Kennedy Road Stakes

WO Race #5 6f Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $175.00 For Three Year Olds And Upward.

1 Wrecking Havoc John Henry Contreras L

This horse has been scoring consistently high SRF speed figures this year but hasn’t quite done enough on the big stage. Beaten a neck in the grade one Vanderbilt Handicap in July, he was only beaten a length when sixth in the Forego and then the same when fifth in the Bold Ruler last time out. Those efforts put him very close to being a top sprinter but as we all know a length is the difference between a grade one winner and an allowance winner at HRP. His works continue to be strong so there is no reason he can’t win this today from a handy draw, i guess it will all come down to a bit of luck and no trouble in running.

2 Expert Eye TwinTowersRacing Pinto M

In true HRP style went from turf router to dirt sprinter with very little loss in performance, in fact you could make a case for him being a better sprinter. A good game win of the Smile Sprint Handicap from a nasty draw he couldn’t follow that up in the Phoenix last time but was again drawn badly and you could excuse that effort. He gets the perfect draw today and if he gets near the pace early and its not too strong he could be right there at the finish.

3 Gifted Man Spankys Barn Kimura K

A half length in front of Wrecking Havoc in the Bold Ruler last time he was also in front in the Forego but then behind in the Vanderbilt Handicap. All that adds up to whichever one of these gets the luck and the trip will win because there is next to nothing between them on form.

4 Carnoustie Smokey Stover Hernandez R M

Won the Amsterdam and the Vosburgh before a one length sixth in the BC Sprint so is probably the form choice in this race. The only thing we wont know is how much that BC race has taken out of him as it was two weeks ago.

5 Fracas Rampage Stable Husbands P

Working like a superstar running like an average horse. That normally means a big win is either just round the corner or he will end up a fast working claimer. I do think that a big win is round the corner though because he has been roughly treated by the draw in his big races and i feel this draw will help him a bit. For me this is the dark horse in the race.

6 Better Dream Jkk Racing Stables Fukumoto D

Beaten in a $14 claimer and claimed he won a $50 claimer last time in the same winning time that Fracas won an open allowance so who knows maybe, just maybe he could be a big surprise.

7 Final Verse Mb Stables Ryan S

Won the Runhappy and has been knocking on the door for a while now. He was a good second in the Bold Venture last time from a similar draw so has claims and being from Mb Stables is always worth an extra length.

8 Johannes Eastern Equine Salles L

This five year old has won 8 races so is certainly no slouch although possibly his best form has been over further than this. The draw will be a challenge especially if he is outpaced early but he is sure to be running on at the end.

9 Jezza Estero Farms Wilson E J

A winner only twice, he is a pacey sort but hasn’t got the form or works to live with the best of these. A chance but he will need a career best run and some luck from the race engine and that’s too many ifs for me.

10 Bodemister D J C Racing Stables Lermyte J

He has run some nice races but doesn’t win too often and has been given a tough task to change that with the ten draw. His last three starts put him right in this on form and i especially liked his effort in the Phoenix from a similar draw when second beaten just a length. A repeat of that will see him go close.

11 Geronimo Nakamura Stables Bahen S R

Who can forget that wonderful KYD where this horse ran record breaking splits and ended up last beaten 18 lengths. The stupidity of that race was put in perspective when he was beaten just a length in the Preakness in his next race. Now the interesting thing is that if he ran the same splits as he did in the KYD he would win this by a couple of lengths, i do hope his trainer uses the same instruction.

12 Bound Bay Gdp Inc Stein J

Another that was caught out in the KYD he then ran in the BEL and ran better but was still a fair way back. Like all good routers he came back to sprinting and duly won by an easy two lengths. So who knows, on works, form and the draw he doesn’t seem to have a chance but then that’s probably the one thing that gives him the best chance of all !!

SUMMARY

Well i am not expecting Geronimo to run his KYD 6 furlong time and win this by six lengths, that would be just too much but i am expecting the horse to run well. Ignoring a blow out win i would have to be going for Wreking Havoc, Gifted Man and Carnoustie for the trifecta but i would be tempted for a little bet on Fracas if the odds are long.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded