Kensei wins the 2009 Dwyer Stakes
Kensei wins the 2009 Dwyer Stakes
July 4, 2009
Kicking off the stakes action on Independence Day was the $200,000 Dwyer Stakes (G2) for three-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles around one turn of the main track. Warrior's Reward, a close second in the Northern Dancer Stakes at Churchill Downs last out, was sent off as the 4-5 favorite in the field of 7 over 5-1 second choice Just Ben, an allowance winner last out and making his stakes debut.
6-1 Kensei, who was second in the Derby Trial and then third in the Woody Stephens last out, completed the top three on the toteboard.
Warrior's Reward stumbled badly at the start spotted the field at least 10 lengths as Just Ben set the pace through fractions of 23.23, 45.71, and 1:09.30 while being pressed by American Dance the whole way. Turning for home, 7-1 Kensei, who drafted in behind the leaders in third most of the way, came out for room to pass the tiring pacesetters and took over the lead at the 3/16 pole. Convocation put in a strong rally of his own but was no match for Kensei, who cruised under the line 3 1/4 lengths in front in 1:40.47 over the fast track. It was another 2 1/4 lengths back to late-running favorite Warrior's Reward third.
Results chart from DRF
Suburban Handicap and Prioress Stakes - also at Belmont Park this weekend
Kensei in the winner's circle
Winning owner Jess Jackson (Stonestreet Stables) said, "He was within himself, which I liked. Saratoga is on our screen, but we have to look at other alternatives, as well. We have hard decisions but first we have to see how he comes out of the race. Curlin spoiled me; now (Rachel Alexandra and Kensei) are spoiling me. I'm very delighted Kensei came along as he did. It's all a question of hope, and who emerges is anyone's guess."
Kensei in the paddock
Winning jockey Edgar Prado said, "Every step of the way, I was feeling very comfortable. It felt good. It was a matter of time, and when I turned him loose, he responded. It's very nice to ride this kind."
Scott Blasi, assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen added, "You can tell by his progression, in his numbers and in our confidence in him, that he's headed in the right direction. The key was getting him to learn to relax a little bit and Edgar said he was just perfect today and when he called on him, he ran and that sort of helps them get long distances."
Second place finisher Convocation
Jockey Alan Garcia said, "He ran a good race. It took him a while to get going (but) he finished well. I think the track was favoring speed."
Trainer Jimmy Jerkens added, "He was a little further back that I thought he'd be. It was a fast racetrack, but not lightning-fast. We'll go to Saratoga and figure things out from there."
Third place finisher Warrior's Reward
Jockey Calvin Borel said, "He broke badly and I couldn't get him going. He was fine, the ground just broke out under him, it was bad luck. We'll get them next time."
Trainer Ian Wilkes added, "The break really cost us our position. We didn't need to be that far back here. It's tough to close from a long way back on this track. Calvin said he was standing good, the ground just broke out underneath him.
He's a big horse, you know. That's why they call it Big Sandy here, it's not easy. He finished strong and we'll move forward from here. If he's fine we'll keep on going to the Jim Dandy. We'll make sure he's okay, make sure he didn't hurt himself or anything."
Munnings wins the 2009 Tom Fool Handicap
July 5, 2009
After expected favorite Fabulous Strike scratched, just four went to post in the $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap (G2) for older horses sprinting 7 furlongs on the main track, before just 6,767 paying spectators. Three-year-old Munnings sent off as the 3-5 favorite in his first try against older horses, exiting a 5 1/4 length romp in the Woody Stephens Stakes. In to challenge him were 9-5 second choice Driven by Success, third both the Metropolitan and the Carter Handicaps, 4-1 third choice Riley Tucker, fifth in the Metropolitan, and finally 23-1 longest shot The Last Wave, making his stakes debut after finishing a close second in allowance company last out.
Riley Tucker and Driven by Success battled for the lead exiting the chute and down the backstretch through quick opening fractions of 22.10 and 44.47 with Munnings sitting third just 2 lengths behind. Around the turn, jockey John Velazquez pulled Munnings down to the rail to save ground, and then came through to pass the leaders at the 1/4 pole when a hole opened up on the inside. Munnings quickly opened up a 2 1/2 length lead in midstretch through 3/4 in 1:08.27, and cruised under the line 2 1/4 lengths in front of Riley Tucker in 1:21.08 over the fast track. It was another 3 1/4 lengths back to Driven by Success third, and 15 more to The Last Wave who trailed throughout.
Results chart from DRF
Munnings in the winner's circle
Winning trainer Todd Pletcher said, "He's just in great form right now, he's put it all together - he's always shown us that kind of ability, but it's nice that he's developed into a professional horse. He actually reminds me a lot, not only of his daddy, Speightstown, but of Left Bank a lot, too. Just the style of running, speed and then an explosive kick to go with it. It's nice when you have a horse than can go a :44 half and then kick into a hole like that.
I was a little bit uneasy running against older horses this early in the year, but I just felt like it was the right race for him. The one thing I felt was that sometimes when you win races like this, it carries a lot of weight toward the end of the year for championship honors."
He will start next in the King's Bishop Stakes at Saratoga.
Munnings in the post parade
Winning jockey John Velazquez said, "It's been a couple of frustrating weeks, finishing second, second, second. It's nice when it works out the way you thought. I knew the horse on the outside (Driven by Success) was going to go, and I figured (Riley Tucker) could be up close as well. When I asked my horse, he responded right away. He's grown this year - he's breaking better, and he has more confidence in himself."
4-1 third choice Riley Tucker broke slowly but was hustled to the lead by jockey Jose Lezcano, then drifted out on the turn allowing the winner to come through on the rail. The Bob Baffert trainee improved his record to 3 wins, 4 second, and 2 thirds in 13 starts, earning $280,405 for owner Zayat Stables LLC.
9-5 second choice Driven by Success led briefly under jockey Rajiv Maragh before being headed by Riley Tucker, pressed the pace most of the way around and tired after 5 furlongs, finishing third beaten 5 1/2 lengths at the line. The Bruce Levine trainee improved his record to 3 wins, 2 seconds, and 4 thirds in 10 starts, earning $228,121 for owner Repole Stable.
July 4, 2009
Kicking off the stakes action on Independence Day was the $200,000 Dwyer Stakes (G2) for three-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles around one turn of the main track. Warrior's Reward, a close second in the Northern Dancer Stakes at Churchill Downs last out, was sent off as the 4-5 favorite in the field of 7 over 5-1 second choice Just Ben, an allowance winner last out and making his stakes debut.
6-1 Kensei, who was second in the Derby Trial and then third in the Woody Stephens last out, completed the top three on the toteboard.
Warrior's Reward stumbled badly at the start spotted the field at least 10 lengths as Just Ben set the pace through fractions of 23.23, 45.71, and 1:09.30 while being pressed by American Dance the whole way. Turning for home, 7-1 Kensei, who drafted in behind the leaders in third most of the way, came out for room to pass the tiring pacesetters and took over the lead at the 3/16 pole. Convocation put in a strong rally of his own but was no match for Kensei, who cruised under the line 3 1/4 lengths in front in 1:40.47 over the fast track. It was another 2 1/4 lengths back to late-running favorite Warrior's Reward third.
Results chart from DRF
Suburban Handicap and Prioress Stakes - also at Belmont Park this weekend
Kensei in the winner's circle
Winning owner Jess Jackson (Stonestreet Stables) said, "He was within himself, which I liked. Saratoga is on our screen, but we have to look at other alternatives, as well. We have hard decisions but first we have to see how he comes out of the race. Curlin spoiled me; now (Rachel Alexandra and Kensei) are spoiling me. I'm very delighted Kensei came along as he did. It's all a question of hope, and who emerges is anyone's guess."
Kensei in the paddock
Winning jockey Edgar Prado said, "Every step of the way, I was feeling very comfortable. It felt good. It was a matter of time, and when I turned him loose, he responded. It's very nice to ride this kind."
Scott Blasi, assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen added, "You can tell by his progression, in his numbers and in our confidence in him, that he's headed in the right direction. The key was getting him to learn to relax a little bit and Edgar said he was just perfect today and when he called on him, he ran and that sort of helps them get long distances."
Second place finisher Convocation
Jockey Alan Garcia said, "He ran a good race. It took him a while to get going (but) he finished well. I think the track was favoring speed."
Trainer Jimmy Jerkens added, "He was a little further back that I thought he'd be. It was a fast racetrack, but not lightning-fast. We'll go to Saratoga and figure things out from there."
Third place finisher Warrior's Reward
Jockey Calvin Borel said, "He broke badly and I couldn't get him going. He was fine, the ground just broke out under him, it was bad luck. We'll get them next time."
Trainer Ian Wilkes added, "The break really cost us our position. We didn't need to be that far back here. It's tough to close from a long way back on this track. Calvin said he was standing good, the ground just broke out underneath him.
He's a big horse, you know. That's why they call it Big Sandy here, it's not easy. He finished strong and we'll move forward from here. If he's fine we'll keep on going to the Jim Dandy. We'll make sure he's okay, make sure he didn't hurt himself or anything."
Munnings wins the 2009 Tom Fool Handicap
July 5, 2009
After expected favorite Fabulous Strike scratched, just four went to post in the $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap (G2) for older horses sprinting 7 furlongs on the main track, before just 6,767 paying spectators. Three-year-old Munnings sent off as the 3-5 favorite in his first try against older horses, exiting a 5 1/4 length romp in the Woody Stephens Stakes. In to challenge him were 9-5 second choice Driven by Success, third both the Metropolitan and the Carter Handicaps, 4-1 third choice Riley Tucker, fifth in the Metropolitan, and finally 23-1 longest shot The Last Wave, making his stakes debut after finishing a close second in allowance company last out.
Riley Tucker and Driven by Success battled for the lead exiting the chute and down the backstretch through quick opening fractions of 22.10 and 44.47 with Munnings sitting third just 2 lengths behind. Around the turn, jockey John Velazquez pulled Munnings down to the rail to save ground, and then came through to pass the leaders at the 1/4 pole when a hole opened up on the inside. Munnings quickly opened up a 2 1/2 length lead in midstretch through 3/4 in 1:08.27, and cruised under the line 2 1/4 lengths in front of Riley Tucker in 1:21.08 over the fast track. It was another 3 1/4 lengths back to Driven by Success third, and 15 more to The Last Wave who trailed throughout.
Results chart from DRF
Munnings in the winner's circle
Winning trainer Todd Pletcher said, "He's just in great form right now, he's put it all together - he's always shown us that kind of ability, but it's nice that he's developed into a professional horse. He actually reminds me a lot, not only of his daddy, Speightstown, but of Left Bank a lot, too. Just the style of running, speed and then an explosive kick to go with it. It's nice when you have a horse than can go a :44 half and then kick into a hole like that.
I was a little bit uneasy running against older horses this early in the year, but I just felt like it was the right race for him. The one thing I felt was that sometimes when you win races like this, it carries a lot of weight toward the end of the year for championship honors."
He will start next in the King's Bishop Stakes at Saratoga.
Munnings in the post parade
Winning jockey John Velazquez said, "It's been a couple of frustrating weeks, finishing second, second, second. It's nice when it works out the way you thought. I knew the horse on the outside (Driven by Success) was going to go, and I figured (Riley Tucker) could be up close as well. When I asked my horse, he responded right away. He's grown this year - he's breaking better, and he has more confidence in himself."
4-1 third choice Riley Tucker broke slowly but was hustled to the lead by jockey Jose Lezcano, then drifted out on the turn allowing the winner to come through on the rail. The Bob Baffert trainee improved his record to 3 wins, 4 second, and 2 thirds in 13 starts, earning $280,405 for owner Zayat Stables LLC.
9-5 second choice Driven by Success led briefly under jockey Rajiv Maragh before being headed by Riley Tucker, pressed the pace most of the way around and tired after 5 furlongs, finishing third beaten 5 1/2 lengths at the line. The Bruce Levine trainee improved his record to 3 wins, 2 seconds, and 4 thirds in 10 starts, earning $228,121 for owner Repole Stable.