Kent Stakes (Grade 3)- $200.000 Purse
DEL- For Three Year Olds
One Mile and One Eighth on the Turf
July 4, 2020

A field of seven will be going to post for the 15th running of the Kent Stakes, a race that runs a nine furlongs over the turf course at DEL. It is part of a pretty big week at the track, as it takes advantage of its chance to have a share of the stakes spotlight. In recent years, this has been a great race for Mb Stables, as he has won it three times in the last five years. The late Confined took care of business for the trainer in 2019, but it would be the last win of his career. 2018 winner, the late Nuclear Energy, also struggled to find much success after winning the Kent Stakes. So, hopefully there will be better things in store for whoever wins the race this year. Let’s meet the field!

#1- Creepy Return (Aer Stables, ridden by S X Bridgmohan)- This recent auction purchase, occurring in March, will make his graded debut here in the Kent Stakes after finishing third in the $150.000 Audubon Stakes, where he had less then three weeks rest. Here, he will be well rested and he has been turning in some consistent works to prepare. He never seems to have a bad race, and since we do not have a headliner here, I believe Creepy Return is in a great spot to be making this debut.

#2- Show Shocker (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by D Davis)- Maxmillion won this race back in 2017, but had to share the purse as Devil Six finished in a dead heat. You have to say that one of the kings of the turf looks good right here with Show Shocker. He is still looking for his first graded win, but with a little more luck at the wire, he could have won all three of his last races, all of which were graded. His effort in the Grade 2 American Turf on KYD day was particularly impressive. This makes him one of the top choices.

#3- Cp Ruler El Gran (Winning Link Stables, ridden by T Gaffalione)- Almost as painful to type this name out as it is to say it. We can’t blame Winning Link Stables for that, as the trainer was not deterred by the horses name in the March auction, acquiring him for $2.700, on the same day Aer Stables bought Creepy Return for $67.880. Winning Link has moved him to the grass, and he earned a victory in the LA Legends Turf, a $75.000 race, at the end of May. The horse has come to life on the turf, and is working well. Keep a look out for him, you don’t have to say his name to watch him run.

#4- Hamburglar (Mb Stables, ridden by J K Court)- Mb Stables would not be stealing a win if this one pulled it off, but Hamburglar is still looking to feast on his first stake win. Overall, he has won three of ten and has run well at the stake level. His closest call was a second place showing in the $100.000 Kitten Joy in January, but he did step up to graded competition well by running third in the Grade 2 Pennine Ridge at the end of May, which was his last start. He is also working very well.

#5- Rhossili (Asgar, ridden by D E Centeno)- It will be back to the grass for this one. The first two races of his career came on the turf, but after that, he moved to the main track to the allure of the TC chase. He did win the $100.000 El Camino, giving the trainer some hope, but that would be quickly erased with a terrible performance in the slop at the Grade 2 Rebel. Hoping to write that off as being because of the track condition, Rhossili got another chance in the Wood Memorial, and was competitive, but did not get a piece of the purse. Now, as he goes back to the grass, he will hope to assert himself as a force in this division.

#6- Raleigh In Doubt (Ekli Stable, ridden by T McCarthy)- This NM-bred will be going to the turf for the first time, hoping to build off an allowance win at PRX in the middle of May. Overall for his career, he has won three of eight and that is highlighted by the $120.000 NM Breeders Derby from back in late March. The trainer has been building him up for this turf debut, which is also the first time he will run at the graded level.

#7- Kowloon City (Nakamura Stables, ridden by G Franco)- The gelding by Chai Latte makes the 10th start of his career, and will be hoping to put a disappointing seventh place finish in the Grade 2 PEN Mile behind him. Prior to that, he looked sharp in winning the $100.000 Singletary Stakes at SA, but a similar race time was not enough to be a threat at PEN. We’ll see if he can do just a little bit better here, as that is all it will probably take.

Prediction: 2-5-6-3

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES