WO  1    Kennedy Road Stakes (GII)
   $175.000    3yo&Up     3yo 120  Older 123  +penalties

A solid field of eleven sprinters will be headed post-ward on Saturday afternoon and we look at the field for the 2019 Kennedy Road Stakes (GIII).  The one horse that all three of us agree on is also my top pick – In Captivity is coming off of an eleventh place finish at KEE last out, but he has done this before.  He won the  Bold Venture Stakes (GIII) over this track and he looks ready to ring the bell again in this one.  I’m going back to the rail for my second selection as Red Cup had nothing to be ashamed of coming out of that fifth in the BC Dirt Mile (GI) at SA.  He made a big move down the lane and although this is shorter, I think he can use the rail to be a bit closer and actually may be the one.

Here’s The Field –

Was closing quickly when fifth only beaten a length in the BC Dirt Mile (GI) and has changed hands since that race.  I think he’s always been better suited as a sprinter and this may be a place for him to rise to the occasion.  He won the O’Brien (GII) at DMR going 7f, so watch him here… and he may have some odds.

Changed hands back in June and had a couple of up-the-track finishes while facing graded horses, but got back to his winning ways last out take a NM-bred stakes at ZIA.  They jump back to graded types and I just can’t get on board.

Another that has found graded foes to be a bit more than he can handle, but did get the nosed out at CRC while facing Alw foes in his most recent.  He needs to get back to the early summer form where he won back to back races.

Flexed some muscle last out winning with ease at FL and nearly set a track record in that go.  His only other seasonal win came way back in Feb, but I think you have to give him a bit of a look off of that last out effort.  If that was for real, look out.

Has been using an off-the-pace style to be competitive v. some very nice horses this year, but hasn’t had his picture taken since early spring, winning back-to-back NY-bred sprints.  Traffic was his undoing last out, and I’d like to see him a bit closer to the pace here.

He’s been chasing some very solid horses, but is another that hasn’t seen the winner’s circle in a while.  Took the Smile (GIII) at GP back in June and it’s been up-hill v. tough horses since then.  Can he turn it around here?

All or nothing type that looked great winning the Bold Venture (GIII) over this stip two-back, then chucked a clunker in the Phoenix (GII) where he was next to last.  This is kind of his story, so which horse shows up today?

Nice job last out in the Ack Ack (GIII) at CD where he closed well to get the job done going a mile that afternoon.  He’s been lightly raced this season and has a chance to be overlooked by the betting public yet could get the job done.

Had a four race win streak after winning the Amsterdam (GII) at SAR back in July, but the last two have been something to forget.  He’s fond of coming from left field and will either need to be closer or get a clear path to get the win here.

Got back to the winning ways last out which gives him three for the year including a graded win in the MD Spring (GIII) back on PRK day.  He was in the mix in a couple of those graded sprints in NY before tiring late, but he may be able to be tough in this one.
 

Solid sprinting win at PRX taking the Bensalem then tired a bit here in the Durham Cup (GIII) but that was at a mile and an eighth.  He seems better suited for today’s distance and if he can get past the post, he should be tough.

              COZMAN Picks 7 / 1     Willie’s Green Card 9 / 7   Scotty  4 / 7

Categories: Grade III