Blue Sky Kowboy's timing is perfect in Bucks Boy Handicap

Blue Sky Kowboy won the $55,900 Bucks Boy Handicap on Saturday at Hawthorne by roughly the diameter of an atom.

Don’task Don’ttell took a clear lead to mid-stretch in the Bucks Boy but Cammack and Blue Sky Kowboy closed in swiftly the final furlong. Cammack, coming between horses, appeared to flash past the finish narrowly in front, but it was Blue Sky Kowboy, rallying wide and from last, who got his nose down at just the right instant.

That doesn’t usually happen. Blue Sky Kowboy doesn’t lack talent but has no positional speed and his consistent late runs often have fallen short to the tune of a 2-for-12 win record the last two calendar years before Saturday’s victory.

Despite changing leads a couple times as he bore down on the leader, Blue Sky Kowboy, with an assist from veteran jockey Carlos Marquez Jr., got the timing just right Saturday, winning for the fifth time in 21 starts. Don’task Don’ttell finished a clear third as the winner tripped the timer in 1:41.78 for 1 1/16 miles over a firm grass course.

Blue Sky Kowboy, the favorite, paid $5.80 to win in this race restricted to Illinois-breds. He carried 123 pounds, giving two pounds to the runner-up, as the co-highweight with Christian C, who could only finish seventh.

Michele Boyce trains Blue Sky Kowboy for Terry Blondo, Oak Rock Racing, and partners.

Bramble Queen ships in to win Friday’s Illini Princess

Bramble Queen shipped in from the East Coast with a purpose, winning the $55,050 Illini Princess for Illinois-bred fillies and mares by 1 1/4 lengths on Friday at Hawthorne.

Carlos Marquez Jr. rode the winner for Ballybrit Stables and trainer Mike Dini, who used to be a Chicago regular before shifting his operation east several years ago.

Bramble Queen ($6.40) was reserved in sixth behind moderate fractions before unleashing a sustained rally that propelled her to the front in the final furlong. Kool Kate set the pace and held second but was disqualified and placed third for interfering with Lovely Loyree in the homestretch.

Bramble Queen, a 4-year-old, is by Silent Name out of Regal Rose, by Empire Maker.

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