"That's what makes me feel kinda good about our guy, too. He only had, really, three tough starts in a row...or what I would call 'tough'."
Boomboom Ballykeel started his freshman season in the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots series, and used that foundation to eventually tackle North America's top colts in the 2013 Metro Pace at Mohawk Racetrack.
At 13-1, Boomboom Ballykeel comes in at #5 in Trot Magazine's 2014 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book. Trot Insider caught up with the person that knows the colt best -- his breeder, owner and developer Cam McKnight for an update on the son of Mach Three.
Where was he turned out after his last start at two?
"He was out on pasture at Richard Moreau's farm the next day. We talked about and I have thought about sending horses to warmer climates but we just decided to keep him around here. Richard had him in a three or four-acre field that he had all to himself. He had a look long break there that hopefully comes back to benefit him this year."
How long was he turned out?
"He was out at Moreau's farm in Puslinch until the first week of January. Then he came back and did some light jogging."
Where are you at with him right now?
"Richard had him in 2:10 over his farm track, a half-mile track, in a jogger last week. He'll probably go a mile over Woodbine later this week in the 2:01 range."
Have you noticed any changes from last year to this year?
"He's always had a great personality, not mean...but he's really high-spirited. Thankfully when he gets to the track he's all business. That part he's retained and maintained. From a size perspective, he's grown some. I'd say he's in the 15.2 range, same as his sire."
When will he qualify?
"The schedule I drew up for him has him qualifying the last week of April, with hopefully a second qualifier a week later."
What will his early schedule look like leading up to the Pepsi NA Cup?
"May 23rd is the first OSS Gold at Western Fair so that could be a starting point for him. From there, if everything goes okay, he'd move to the Somebeachsomewhere and keep our fingers crossed from there."
What does his tentative schedule look like after the NA Cup?
"Primarily we're aiming at the Ontario circuit because there are a lot of nice races here. That said, he is paid into some of the stakes in the States that you dream about like the Meadowlands Pace or the Jug or that new one in Cleveland - the Millstein. He's also paid into the Matron and the Messenger."