Kenner Stakes ($100.000 Purse)
FG- For Four Year Olds and Upward
Five and a Half Furlongs on the Turf
January 17, 2026
It was a lot closer this year, as it required looking at a photo to decide the winner, but Insist On Perfection would get it done for the second year in a row, winning the Kenner Stakes. Last year’s win also came for a different trainer, and this time Temulac Farm can savor the win. The victory did not come in the same manner, either, as he went wire to wire last time but this time he would stalk the pace. For Temulac Farm, this is his first win in the Kenner, something that is also true for jockey P Lopez. Congratulations to them! The race was won in a time of 1:01.86, and that’s the fastest at this distance in the stake’s history. Let’s take a look at it:
(1/4 Mile- :22.20)- Noblepark’s Hawkeye State will lead the field down the backstretch by a half-length over Lost On The Moon, who runs to his outside for Santan Stables. Within a length of them and running closer to the rail are Mb Stables’ Spin Zone in third, and Marimba Racing Inc’s On The Money in the fourth spot. Frick will stalk the pace for High Voltage, running in the lane right behind Hawkeye State. Our eventual winner from Temulac Farm, Insist On Perfection, is in the sixth position while comfortably running right on the rail. Shake The Dice is also a stalker, as the Lanfranco Stable runner is on the far outside. It’s another length to Misting (Winning Link Stables), then Agent Zero (Mb Stable). Behind them, there’s a break of close to two lengths to Anna Anna Anna (Maxmillion Farm), Lantern Yard (Avenue Z), and Teterboro (Chili King Stables).
(Top of Stretch, 2F To Go)- Hawkeye State enters the turn with the lead, and makes his way around it while in good stride. He’s put Lost On The Moon away, but now has to deal with Spin Zone getting closer to his inside. On The Money keeps pace with third, while Insist On The Perfection is having a dream rail trip at this point, and has nothing but daylight in front of him entering the stretch. He’s only a length behind the leader, so it does look promising for him. Meanwhile, Misting pulls away from Agent Zero and also passes Frick, as he looks to be a threat in the stretch as well. Shake The Dice begins to bow out, and further back Anna Anna Anna inches away from Lantern Yard and Teterboro.
(Finish- 1:01.86)- With a furlong to go, Spin Zone passes Hawkeye State but Insist On Perfection is getting a bit closer while a nice lane opens up for Misting to be able to come on through. Approaching the wire, a tight finish is shaping up as Spin Zone is doing all he can up front but Insist On Perfection is giving him everything he can handle, and Misting wants to get by both of them. Getting nearer to the wire, it’s Insist On Perfection, but here comes Misting and it’s too close to call! After checking the photo, Insist On Perfection does indeed win the Kenner for the second year in a row, getting the head bob on Misting, with Spin Zone getting a hard fought third while his stablemate Agent Zero sliced through traffic late to be fourth. Hawkeye State gets nothing for his effort in fifth, and rounding it out, it’s Lost On The Moon, On The Money, Anna Anna Anna, Teterboro, Shake The Dice, Frick, and Lantern Yard.
About The Winner- Insist On Perfection, trained by Temulac Farm and ridden to victory by P Lopez, is an eight-year-old gelding by Insist and is out of Rampant Chai. He was bred as a yearling by El Primero Rodeo in Pennsylvania and was acquired by Temulac Farm from Maxmillion Farm with a $40.000 claim three weeks ago. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his sixteenth in 44 starts, and his seventh stake win (all are ungraded). His career earnings are now $1,201.460.
— NS
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded