High Five Cotton started off a big week with a big win for Kenwood Racing, on December 17th, posting a wire to wire victory in Race 2 maiden special weight at Penn National. He was game as could be, as he broke well, made the lead, and held off the two favorites the entire way to win by 1&1/2 lengths in a fast time. Cotton was Kenwood's third two year old winner of the year. We were extremely high on this horse and our team all expected him to win early, rather than be our 3rd winner of the year, at the end of December in his 6th lifetime start. After several sub-par races this fall, it's natural that some owners were disappointed, as we all were. But, they are racehorses, not race cars! Some horses just take more time to come around than you'd think, while others win at first asking, who show no real ability in their initial training.

Is Cotton likely to be the stakes horse we hoped and thought he might have been? Possible, but not likely. But, since we paid only $35,000 for him and sold him to our valued co-owners with no markups, he doesn't have to be a stake horse to be a fun and profitable runner for us. If he's a solid $25,000 - $40,000 claiming horse, we'll do very well, and if he becomes a decent allowance horse, we'll make some real money. Compare that to stables that pay $200,000 - $1,000,000++ at sales for horses (let alone the 50-300% markup the syndicates add!). If they are not one of the fraction of 1% that are multiple graded stakes horses, you lose everything. 90% of any horses you buy, even those with perfect pedigree, movement, confirmation, etc. end up to be claiming horses, about 1/4 will never win a single race! To win a maiden special weight with a horse that cost just $35,000 is an achievement. Having 3 of our 9 two year olds to date, hit the winner's circle (average purchase price $43,000) when just 11% of all two year olds (including those selling for $200,000+++) win a single race at two is grossly over-performing. May not seem like it when horses get sick, need time, run poorly for one (or 2 or 3 or 5!) races, but that's the racing game! If that makes you discouraged or crazy, you are in the wrong business. If you have patience, you will have moments that make thoroughbred ownership very worthwhile and fun.

A Hearty congratulations to all our Group #30 co-owners and trainer Ben Perkins! And, thanks for your patience. We hope and think the best is yet to come here (and High Five Cotton is not the only promising runner in group #30)!