By Stefanie Grimm
Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency
1st-KEE, $80K, MSW, 2yo, 4 1/2f, 1:00 p.m.
The opening day of the 2022 Keeneland Spring Meet features the first 2-year-old races of the year and the first opportunity for freshman sires to get their second careers off to a winning start. Success as a new stallion is of no concern for Uncle Mo, the sire of first-time starter DOMINICANA. A daughter of the SP Speightstown mare Chattertown, Dominicana is a full-sister to GSW and late sire Laoban. Purchased for $300,000 from the 2021 Keeneland September Sale for owners Don Alberto Stable and RT Racing Stable, the bay filly has worked three furlongs at Keeneland three times since Mar. 1 for superb 2-year-old trainer Wesley Ward, most recently going in :37 1/5 (14/28) Apr. 2. Jockey John Velazquez gets the ride as Dominicana takes on the boys in her career debut.
Freshman stallion Mo Town (Uncle Mo) will be well represented with two first-time starters here. Drawing the rail is MO'S TREASURE, a son of SP Beautiful Treasure (Unbridled). He is a half-brother to MGSP Flying Private (Fusaichi Pegasus) as well as six other winners from eight to race. He's had two four-furlongs works from the gate on this track for trainer John Hancock, going in :48 flat (10/65) Mar. 26 and :48 4/5 (18/72) Apr. 2.
Also representing Mo Town is BAYTOWN GET IT ON for trainer Paul McEntee. The chestnut comes in for his debut off of two bullet works including a four-furlong effort from the gate Mar. 24 in :47 flat, the fastest of 29 at the distance. TJCIS PPs
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