Kentucky Downs: Boji Moon wins Juvenile; Lien On Kitten takes Juvenile Fillies

FRANKLIN, Ky. – Boji Moon passed his first major test with flying colors Saturday when stepping outside of Iowa-bred company and trying turf for the first time in the $117,250 Kentucky Downs Juvenile at Kentucky Downs.

Trained by Chris Richard, Boji Moon had crushed statebreds in his two prior starts at Prairie Meadows and was similarly impressive in a 5 1/4-length score in the seven-furlong Juvenile. Brian Hernandez Jr. was aboard the Cactus Ridge gelding, who returned $4.80 as the favorite in a field that scratched down to just five. The winning time over a firm course was 1:23.24.

“That was about as impressive a seven-eighths race as you’ll see here,” Hernandez said. “He did everything like a professional. I just tried to stay out of his way as much as I could.”

Here’s Johnny set the early fractions but was no match for the pace-pressing Boji Moon, though Here’s Johnny easily held second over Sweet Daddy.

Boji Moon is owned by Brian Hall, William Gessman, and River Ridge Ranch. He earned $68,045 while ineligible for additional Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund bonuses.

Lien On Kitten wins Juvenile Fillies

Lien On Kitten, yet another promising homebred from the Ken and Sarah Ramsey stable, stayed unbeaten in two career starts when along late to win the $162,500 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies by 1 1/2 lengths.

Trained by Wayne Catalano, the gray daughter of Kitten’s Joy returned $5.80 as the favorite in a field of nine. She lugging in on her wrong lead during her winning run and finished seven furlongs in 1:24.77. Her only prior start came in a maiden route on the Arlington turf.

J J Julep, who made a strong move to the lead in midstretch, held second and was followed by Personal Diary and Pocket Gift.