Lawn Ranger's win in Sunday's Grade 3, $250,000 Dixiana Bourbon Stakes at Keeeland was the colt's first stakes victory and secured a spot in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, but it was a special win for another reason.
The son of U S Ranger, owned by Turf Stable, was bred by Scott Ricker and his wife, Carol, founders of Sunny Oak Farm near Paris, Kentucky. Scott Ricker died of cancer last June at the age of 59.
This bay foal, who has developed into a strapping 2-year-old graded stakes winner with a bright future, carries the hopes and dreams of Ricker, who was involved in horse racing for decades. It was fitting that Lawn Ranger, who has raced exclusively on turf with two wins and one second for Kentucky-based trainer Kenny McPeek, would find his spotlight in the heart of the Bluegrass.
"(Ricker's) ashes are actually here on the Keeneland grounds, which I think is a mojo thing," McPeek said. "We had a special angel."
McPeek said it is likely Lawn Ranger will make the trip to Santa Anita for the Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 31.
"He seems like a horse that's maturing, and I think he's going to be even better as a 3-year-old," he said. "Our fingers are crossed that will happen."
