Kennedy Road Stakes (Grade 2)- $200.00 Purse
WO- For Three Year Olds and Upward
Six Furlongs on the Dirt
November 14, 2026

Let’s take a trip north of the border now and check out the Grade 2 Kennedy Road Stakes, a six furlong sprint on the main track that runs for the 19th time. This is a field that looks very balanced, so we are likely to see a very close finish for the win at the end of it. The $200.00 purse is an increase of $25.00 from the last several years, and equals the high for the race that had previously been seen between 2014 and 2016. Last year, we saw Glee grab the win for Night Rider Stables, a then five year old gelding. He is still active, but his Kennedy Road win was his last victory of significance, and he was recently seen having no takers in an $8.50 claimer at FL. Here’s a look at the field of six that will be taking part!

1- Coronado Beach (Family Racing, ridden by E J Wilson)- Returns to the track after a three month layoff, but has been able to win half of his six starts this year. Most of his races have been of the overnight variety, but he has had stake opportunities on occasion, and even was able to win one right here in the $100.00 Thorncliffe Stakes in May. That was the last time he won, though there was nothing wrong with his last effort at SAR in August. The trainer felt Coronado Beach needed a break, and he gets back into it now.

2- Safe Di (Gdp Inc., ridden by P Moran)- The trainer returned to the game over the summer and has regularly been entering horses, so we know he means business. Safe Di has been part of that, and has managed two wins in five starts since returning from a 22-month layoff. All but one of those races have been on the grass, and includes the likes of the Grade 1 WO Mile here back in September. For Safe Di, it may be about figuring out where he fits the best. Perhaps the WO Mile was a little too much, but the Kennedy Road is just fine. Looks as good as anyone else here.

3- Illusionary Artist (Nakamura Stables, ridden by H M Vanek)- Looking to rebound after a difficult race the last time out in the Grade 2 Woodford. In that, he hung around with Safe Di in the back at the start of the race, but while that one was able to advance to fourth, Illusionary Artist was never able to make a move. The Woodford was just his second turf start, so a return to the main track should be fine and perhaps exactly what he wants. Earlier in the year, he won the $400.00 Lafayette Stakes at KEE and cashed fourth place spoils in the Grade 1 Stephens, so the ability is certainly there.

4- Bondarchuk (YME Stable, ridden by L Contreras)- Bondarchuk’s career got off to a flying start, winning four of his first five races, a stretch that culminated in January with a SA allowance. From there, it was off to the graded ranks and he fit right in, placing second in the Grade 2 Ghostzapper from GP. That pace since slowed up a bit, though you would not know that by his 100 SRF’s. His last two starts have been in optional claimers, running second at SAR before trying the turf at PRX last time out and getting the win. He seems like he should be very competitive in this type of field.

5- Propel (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by D Z Gaskin)- The second horse in this field that was sired by I Want More, something that is also true for Coronado Beach. Each of them also have plenty of races under their belts, and Propel will be looking for his eighth win here. His performance has been spotty since Maxmillion’s $35.00 purchase of him last October. When he’s on, like he showed in the $200.00 Knicks Go or the $300.00 ALB Handicap, he’ll be right there with the winner at the end. Perhaps cutting back to the shortest distance that he has run since 2023 can get that good side out of him.

6- Limpopo (The Sidley Stud, ridden by L Salles)- This one took a little longer to develop, but The Sidley Stud was able to patient enough to get the best out of Limpopo. Since about a year ago, he has become a regular at the graded level, mainly running in Grade 3’s. None were wins, but he wasn’t bad either, placing in the middle of the field on most occasions. After a little more time, he would grab the win in the $50.00 Sweet Home Alabama last month, and just two weeks ago ran second in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler. It’s the third time in his career, all while with Sidley, that he will race on two weeks rest. One went well, the other did not.

Prediction: 4-2-3-5

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES