Otts Boy heads Keeton-trained exacta in Ruidoso Futurity
Otts Boy and Getthere Fast, the only two juveniles Texas trainer Toby Keeton entered in the Ruidoso Futurity time trials on May 27-28, finished first and second in the $1 million final on Sunday, dominating a field of nine.
Otts Boy, ridden by Ramon Sanchez, broke sharply from post 7 and led throughout, holding a half-length advantage after the first 100 yards of the 350-yard race. The competition could not get closer. Otts Boy ($9.20) was clear of 6-1 Getthere Fast by 1 1/4 lengths at the finish and was timed in 17.67 seconds.
Hes Judgeandjury (12-1) finished third after a troubled start. Chasing Aj, the 2-1 favorite, finished fifth, beaten two lengths.
Otts Boy is owned and bred by Luke Goebel, who owns a construction company in Three Rivers, Texas, about 50 miles northwest of Corpus Christi.
By Goebel’s stallion Mr Ottyes, Otts Boy is unbeaten in three starts and has earned $436,650. The win in the Ruidoso Futurity was worth $420,000.
Otts Boy won a 250-yard maiden special weight race in his debut April 23 at Sam Houston and a division of the Ruidoso Futurity trials on May 28, setting the fastest qualifying time that day.
Otts Boy gave the 58-year-old Keeton his second win in the Ruidoso Futurity. In 2014, he won the race with Kiss My Hocks, who was later named the champion 2-year-old colt and overall champion 2-year-old.
Keeton currently has divisions at Sam Houston and Ruidoso Downs and raced at Remington Park earlier this year.
Keeton was born and raised in Uvalde, Texas, the city that sadly made international news last month after an elementary school shooting.