Kenner Stakes
FG Race #5 5 1/2f Turf Stake
Purse $100.000 (plus up to $15.00 for LA-breds) For Four Year Olds And Upward.

1 Serengeti Creeper TwinTowersRacing Hernandez R M 123 —

The inside goes to a solid sprinting type that improved through last year to take a State bred stakes races and then compete in some good sprints. He didn’t make the top four at graded level, but I liked his effort in the Jerkins Memorial and looking at his body of work I do wonder if he is just a touch better on the dirt. But on the turf, he is quick enough to compete at this level and whilst he wouldn’t be a top pick he certainly looks competitive.

2 Start With A Smile Black N Gold Stable Lezcano J 123 —

The six-year-old gets a great draw today and is a big chance. A real sprinter with 32 starts over the shorter trips he has won ten of them. He is a late maturing type and really came into his own last year with a good effort in the Turf Monster Handicap and could be set up for his best year. There are a few here with a better resume but I think he will be right there and battling to the end.

3 Grayte Agent Mo Mentum Farm Geroux F 123 —

No doubt he has the record to win this and gets a great draw too so many will be seeing him as the winner. He won the KD Turf Sprint last year at grade two so is well placed here in an ungraded race with no penalty. He went out fast in the BC Turf Sprint but weakened late so may be vulnerable of there is a speed battle, but he has the class if he can hold the inside and not be forced to go too hard early.

4 Party In The Storm Jokerjoes Barbosa J 123 —

A lightly raced four-year-old, he has improved nicely over his last 5 starts but this is a big step up and he will need to improve again.

5 Jupiter Moon Big Jd Racing Lopez P 123 —

A four-year-old with ability he put in some good efforts as a three-year-old and will like this extra half furlong after a closing effort last time over five furlongs. His turf record is very good although the majority of his starts have been on the dirt I do think this is where his best racing lays. If the pace is fast and he can slot into midfield he has a potent finish which may see him at least in the money.

6 Wild Sprinter Nakamura Stables Curtis B 123 —

Another lightly raced four-year-old, he was bought at auction last September and the new trainer has been bringing him along to this grade with two wins out of three. Racing at lower grade for Nakamura he has shown plenty of speed and seems the type that is going to get better as he matures. His work at FG in January was very sharp which may well have prompted this entry and if there is one that may be a dark horse then it is this one.

7 The Manhunt Sheffler Stables Gallardo A A 123 —

A five-year-old with just six races I feel he could be an untapped talent especially as his works have been improving. He will get back and be running on but if they go hard early that could suit him from this sticky draw. I feel there is more to come from this gelding, whether today is the day we will only know when they cross the line.

8 Insist On Perfection Maxmillion Farm Cohen D 123 —

In the old days we could refer to the works to get a handle on ability but in this race, we see how tough it is as stakes winners and horses beaten at overnight level are all working scorching times and within a few tenths of each other. Ignoring the works he is a course and distance winner in this grade and a ten-race winning seven-year-old which tells us he is a big chance.

9 Discount Alydar Stables Franco M 123 —

The key to this one today will be his running style because as a closer he will be relying on the race engine and traffic to enhance his chances. A good winner of The Stormy at DMR last time he will need the same sort of pace and gaps to appear at the right time to be a contender for the win.

10 Neagh D J C Racing Stables Velazquez J R 123 —

Another course and distance winner he too will be relying on some race engine luck from the wide draw. I would expect him to go back but if he doesn’t go too far back or get stuck out wide, he should be a chance after game wins in his last two. He gets an in-form jock who has won on him before and has proved he can stay further which may come into play late if they go a lung busting pace.

11 Con Of The Kiwi Spb Racing Centeno D E 123 —

The five-year-old has been competing at a lower level but won four of his last six and that takes some doing at any grade so isn’t out of this. An on-pace type he will be suited by some wide gate speed push and if he can clear the field early like he did at PRX in November he could prove tough to get past.

12 Snakie You Asgar Pedroza M Jr 123 —

A closer with the car park draw he will need all sorts of things to happen to give him a chance of winning. The two options will be to fall back and find the rail which could be the kiss of death or fly out and lead which seems the more unlikely of the two. The shame of it is he is a decent sort who has a chance, but his chances are more in the hands of the race engine than his jockey or trainer.

SUMMARY
A tough field and one which is probably headed by the class horse in this race in Grayte Agent. He gets the draw too so looks a safe pick. If I was to go outside him, I would see Jupiter Moon, Wild Sprinter, Insist On Perfection and possibly The Manhunt adding some value to exacta’s and trifectas.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded