Horse by Horse News

Finally after a long string of good fortune two horses ran well today and got tough trips that cost them placings…

• First up was Seven Seven, making his much anticipated career debut at Saratoga. He broke well, sat an excellent stalking trip, made a huge move on the far turn to get alongside the 2 leaders, and then the horse next to him bore out badly, sending him 4 wide and causing him to lose all momentum and he finished 5^th   (“strung out 4 wide on the turn” see attached official chart). There was a steward’s inquiry into the running of the race but they made no disqualification, but in any event it really wouldn’t have helped him at that point.  While he probably wasn’t going to beat the winner, he was would likely have been 2^nd or at least hit the board. We were expecting a solid effort from him and we got it, but it didn’t show up in the results. That said, he came out of the race fine and clearly has ability. Will come back next time at Saratoga or Monmouth and with a better trip be tough to beat.
• This evening at Penn at was No Good Deed’s turn to get a rough trip, this time of her own making as she went to her knees when the gate opened, losing all shot. Despite that, she made a nice move to gain contention and kept fighting the entire way, finishing 4^th, beaten in a photo for 3^rd. Again the winner here looked to be much the best, but with a better start she clearly was 2^nd instead of 4^th. It was encouraging to see her not quit after a bad start, she too came out well so far and should bounce back next time.

These two races are a good if unfortunate education as to just how much the trip matters in every race. Almost all of the 6 horses who won last month got good setups and clean trips, while the two today got the worst of it. If Seven Seven and No Good Deed got better trips they would have been 2^nd or 3^rd instead of 5^th and 4^th; if Rapstorerocks had anything less than a dream trip and not hit the wire at exactly the perfect moment, he’d have been 3^rd in a 3 horse photo instead of standing in the winner’s circle.  

• Tracy Ann’s Legacy was entered at Monmouth Park and the race went, she runs Saturday in a nice grass allowance event with a big purse. It’s an exceptionally tough spot, almost every horse in it comes out of a winning race, one of the few that don’t is the likely favorite, who comes out of a good 2^nd in a stake at Belmont Park in her last. That said, Tracy Ann comes off a super-impressive win herself and has been training well, so we expect a big effort from her.
• Fire's Finale was entered for Sunday at Monmouth Park and that race went with a nice short field. Looking forward to seeing him run locally!
• Highwaytwentyseven entered for Sunday at Monmouth Park and that race went also, one race before Fire’s Finale. It’s on the grass, not what we wanted at all as he’s never run on it, but with no other option in sight and the horse doing really well, we decided to give him a chance on a new surface (through we wouldn’t mind at all if it came off the grass!).
• New Found Treasure perfect out of her impressive win at Penn National and a race came up for her on the extras with good timing and she got in. She runs next week at Penn National in a similar spot to the race she won last time. Came up especially tough this time, the horse she was 2^nd to a couple of races back is in there, along with several others with good form, but as well as she’s been running recently she’s one of the top contenders nonetheless.
• Life on the Edge excellent out of her 10 length win at Monmouth Park. There’s an excellent race for her in about 2 weeks at Monmouth Park. She has really filled out and matured into a very good looking filly this spring-summer.
• Pango ok out of an excellent flying 4^th at Penn National, beaten a head for 3^rd in a photo and a heartbreaking 1 length for the win despite a tough trip. It was an ultra-tough race for the level with an overflow field and for the first time since we claimed him this spring, he ran a winning race. A few strides after the wire he was in front and off this race we have renewed optimism that he can join the rest of our stable in the winner’s circle.
• Rapstorerocks great out of his 2^nd win in a row at Penn National. Should run back towards the end of August.
• Giuliana Vee good out of a very game 2^nd at Penn National coming back on just 2 weeks rest off her debut win. There’s a race for her towards the end of August. This filly has matured into an honest, consistent runner and we are very pleased.
• Blu Candy gets a little time off at the farm and is doing well there. Expect her to return to training at Monmouth Park in September. We are not rushing her as she’s bred to mature into a nice filly.

As usual, entry information can be found here.

General News

• We are pleased to announce group #60 is now sold out. Every single one of our new co-ownership groups was full in 2020, several over-subscribed with waiting lists. The support of our incredibly loyal co-owners, especially during such challenging times, is deeply appreciated by our entire team. We do this for you and we thank every one of our owners for being part of the Kenwood Racing family. 
• What an amazing July! Six wins and three seconds from just eleven starts. Congratulations to all our owners on your wins this month with No Good Deed, New Found Treasure, plus TWO wins for Rapstorerocks, a win and a photo finish 2^nd for Giuliana Vee, and an outstanding blowout win to end the month following an excellent 2^nd on Haskell Day for Life On the Edge.  
• Lisa Limon and her Liam’s Map foal well at Hidden Brook Farm in Ky. Hard to find a better looking horse. Good luck to Lisa’s brother Snow Man in the Duke City Sprint Stakes this week!
• Enjoy our latest news post “Lessons from a great month”.