JUST A KOOL BOY WAS JUST TOO KOOL FOR HIS KOMPETITION IN GRADE 2 $54,800 BOB MOORE MEMORIAL STAKES

Just a Kool Boy ran a sharp second in last year’s $271,000 Remington Park Derby to Dreamsville, but he looked even better getting his first stakes win in the Grade 2, $54,800 Bob Moore Memorial at Remington Park on Saturday night.

The 4-year-old son of Favorite Cartel, out of the One Famous Eagle mare Just Eagle, had danced all around a stakes victory, but had not broken through until Saturday night. He lost by a neck to Im a Fancee Chik in the $50,000 Jack Brooks Stakes here last year, running third in that event on May 21. He also ran fourth on the West Coast in the Golden State Million Futurity at Los Alamitos on Oct. 31, 2021 as a 2-year-old.

Now he can add black type to his resume after jockey Jimmy Brooks booted him home to a three-quarters length victory for trainer Eddie Willis in the Bob Moore Memorial Stakes. In the process, he beat several impressive multiple stakes winners, including Charlies Fury, Hesa Party Wagon, Nothin Like You, Dickey Bob, Jess B One and Sheza Freighttrain T. All of those competitors Saturday night were multiple stakes winners that Just a Kool Boy dispatched with ease. Charlies Fury won this race in 2021.

Another, Orbyson, had run fifth, beaten only 1-1/2 lengths in the $3 million All American Futurity last year. It was arguably the toughest field in the Bob Moore Memorial to date.

This was the sixth time Willis had won the Bob Moore Memorial Stakes and the third time for Brooks, the first for owner Adina Baker of Stroud, Okla. Willis won the 2001 version to get the ball rolling when Larry Payne rode Perfectly Aged to the win. Payne doubled up with Willis in 2002 bringing home You Go Ms Kimberly. Brooks got his first trip to the winner’s circle for Willis in 2012 with Streakin Down. Omar Reyes took the reins for Willis in 2014 on Rock You and then Brooks won aboard the same horse in 2015. It had been eight years since the Willis connections returned to the same success in this race.

Just a Kool Boy won for the fifth time in his career, but his previous wins came in a maiden race, a futurity trial at Los Al, the Remington Park Derby trials last year and the OHA Mystery Derby trial at Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla.

The winner was sent off as the 3-1 second favorite and paid $8 to win, $4.60 to place and $3.60 to show. Nothin Like You (6-1) was the runner-up, a head in front of Dickey Bob (13-1), who ran third in this race for the second year in a row. The 5-2 favorite, Sheza Freighttrain T (5-2) checked in fourth another head back.

Just a Kool Boy earned $34,584 for the victory and improved his record to 13 starts, five wins, one second and two thirds for a bankroll of $192,663. He stopped the timer for the 300 yards in :15.104 for a 103 speed index over a fast surface. He was bred in Oklahoma by Garrett Baker.

The Bob Moore Memorial is named in honor of the Hall of Fame horseman who was prominent in American Quarter Horse racing for over four decades, operating from his Norman, Okla. farm. Bob Moore Farms continues to be a leader in breeding quality horses.

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