SHERIDAN
A pair of Florida-bred juvenile colts will attack Friday’s $100,000 Fitz Dixon Jr. Memorial at Presque Isle Downs from different points as trainer Nolan Ramsey sends Boyhood Dream from Kentucky and Kevin Rice trains Uncle Kef from his summer barn at the Erie, Pennsylvania track. The six-and-a-half-furlong Fitz Dixon Jr. has attracted a large field of 11 2-year-olds with Uncle Kef drawing post two and Boyhood Dream getting the number seven stall in the starting gate. A victory by either Boyhood Dream for Uncle Kef would generate a $4,000 Export Incentive from the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association for their respective breeders.
Both were first out winners on synthetic as Boyhood Dream won a five-furlong maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park on June 26 while Uncle Kef took a four-and-a-half-furlong maiden special weight at Presque Isle on June 8.
Ramsey tried Boyhood Dream on the Gulfstream main track for his second start and the son of Uncle Chuck was a distant second to the young Florida-bred juggernaut Sum of Success in the $100,000 In Summation for Florida-breds on August 10. The undulating turf at Kentucky Downs was next for Boyhood Dream where he was most recently sixth in the $748,000 Juvenile Sprint over six-and-a-half furlongs on August 29.
Bred in Florida by Haras Doña Icha de Ocala, Boyhood Dream is out of Cactus Kitten, by Kitten’s Joy. He was purchased for $20,000 at this year’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale out of the Blue River Bloodstock consignment by Ramsey for his grandfather, Ken Ramsey. Boyhood Dream has so far earned $64,425 from his three starts.
Boyhood Dream is the second choice on the morning line at 3-1 and will be ridden for the first time by Axel Concepcion.
Also bred and owned by Rice, Uncle Kef traveled for his second race as well, finishing fifth in the $128,000 Victoria going five-and-a-half furlongs on all-weather main track at Woodbine on July 12. He was next sixth in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special on dirt at Saratoga Race Course on August 1 before returning to the synthetic at Presque for his last race, a second to Fitz Dixon-rival Bossy Wossy in a first condition, $62,500 optional claiming going six furlongs on August 19.
Another by the late Uncle Chuck, Uncle Kef is out of Alexandra Kay, by Factum and has earned $36,966 in his four starts.
Uncle Kef is 9-2 in the program and will be ridden for the first time by Addiel Ayala.
Bossy Wossy is the 2-1 program favorite based on his undefeated record in two starts for owner and trainer Juan Arriagada. Before winning the aformentioned optional claiming by four-and-a-quarter lengths, he dominated a five-furlong maiden special weight by 12 ¼ lengths at Presque Isle on July 27.
Bossy Wossy is by Maclean’s Music and is a $10,000 graduate of this year’s OBS Spring Sale where Arriagada selected him out of the father daughter consignment of Joey and Jennifer Radosevich and their Double R Equine Sales based in Oklahoma.
Israel Rodriguez will get the leg up on Bossy Wossy and will start from post three.
Also entered are Pretty Boy Bubba piloted by Jose Bracho, Grandes Suenos with Hector Diaz Jr. taking the riding assignment, jockey Edgard Zayas teams with Jacks Shot, Quinntopia will have Rosario Montanez up, Martina Rojas has the call on Eternal City, Cactus Kristofer will have Taylor Kingsley in the saddle, Frost Rocket will be guided by Paco Lopez and Gaddiel Martinez takes the reins on What’s Your Name.
Return to the September 16 issue of Wire to Wire
