No luck today at Santa Anita, as neither runner hit the board…

First up in race 2, Annie’s Candy plain failed to fire as the 2^nd favorite in a spot where he looked very competitive, finishing 6^th while trailing throughout. This was the one of our four runners this weekend at Santa Anita that appeared to be in a favorable spot, so it was the one real disappointment of the weekend,

Next up in race 7, Magic Musketier, similar to both horses yesterday, was in a very tough spot in a full field in a mega-competitive allowance event. Note off a very good closing 3^rd last time out and with solid form he was 35 to 1 here, so a really competitive race. However he broke well, sat a nice trip, and was badly shut off when making a very good move, finishing 9^th. He actually re-broke and galloped out well, but it was too late after being stopped and almost clipping heels. It was a tough ending to a tough weekend racing wise.

Bullion actually ran quite well yesterday in race 7, battling for the lead most of the way in a suicide pace before tiring late, and More Ice simply wasn’t good enough on the dirt to compete with some of the top triple crown prospects in the Santa Anita Derby. Neither one of those horses, while nowhere close to the winner’s circle, did anything wrong. Both came out of their races very well as of this morning, sound and none the worst for wear. Bullion will be tough to beat next time out in a little softer spot, while More Ice will now point for a lucrative series of turf stakes at Santa Anita and Del Mar this spring-summer.

Some workouts to report (below) a number of horses gear up for various races.

Harbour Way entered twice at Laurel, neither race went, twice at Penn National, neither race went. Looking at a spot at Parx now for next week. Ready to run and doing fine

Blue Eyed Beth, Exchanging Ember and Run Macho Run all good out of their races this week. All should run back later this month.

Start A Fire well in Ocala, Diamond Play well at Palm Meadows. All our new two year olds well heading for Monmouth in a couple of weeks. All others doing well.

Horse Workout Notification 
April 6, 2019

Red Shelby (5-Year-Old Mare)

Your comments for this horse were: KRP Racehorse, claimed 12-3-18

Date: April 6, 2019
Track: SANTA ANITA PARK
Distance: Four Furlongs
Time: 48:60 Handily
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: Dirt
Rank: 1/5

Horse Workout Notification 
April 7, 2019

Taima the Hawk (6-Year-Old Gelding)

Your comments for this horse were: Claimed 11/22/18 at GGF, KRP Racehorse

Date: April 7, 2019
Track: SANTA ANITA PARK
Distance: Five Furlongs
Time: 1.05:00 Handily
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: Dirt training
Rank: 1/1

Kochees (9-Year-Old Gelding)

Your comments for this horse were: KRP Racehorse, claimed 11/11/18 at GGF

Date: April 7, 2019
Track: SANTA ANITA PARK
Distance: Five Furlongs
Time: 1.03:00 Handily
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: Dirt training
Rank: 7/17

Not even close for either Bullion or More Ice today at Santa Anita, but both horses fine out of their races, ran hard, and will be placed in much more winnable spots next time.

Bullion while 7^th of 11 horses, actually ran hard and well in race 7. He handled the grass just fine, battled for the lead for most of the race, and finally tired late off an exceptionally fast pace. Came out of the race fine so far and will get a lot of out this race. He has speed and talent in a little softer spot (he was 35 to 1 in here off a good 2^nd in his debut so this was a really tough race) will be tough to beat. Was no other place to run him after a couple of races failed to go, but the right spot will come up for him with patience.

More Ice showed he simply isn’t as good a dirt horse as he is a turf horse. He was sitting comfortably not far off the pace for the first half of the race and when the real running started on the far turn, just plain couldn’t keep up and the rider wisely didn’t push him. It was worth a shot for $1,000,000 in a short field to see if he could ran as well on the dirt as he has on the grass and Polytrack and clearly we now have the answer to that. There are a ton of grass races for him all over the country, he’s a sound, lightly raced three year old with a bright future ahead of him.

It was a stellar day at the races for the large and highly enthusiastic group of Kenwood owner and friends in attendance. The finish line suite Santa Anita gave us for the race was truly sublime. We had literally the premier view in the entire track of every race, plus a surprise visit from Adrián Beltré and his family in our suite, who was nice enough to pose for photos with everyone. A day to remember for all !

For more photos from yesterday, check out our facebook album.

Two more tomorrow at Santa Anita and lots more action to come….

A very good day today with a win and a second from three starters, plus two new entries and some good news from the breeding shed to boot!

First up Blue Eyed Beth went right to the front under top rider Paco Lopez and never looked back, fending off a stiff challenge through the entire stretch from the co-favorite to win by a neck. It was a very happy group of Kenwood owners that greeted her in the winner’s circle, including partners Allen Katz and Gloria Varano, plus longtime Kenwood friend Bev Anderson. Special shout out to Blue Eyed Beth's namesake, partner Beth Katz! Kudos to trainer Ron Spatz and his team for a job well done with this speedy and talented filly. Ron picked her out for us at the June OBS sale last year for just $15,000 and she’s turned out to be quite a bargain already, with the winning purse today of $19,600 and the best yet to come!

​

Next was the only down moment of a great day, as Run Macho Run was eased at the break at Santa Anita in race 2. Fortunately, appears to be totally fine, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer had the state vet come to the barn afterwards and he jogged sound and comfortably. Not sure what the rider was concerned about but one to just toss out.

In the final race of a very exciting with three runners at three different tracks, Exchanging Ember returned from nearly a one year layoff to finish a very strong 2^nd in race 2 at Penn National. Recall she was a dull 8^th in her debut a year ago, and needed considerable time off at the farm after that due to injury. We were not sure if she’d ever make it back to the races (we never, ever push a horse to run if they’re not safe to do so) but given proper time, she healed perfectly and trained really well for this. Trainer Mark Salvaggio felt from the start this year that she was “a different horse” and tonight she showed that. Ember battled hard for the lead throughout, finally passed by the favorite in the stretch, who drew away to win easily, but Ember kept on fighting to the wire and was well clear of the rest of the field. If you watch the video replay you can see she galloped out very strongly, ahead of the winner. It was a fine comeback, especially given the extended layoff and the fact she had to face males when races for fillies didn’t fill on five occasions. Off this one, we think she has a real shot to have a nice career for us at the right level.

And comes additional good news from Kentucky as Scat Daddy filly Lisa Limon was pronounced 14 days in foal on the first cover to top young sire Liam’s Map. She’ll have an early foaling date for next year, making her all the more attractive at the sales this fall.

Finally, the day ended on a good note when entries for Magic Musketier and Annie’s Candy both went for Sunday at Santa Anita., so we’ll have two more runners following More Ice and Bullion Saturday on a weekend to remember!  Both get top riders, both training well. Annie’s Candy drops into what should be a very good spot, the horse to beat in a small field. Magic Musketier got a very competitive full field of top allowance runners, doing well but will need a lifetime best race and a good trip to compete here.

Entry for Harbour Way did not go but was brought back, enter tomorrow for next week at Penn, she had an easy maintenance work (below) and is ready to roll.

More Ice is set for the $1,000,000 Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby this Saturday. He is one of two longshots at 30 to 1 on the morning line in a small but select field. A large crowd of Kenwood owners will be on hand in a private suite by the winner’s circle to enjoy a fantastic day of racing, with Bullion running one race before More Ice’s race in a maiden allowance race. Bullion’s on the turf, in a 12 horse field, not what we wanted but with no dirt race for him going after multiple entries and again the horse doing really well, it was run or sit in the barn.

ALL entry information as usual can be found here.

We are very pleased to announce that Group #51 is now sold out, along with Group #52 which sold out last week. We are now down to just three shares for our very special Group #50. For information on the remaining shares, please visit our Current Offerings page. Thanks so much for your support of our program!  

WOW, what a start to the big week(end) and lots more ahead all month!

Big news! A major development indeed as More Ice is entered in the $1,000,000 Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby! He’ll be the longshot of the field, but for $1,000,000 against a short field at his home track and with how well he's been training, Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer made the decision to run.

AND on the same day at Santa Anita, Bullion runs (one race before More Ice) in a maiden allowance race. He’s on the turf, in a full 12 horse field, not what we wanted, but with no dirt race for him going after multiple entries and again the horse doing really well, it was run or sit in the barn.

With the extra race for Exchanging Ember NOT going for Friday at Penn National (as expected), she will run tomorrow (Thursday) at Penn National. We didn’t want to run against males, but we entered her here after races for her failed to go 5 times against fillies. That means Blue Eyed Beth, Run Macho Run and Exchanging Ember all run tomorrow; a big day with three horses running at three different tracks as a prelude to an even bigger day Saturday at Santa Anita.

Tomorrow, we will enter Magic Musketier and Annie’s Candy for Sunday at Santa Anita.

ALL entry info. as usual here.

Starring John Wain good out of an absolutely huge race in race 10 at Golden Gate on Sunday, where he finished 2^nd, beaten a short head for the win in a photo finish. Broke well, sat in a perfect stalking spot, took over the lead at the top of the stretch and battled several horses to the wire. It was a tough loss yet an excellent effort against a competitive field - the best of his career and a big step forward off the decent but distant third place finish last time in his debut in Kenwood silks. There’s a race for him April 21^st at Golden Gate for a large purse we are pointing him for.

We are very pleased to announce that Group #51 is now sold out, along with Group #52 which sold out last week. We are now down to just three shares for our very special Group #50. For information on the remaining shares, please visit our Current Offerings page. Thanks so much for your support of our program! 

WOW, what a week ahead!!!

We are very pleased to announce that Group #51 is now sold out, along with Group #52 which sold out last week. We are now down to just three shares for our very special Group #50. For information on the remaining shares, please visit our Current Offerings page. Thanks so much for your support of our program!

Some visuals from Start A Fire and Diamond Play training last week....

The below photo of Start A Fire shows him training in company (with another horse) at T-Square Stud in Ocala, Florida. He’ll probably be ready to ship to Monmouth Park to join our other horses there in early May. As you can clearly see in the photo, he’s a big, strong, good looking colt, training on nicely.

Photo courtesy of Adam Parker (T-Square Stud)

The below video of Diamond Play shows her breezing at Palm Meadows training center, in south Florida. She’ll breeze again this week, doing well, hope to have her ready to run next month at Monmouth Park.

Blue Eyed Beth (race 5, Gulfstream Park), Run Macho Run (race 2, Santa Anita) and Exchanging Ember (race 2, Penn National) run on Thursday so (unless Ember is switched to Friday, we’ll know tomorrow), we’ll have a big day with three horses running at three different tracks. We think all of them are in good spots and should run well.

Starring John Wain good out of an absolutely huge race in race 10 at Golden Gate on Sunday, where he finished 2^nd, beaten a short head for the win in a photo finish. Broke well, sat in a perfect stalking spot, took over the lead at the top of the stretch and battled several horses to the wire. It was a tough loss yet an excellent effort against a competitive field - the best of his career and a big step forward off the decent but distant third place finish last time in his debut in Kenwood silks.

Bullion, Taima The Hawk, Run Macho Run and Annie’s Candy all looking for races off good works. More Ice on track for the California Derby, we’re pointing for it and think he’ll have a great shot.

ALL entry info. as usual here.

Starring John Wain ran an absolutely huge race in a tough maiden special weight at Golden Gate Fields today, finishing a game 2^nd, beaten a short head for the win in a photo finish. Broke well, sat in a perfect stalking spot, took over the lead at the top of the stretch and battled several horses to the wire. There was a long inquiry as the winner squeezed the 3^rd place horse in the stretch, but the stewards let the results stand. It was a very tough loss yet an excellent effort, the best of his career and a big step forward off the decent but distant third place finish last time in his debut in Kenwood silks.

Bullion, Taima The Hawk, Run Macho Run, and Annie’s Candy all worked today (below) at Santa Anita.

More Ice on track for the California Derby, we’re pointing for it and think he’ll have a great shot.

As previously detailed yesterday, Blue Eyed Beth runs in race 5 at Gulfstream Park on Thursday. A good spot, been training great, ready for a top effort here.

Run Macho Run gets in next Thursday also, runs at Santa Anita in race 6, so IF Exchanging Ember ends up running Thursday, we’ll have three horses running at three different tracks.

ALL entry information, as usual can be found on our entries page.

Thanks for a great response to our four groups from the OBS March sale. Group #52 is sold out, we are now down to four shares for #50 & the last two for group #51. Kenwood co-owner Mark Forney, who attended the OBS March sale with our team wrote a great Blog post for us about his experience, you can view it here (thank you Mark!)

Start a Fire doing great in Ocala, training forwardly. All others doing well too.

Bullion (3-Year-Old Colt)

Your comments for this horse were: OBS March with Hollendorfer

Date: March 31, 2019
Track: SANTA ANITA PARK
Distance: Five Furlongs
Time: 1.05:00 Handily
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: Dirt training
Rank: 4/4

Taima the Hawk (6-Year-Old Gelding)

Your comments for this horse were: Claimed 11/22/18 at GGF, KRP Racehorse

Date: March 31, 2019
Track: SANTA ANITA PARK
Distance: Five Furlongs
Time: 1.03:20 Handily
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: Dirt training
Rank: 10/12

Run Macho Run (5-Year-Old Gelding)

Your comments for this horse were: KRP Racehorse, claimed 11-9-18 at GGF

Date: March 31, 2019
Track: SANTA ANITA PARK
Distance: Four Furlongs
Time: 51:00 Handily
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: Dirt training
Rank: 11/13

Starring John Wain runs in race 10 at Golden Gate Fields on Sunday. Good spot for Starring John Wain, better distance than last time when a closing 3^rd in traffic and less horses too, should run well.

Mixed news on the entry for Exchanging Ember.  The race we were looking for did NOT go again at Penn National, but a race against males was going so we took a deep breath and entered her in that spot for next Thursday. They carried the race we were looking to run in against fillies over again, and the racing office will let scratch from the race we are in if that race goes. So we’ll enter in there next Wednesday for Friday and if it doesn’t go yet again we’ll stick where we are and run Thursday against males. She’s doing super and needs to run, a race against fillies would be much preferred but at this point having entered 5 times, no doubt better to run than sit in the barn in her case.

Good news on the entry front as the race (race 5) at Gulfstream Park for Blue Eyed Beth went for next Thursday. A good spot, been training great, ready for a top effort here.

Run Macho Run gets in next Thursday also, runs at Santa Anita, so IF Exchanging Ember ends up running Thursday, we’ll have three horses running at three different tracks.

Bullion, Magic Musketier, Run Macho Run, and Kochees all have races coming up shortly to enter in, as mentioned may take a while to get spots for them at Santa Anita but they all are ready.

ALL entry information, as usual can be found on our entries page.

Thanks for a great response to our four groups from the OBS March sale. Group #52 is sold out, we are now down to four shares for #50 & the last two for group #51. Kenwood co-owner Mark Forney, who attended the OBS March sale with our team wrote a great Blog post for us about his experience, you can view it here (thank you Mark!)

Start a Fire doing great in Ocala, training forwardly. All others doing well too.

On Friday, in race 4 at Santa Anita, Red Shelby made the lead from the rail early, was joined by the heavy favorite and got caught up in a blinding speed duel, and both stopped in the stretch. Red Shelby finished 7^th, but (hard as this is to believe) was beaten literally 3 lengths for the win in a blanket finish. They went the first 6 furlongs in a staggeringly fast 107.88 on the downhill Santa Anita turf course and it simply took a little too much out of both horses. It’s a shame as she ran very well, but this was a perfect example of the sayings ‘pace makes the race’ and ‘the trip is everything’. Seems to have come out of it fine.

Good news on the entry front as the race (race 5) at Gulfstream Park for Blue Eyed Beth went for next Thursday. A good spot, been training great, ready for a top effort here.

Starring John Wain runs in race 10 at Golden Gate Fields on Sunday. Good spot for Starring John Wain, better distance than last time when a closing 3^rd in traffic and less horses too, should run well.

Race for Exchanging Ember did not go again at Penn National, but they carried it over again, giving us three races to enter in tomorrow for next week. She’s doing super and needs to run, a good shot one of the three will go for her tomorrow finally.

Bullion, Magic Musketier, Run Macho Run, and Kochees all have races coming up shortly to enter in, as mentioned may take a while to get spots for them at Santa Anita but they all are ready.

ALL entry information, as usual can be found on our entries page.

Thanks for a great response to our four groups from the OBS March sale. Group #52 is sold out, we are now down to four shares for #50 & the last two for group #51. Kenwood co-owner Mark Forney, who attended the OBS March sale with our team wrote a great Blog post for us about his experience, you can view it here (thank you Mark!)

Start a Fire doing great in Ocala, training forwardly. All others doing well too.

Horse Workout Notification 
March 26, 2019

Blue Eyed Beth (3-Year-Old Filly)

Your comments for this horse were: OBS June sale purchase

Date: March 26, 2019
Track: GULFSTREAM PARK
Distance: Five Furlongs
Time: 1.02:02 Breezing
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: Dirt
Rank: 1/1

Horse Workout Notification 
March 26, 2019

Starring John Wain (3-Year-Old Colt)

Your comments for this horse were: Private purchase

Date: March 26, 2019
Track: GOLDEN GATE FIELDS
Distance: Five Furlongs
Time: 1.02:40 Handily
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: All Weather Track
Rank: 1/5

Starring John Wain runs in race 10 at Golden Gate Fields on Sunday to add to Red Shelby’s entry in race 4 previously detailed at Santa Anita on Friday.  Good spot for Starring John Wain, better distance than last time when a closing 3^rd in traffic and less horses too, should run well.

Race for Exchanging Ember at Penn National did NOT go, but there’s a race to enter Friday at Penn for next week. She’s doing super and needs to run. Also entering Blue Eyed Beth for Gulfstream Friday, she too just needs a race to run in.

Bullion, Magic Musketier, Run Macho Run, and Kochees all have races coming up shortly to enter in, as mentioned may take a while to get spots for them at Santa Anita but they all are ready.

ALL entry information, as usual can be found on our entries page.

Thanks for a great response to our four groups from the OBS March sale. Group #52 is sold out, we are now down to four shares for #50 & the last two for group #51. Kenwood co-owner Mark Forney, who attended the OBS March sale with our team wrote a great Blog post for us about his experience, you can view it here (thank you Mark!)

Start a Fire doing great in Ocala, training forwardly. All others doing well too.

Here’s Diamond Play’s work from yesterday, she came out of it well, you can see the video of the work here.

Horse Workout Notification 
March 27, 2019

Diamond Play (6-Year-Old Mare)

Your comments for this horse were: KRP Racehorse

Date: March 27, 2019
Track: PALM MEADOWS TRAINING CENTER
Distance: Three Furlongs
Time: 38:60 Breezing
Track Condition: Firm
Surface: Turf
Rank: 1/1

No luck on entries today at Santa Anita as none of our races went. As mentioned before, there are a lot of races to be filled after the nearly one month hiatus, so we’ll need a little patience to get these horses in the entries.  

We will be entering a number of horses Thursday & Friday for races this weekend at various tracks, including Exchanging Ember and others.

Bullion, Magic Musketier, Blue Eyed Beth, Run Macho Run, and Kochees all have races coming up shortly to enter in.  

Our first entry in a while, as Santa Anita re-opens comes with Red Shelby Friday, not a bad spot if she gets a good trip for her to take a step forward.

Thanks for a great response to our four groups from the OBS March sale. Group #52 is sold out, we are now down to four shares for 50 & the last two for group 51. Kenwood co-owner Mark Forney, who attended the OBS March sale with our team wrote a great Blog post for us about his experience, you can view it here (thank you Mark!)

We close with a video from trainer Kelly Breen of New Jersey-bred mare Diamond Play, with her first timed work since her return to training at Palm Meadows (in Florida near Gulfstream Park). She’s doing really well, happy and eager to train. On schedule to run early in the meet at Monmouth Park, with perhaps a prep at Gulfstream before.