by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — Balmoral Park racing fans received their first look at some of this season’s 2-year-old colt pacing crop on Sunday night (June 7) as a field of nine youngsters met in the $5,000 Jimmy Sunshine Stake.

Balmoral Park photo

J V’s Bad Boy was a 1:55.4 winner in the Jimmy Sunshine Stake.

Those on hand were treated to quite a performance as the Robert Taylor bred, owned, trained and driven J V’s Bad Boy came flying down the lane to win by a neck in 1:55.4. The final time was a national season’s best for a 2-year-old gelding pacer.

Kept in mid-pack throughout much of the mile by Taylor, who is quickly earning himself quite a reputation as a highly regarded developer of young talent, this son of Jody’s Cam-Prettys Sassy Miss was third over as the field turned for home.

Quickly gobbling up horses while flying down the outside of the track J V’s Bad Boy zipped home in :27.3 to make his debut a winning one. Nash Gram (Josh Sutton) provided cover for the winner and wound up a game second while Apache Renegade, the longest shot on the board at 57-1, shook loose late to finish third.

The 2-year-old action continues on Tuesday night (June 9) at Balmoral Park as freshman pacing fillies meet in the $5,000 Egyptian Grande Stake which goes as the second race on the 10-race program.