Another BIG win!!!!

  • Bullion draws away in the stretch to win by 9+ widening lengths , super impressive. Nice horse. Congrats to the group #40 owners. Two wins and a great 2nd so far, already a stellar week, wow
  • Diamond Play, Life On the Edge, Giuliana Vee, Shakin It Up colt have safely arrived at Monmouth Park. We are planning a morning training session for next Friday (a week from today), stay tuned for details.
  • Last call for our season kickoff party and opening day seating at Monmouth Park, please let us know if you haven’t already and plan to attend. Don’t forget to submit your questions for the party seminar, anything you want to know about racing in general, Kenwood, your horses, all welcome.
  • What a super week, two wins and a 2nd already, two more coming up!
  • Exchanging Ember started off what will go down as one of our biggest and most exciting weeks ever on exactly the right note, breaking her maiden in style in race 5 at Penn National by 6 widening lengths. It could have been just about any distance, as she tracked the early leader in 2nd, took over the lead at the top of the stretch and drew away from the field for a very impressive win, geared down at the end while still posting a fast time for the level despite being forced out both at the start and again at the top of the stretch (see chart). Stepping up in class a bit off her good 2nd last time against males, she simply outclassed the field.
  • It’s been a very long wait for this talented filly as she sustained a serious injury after her debut back in January of 2018 (a dull 8th) and was on the farm recovering for most of last year. Fortunately, after giving her the time she needed she not only returned totally sound but far more mature and ready to be a racehorse. Her mother, our beloved Exchanging Fire, while running injury free throughout her long career also took time to develop, winning three stakes for us after running in claiming races early on. Exchanging Fire improved when stretched out in distance, and we are eager to give Ember a shot going long(er) as soon as we can find a suitable race for her.  Kudos to trainer Mark Salvaggio and his team for their patient handling of this filly, and to Richele Grieb at Daydream Farm, where Ember convalesced last year. A hearty congratulations to the members of group #34, your patience was rewarded this evening and hopefully the best is yet to come, and also to the members of group #47 who own her brother, Start A Fire. He’s an incredibly impressive individual and Ember showcased a little of the family’s talent and heart tonight. Exchanging Fire was very special to all of us, a member of our family, and Ember did her proud tonight.
  • On Thursday, Starring John Wain stepped up to open company at Golden Gate Fields in race 2 and finished a game 2nd. The heavily favored winner, shipping in from Southern California, was much the best but Starring John Wain out gamed the rest of a very solid field of maiden special weight runners, rallying determinedly in the stretch to get 2nd. It was (literally) less than 1 length from 2nd to 6th; he simply wanted it more than the rest of a closely matched field. This incredibly consistent horse has now been in the money seven races in a row and as a Ca. bred is picking up very nice checks each time while looking for his maiden win.
  • Great entry news too, as we have two horses in for Saturday. More Ice draws post #7 in a 9 horse field for the California Derby Saturday at Golden Gate Fields. Please let us know if you plan to attend and want assistance with seating-dining arrangements. A highly competitive race, as expected, but he’s ready for a big effort. And Magic Musketier gets in a nice allowance race, race 1 at Santa Anita Saturday, also a highly competitive spot but he also looks ready for a big race.

 

Updates on other horses:

  • Blue Eyed Beth: she’s ready for anything we can find for her at Gulfstream Park. 
  • Vibrant Spirit: Nice little work this week (below), heading towards a start next month at Gulfstream.
  • Diamond Play: Shipped into Monmouth Park on Thursday with the rest of Kelly Breen’s Palm Meadows contingent. There’s an allowance race for her in the book at Monmouth May 18th, Kelly thinks she’ll be ready to run if they put up an extra at Monmouth before that.
  • Red Shelby: Race for her April 27th at Golden Gate didn’t go, looking for a spot.
  • Taima The Hawk: Looking to get him back in the entries.
  • Run Macho Run: “Another work and hopefully we can look for a race for him”, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer
  • Annie’s Candy: Good out of work at Santa Anita.
  • Rapid Red & Night of Idiots: Expected to return from the farm shortly.
  • Preacher: (group #52 two year old) Worked an easy ¼ mile last weekend, “he’s doing very well, no issues so far”, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer
  • Seahawk Lisa: Doing well with Eddie Woods in Ocala and ready to ship to Jerry Hollendorfer in California shortly.
  • Start A Fire: (group #47 two year old).  Doing well in Ocala at T-Square Stud, will ship to Monmouth Park in late May.
  • Lisa Limon: IN foal and doing well in Lexington, Ky. at Hidden Brook Farm.

 

As usual, you can see up to date possible entries here.  Please note this is where you go to find out things like “what race, what time” etc. You can also find that information on Equibase.

Last call for our Monmouth Park season kickoff party is Friday, May 3rd in Asbury Park. All welcome but space is limited and close to full now. Please RSVP if you would like to join us. We’ll have food, drinks, selections for Derby Day at Churchill and opening day at Monmouth Park. We’ll also have a Q&A session “Everything you wanted to know about thoroughbred ownership, but were afraid to ask!”, we’re inviting everyone (whether you are attending or not) to submit questions to us in advance of the event. We’ll try to read and answer as many as possible at the event and post some of the highlights on our website in a Blog as well. Don’t be shy, don’t hesitate! Email any and all questions you have about training, workouts, sales, breeding, claiming, race entries, the condition book, costs, safety, thoroughbred aftercare, legal structure, accounting and business operations, etc. to us. Tough, challenging questions, simple introductory questions, all questions are welcome and appreciated. Happy to mention your name with any questions submitted or let you remain anonymous, just tell us what you prefer. This is your chance to learn more about your horses and the thoroughbred game.

 

Finally, if you plan to attend opening day (May 4th) at Monmouth Park and wish help with seating – admissions, kindly email Owner Services Manager, George Katzenberger ASAP.