General News

• Thanks to everyone who attended our Seminar on “Purses & Claiming” Thursday night for another well-attended and successful online event!
• As everyone knows, Kenwood Racing’s record has been nothing short of phenomenal this summer with nine wins, seven seconds and two thirds from twenty one starts in July and August, including three wins and four seconds from seven starts at our home base of Monmouth Park. When you are hitting at 45% win and 90% in-the-money for two months, a lot of things are obviously going right. Congratulations to all our owners on your many successes with; Life On the Edge two wins in a row! Highwaytwentyseven, a going away 5+ length win in his Kenwood Racing debut and a game 2^nd. Two wins in a row for Rapstorerocks at Penn National, including a head bob thriller in a 3 horse photo in his last, an easy win for No Good Deed, New Found Treasure 2^nd, 1st and 3^rd in her last three starts, two wins and a photo finish 2^nd for Giuliana Vee in her last three starts, a very game 2^nd in her Kenwood Racing debut for Tracy Ann’s Legacy, a very game flying finish 2^nd for Pango, an improving 3^rd in a maiden special weight at Saratoga for Seven Seven and more to come!

Horse by Horse News

Another action filled day Friday with three horses running at two tracks and another terrific day for Kenwood Racing runners. As easy as 3, 2, 1 today!

• First up we had Seven Seven in a favorable spot at Saratoga (see photos taken by Kelly Breen). As explained previously, experience makes a huge difference with young horses. In his debut, the only two horses with a race under their hooves ran 1-2, while he had a very rough trip, finishing 5th. This time he was the only horse in the race with a previous start (and accordingly was heavily bet down from his morning line 5 to 1 odds to the strong 2 to 1 second choice). He broke in and bumped at the start and was near the back of the pack in the early going, was wide for much of the race (see attached official chart), but commenced a solid run on the far turn and kept it up in the stretch to finish a much improved 3^rd, well back of the top two and well ahead of the rest of the field. Jockey Luis Saez said he got a ton of dirt in his face in the early going after the bad break and wasn’t comfortable at first, but once in the clear he was really running at the end and would absolutely improve going two turns. Particularly considering he was coming back on short rest it was a very solid race and a nice step forward. We felt from the start this horse was bred and had the conformation to be best at classic distances and get better with age. Off this race, we have reason to feel pretty good about his future prospects, especially as a New York bred running for enhanced purses.

A few hours later both horses at Penn National made it into the races off the also eligible list.

• First up was Pango running in a super tough spot (as almost all races are for open company turf runners). Last time in a similar spot he had a rough trip, flew late, and ended up 4^th, beaten 1 length for the win. This time he got a good break and a clean trip from the outside, was floated 5 wide on the turn and appeared hopelessly beaten inside the 1-16^th pole, only to come with an absolutely incredible closing rush to get 2^nd, beaten a head for the win and 2 noses ahead of the 3^rd and 4^th horses in yet another blanket finish. One step further and he was the going away winner here. It was a very game effort for a horse that is clearly rounding into form and clearly moves up on the grass. They don’t write turf sprints at longer distances at Penn; you hate to take him off a course he clearly likes but we might look at a race at a track with a 5&1/2 or 6 furlong turf race next time. Congratulations to active racing group #58, all three of your horses are running just great!
• Then to end a busy day Giuliana Vee scratched into what was frankly a dream spot. The two main competitors scratched out of the race, she got an ideal outside post, and had the same rider on her back as she did when she broke her maiden last month so not surprisingly she was the overwhelming 1 to 5 favorite. That said, they still have to run the race, or as the old saying goes, ‘there’s 100 ways to lose a race and 1 way to win it’. Sure enough, it wasn’t easy as despite a good ride and a good trip, she was all out to run down the early leader in the final strides to win by a head. This is a undersized filly who outpunches her weight and gives it her all every time. She’s now had 2 wins and a photo finish 2^nd in her last three starts and while not big enough to compete at higher levels, you have to love her grit and determination. Congratulations to her owners on another winning race!  

Entries….

• Take a look at a great photo Mark Salvaggio took of New Found Treasure training Friday morning at Penn National. She was entered for the same spot at Penn National where she’s been 3^rd, 1^st and 2^nd in her last three starts and the race went but she too got on the also eligible list, needs one scratch to run. As with Pango and Giuliana, we will know on race day, next Friday. Assuming she does get in, as with Pango, open company races on grass are almost always full fields and incredibly competitive so won’t be easy, but as well as she’s been running recently she should be very competitive here again.
• Rapstorerocks runs next week looking for his 3^rd win in a row at Penn National. Right distance, right level, same winning rider. Of course it’s a tougher group than he’s ever faced (non-winners of three are a lot better horses than non-winners of two or maidens!) but he figures to run really well again here.
• Fire's Finale was entered for Sunday at Monmouth Park and race did not come close to going. Hard to get races to go at a distance for two year olds, especially this early in the season. Your horse is precocious, most two year olds aren’t ready to go long yet. We may have to come back short again, will keep looking for options, he’s ready to run and doing well.
• Tracy Ann’s Legacy will be entered Sunday for an allowance event on the grass next week at Monmouth Park. This is a very nice filly and looks like an excellent claim for our active racing group #58, should be lots of good times ahead with her.

Other horses…

• Itsgottabemyway doing great, look for her to make her Kenwood Racing debut next month at Monmouth Park.
• No Good Deed much better now. Was a little body sore out of a rough trip last time when 4^th at Penn National but Mark Salvaggio gave her a little time and says she’s bounced back just fine now. Should be able to run next month.
• Highwaytwentyseven doing very well, has a win and a second now in two starts for us at Monmouth Park since being claimed, both at significantly higher levels than we claimed him for. Will look for a race for him next month.
• Life on the Edge sound and well off her second win in a row at Monmouth Park. Look for her in a similar spot in September.
• Adhwaa training well at Monmouth Park, no issues. Will breeze soon.
• Blu Candy well at the farm. Expect her to return to training at Monmouth Park in September.

This has sure been one amazing summer and there’s more to come!

• Lisa Limon and her Liam’s Map foal well at Hidden Brook Farm in Ky. Hard to find a better looking horse. Our Liam’s Map – Lisa Limon foal should be a very popular commodity when we sell him as a yearling next year.