Morningsideheights wins, Exchanging Fire gives birth to first foal...

Every day should be this good! At almost the same moment that Morningsideheights was winning her 2012 debut at Tampa Bay Downs, Kenwood's star mare Exchanging Fire was giving birth to her first foal, a beautiful Pennsylvania bred filly by Louis Quatorze. First the racing news. Morningsideheights has been an honest and consistent runner for Kenwood and our highly successful Co-Owner Group #1 ever since we claimed her at Monmouth Park back in the summer of 2010. On February 17th, after waiting almost two months for a suitible race at Gulfstream Park, we sent her to Tampa Bay Downs to face some softer company, only to have the race come off the grass when a sudden rainstorm hit the area a couple of hours before post time. But that didn't deter Morningside, who sat near theback of the pack early, made a big move on the far turn, and won going away for Kenwood's first win of 2012 (from just 4 starts). Morningside was claimed from us out of the race; not a bad thing at all as we go out on a winning note with a nice profit. This is a very honest filly, but a cut below the better turf horses and it’s hard to find races for her where she fits (she hadn’t run since December for example and we had to ship her to Tampa to find a race for her), so getting the win and the claim money was a positive outcome. Morningsideheights won four races for us in the 18 months we owned her, providing Kenwood, our partners and Co-Owners with plenty of fun, excitement, and profit.

Amazingly at virtually the same time Morningside was giving us our first win of the season down in Florida, Exchanging Fire was giving birth to her first foal up in Pennsylvania; a lovely healthy filly who was up and nursing in just 30 minutes. We were all on pins and needles the last couple of weeks as her due date came and passed, especially given some foaling problems she had two years ago, so this was truly wonderful news!  Our heartfelt thanks to Richelle Grieb, owner/manager of Daydream Farm in Pennsylvania where ‘Fire’ has been boarded ever since her retirement. Richelle is as hands on and concerned with all the horses in her care as anyone in this business, and she was every bit as happy and excited at the birth of 'Fire's' first foal as everyone else on the Kenwood team! Exchanging Fire most people will recall was a star on the racetrack for Kenwood in 2007 & 2008, winning three stakes at Monmouth Park and The Meadowlands and earning almost $250,000 in her great racing career. Our heartfelt thanks to Richelle and to everyone associated with Kenwood who had ‘Fire’ in their thoughts over the last few days. Exchanging Fire is booked to the top Kentucky sire Northern Afleet on a foal share (thanks to Ruel & Lisa Cowles at Gunston Hall Farm in Lexington, Kentucky for making those arrangements, our friends and Kentucky vets for over 20 years). We plan to ship ‘Fire’ and her baby to Gunston Hall in Kentucky next month to be bred, she will return to Richelle in Pennsylvania this fall to foal another beautiful Pa. Bred foal in 2013

Turning to other news, Hermosillo began his 2012 season on a very good note when second in a tough Philadelphia Park feature event on January 28th. Sent right to the lead by jockey John Bisono, he was pressured the entire way by another speed horse yet refused to quit when passed by the heavy favorite at the top of the stretch, easily holding second and picking up $10,000 in purse money. Previously in the $75,000 Auld Lang Syne Stakes at Philadelphia Park on December 31st facing another very tough field loaded with speed horses, Hermosillo went right to the front, maintained the lead under pressure for most of the race, and finally tired late to finish a game 4th. On October 30th, Hermosillo won his third race in a row after an amazing stretch drive which will long be remembered by the appreciative crowd of supporters who came out on a cold afternoon to cheer Kenwood's stable star on; battling back after being passed in the stretch and then making one final lunge right at the wire to come home the winner by the shortest of noses in a truly amazing performance. Hermosillo was greated in the winner's circle by a wildly cheering crowd of partners, co-owners and friends including Charlie & Jodi Spiler, Jack Czajkowski, Arthur Gregory, Paul Callahan, Carl D'Angelo and Gert Odendaal and his family, plus managing partner Robb Levinsky and trainer Steve DiMauro.  

Previously, sent to the front from the outside post by jockey C.C. Lopez, Hermosillo replused bids from literally every other runner throughout the race, refusing to yield the lead and coming home with a 3/4 length victory on October 9th. Another large and appreciative crowd of Kenwood partners, co-owners and friends celebrated in the Monmouth winners circle with Hermosillo this time including "lucky Linda" Quinlan, Robb Levinsky and Charlie Spiler.   

Kenwood has a long history of winning major stakes races at huge odds with horses purchased for very modest prices, but Hermosillo's winning the Charles Hesse Handicap at 9 to 1 odds in 2011 after a runaway 6 length win in 2009 at odds of 35 to 1 might just be our greatest feat of all. While the betting public was shocked by his victories, we were not really surprised, as Hermosillo trained exceptionally well into both races and is one of the toughest, gamest, most durable runners in the country.  Sent right to the lead by jockey C. C. Lopez, Hermosillo set a comfortable pace while maintaining a narrow lead for most of the race. When the 2nd favorite Gunfighter pulled alongside him at the top of the stretch it became a test of heart for the run to the wire and there is no gamer horse than Hermosillo, so it was no surprize to see him turn back his rivals to prevail by 1&1/4 lengths. These have been wins for the ages, shared by all the Kenwood partners, co-owners and friends nationwide. This year partners Allen J. Katz and Tom Christein, plus co-owners Jack Czajkowski, Arthur Gregory, Robert & Anita Weiner, Carl D'Angelo and Gert Odendaal plus a mob of friends and supporters were on hand at Monmouth with managing partner Robb Levinsky and trainer Steve DiMauro to cheer Hermosillo on to victory and pose in the winners circle for a historic photo with another beautiful stakes trophy for the Kenwood office. This was the second time associate managing partner Allen Katz, (who lives in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida), was able to witness a stakes victory in person, the first coming with Hermosillo's win in the 2009 Hess Handicap. As Allen said on that memorable day, "These are the days you live for".

2012 began on a solid note at Penn National on January 6th when Jack Sensical ran very well in his debut, finishing 4th, gaining ground in the stretch. Almost all young horses need a race or two to run thier best and this was a very good first effort for a horse we feel has a world of talent. He handled the gate well, broke properly, sat well back early, made up a lot of ground from the far turn through the entire stretch and was really coming on at the finish.

It was a very different story on the afternoon of February 12th, as Military Miss turned in another puzzing disappointing performace when 7th at The Fairgrounds in New Orleans. Perfectly placed in the race, she once again just failed to fire. It was a similar story on the evening of December 31st, as she followed up Hermosillo's game effort a few hours earlier at Philidelphia Park with a very disappointing race in the $60,000 lookout Stakes at Delta Downs in Louisiana. Sent off the strong 5 to 2 second choice, she was perfectly placed, chasing the early leaders while sitting comfortably in 3rd, only to stop badly in the stretch for no obvious reason to finish 10th and last. We purchased this filly out of the Heiligbrodt Racing Stable Dispersal at the Fasig-Tipton Select July Sale in Lexington, Kentucky this summer, and had high hopes for her, but she has been a total disappointment for us in a stable filled with success stories. 

Allthewayyeah, was 4th at Laurel Park on December 12th against a solid allowance field. Close up early but in tight most of the way, he ran well enough but never had the chance to fire his best shot. On November 19th, this well bred runner who had been the victum of two terrible trips in his previous two starts broke perfectly from the rail, took an easy lead into the first turn in a slow time, repelled the favorite at the top of the stretch, and coasted to an easy 3+ length win at Philadelphia Park. Leading him into the winners circle for his maiden victory was none other than Tom (The King) Christien, Kenwood's longest standing partner, who Allthewayyeah was named by and for. Tom's signature cheer over the years has been (you guessed it!) "Allthewayyeah", and the horse lived up to his name and billing with a wire to wire victory in impressive style. Tom was joined in the winners circle by his wife Diane, and Co-Owners David Lowrey and Robert Weiner. Congratulations to all on a great win!

Cloud of Smoke ran hard and well in 2011 with 4 wins, 4 thirds and almost $100,000 in earnings. Just as we did last winter, we gave her some time at the farm to freshen her up and have her ready for another big year in 2012. Highlights for a great 2011 included a going away win on October 13th when she galloped home to win by 5 widening lengths in a cakewalk. Kenwood founder and managing partner H. Robb Levinsky was joined in the winners circle by Group 1 co-owners Al Beck & Angela Rodman, along with trainer Mark Salvaggio. It was her 10th lifetime win, all of them for Kenwood since claiming her back in 2009. Previously, she won two allowance races in two weeks; a heart pounding, come from behind victory at Penn National Racecourse on August 29th against the toughest field she had ever faced, and an equally impressive win on August 15th when, cheered on by Co-Owners Tony & Gloria Varano, she virtually sprouted wings, coming from dead last in an 11 horse field to win going away. 

Brown Eyed Nance, a filly we've been very high on from the day we laid eyes on her at the OBS April sale last spring, prompted the pace in the 90th running of the prestigious $200,000 Grade II Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct on November 26th, was blocked behind a wall of horses in the stretch and couldn't gain ground. When the dust had cleared she ran hard and well, but ended up 5th in a large field of 10 runners. It was obviously an ambitious spot, albeit one she earned her way into off her previous two efforts. On November 6th, she blew away a nice field of allowance horses by 4+ widening lengths at Philadelphia Park. It was her first time going around 2 turns (1 mile), and as we had hoped and expected, she relished the added distance. Co-Owner David Lowrey was on hand to celebrate in the winners circle with trainer Steve DiMauro and his crew, who did a fantastic, patient training job with this filly throughout 2011. She had run exceptionally well in her previous start at Philly Park on October 16th. Facing a very tough field of allowance horses she dwelt badly at the break and was over 10 lengths back in last, then came with a huge run to finish a flying 2nd, beaten less than 1/2 length for the win and gaining with every stride on the undefeated winner. We were thrilled to be able to buy this well bred filly for the bargain price of just $33,000, and she is already living up to all our expectations in her brief but impressive career. Brown Eyed Nance, named by Kenwood partner Elena Levinsky for her daughter Nancy and grandson Ben (Brown Eyed Nance!) is a filly who may be any kind of runner as she matures.  A hearty congratulations to all of our partners and Co-Owners for yet another success story here!

2011 a record year for Kenwood... 

A record setting 2011 saw Kenwood runners win 24 races and earn over $650,000 in purses, an all time record for our stable. Our horses won at a 20% clip, with over 50% finishing in the money, led by stable star Hermosillo, who won 5 races and over $230,000 in purse money while being voted New Jersey's Throughbred of the year for 2011. But Hermosillo wasn't our only success story. Cloud Of Smoke won 4 races and nearly $100,000 in another very productive year in 2011 after a breakthrough year in 2010. Two year olds Brown Eyed Nance and Allthewayyeah showed great promise; each earning more in purse money in thier first season of racing then thier entire purchase price. And a number of other runners provided plenty of thrills, fun, purse money and winners circle photos during a wonderful year of racing up and down the east coast. Our horses won races in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida, at a variety of tracks, with trainers Steve DiMauro & Mark Salvaggio training the majority of our horses and producing the bulk of our wins. Overall, it was another memorable year for Kenwood Racing and our valued Partners, Co-Owners, and Friends. Thanks to everyone for your support in 2011, we look forward to another great year together in 2012!

Hermosillo receives New Jersey's Thoroughbred of the year award...

On January 15th 2012, an excited group of Kenwood Partners & Co-Owners were on hand at the New Jersey department of Agriculture's luncheon to receive Hermosillo's award as the state's 2011 Thoroughbred of the year. Partners Jack Czajkowski and Tom (The King) Christein were joined by Kenwood Co-Owner Gert Odendaal to represent Kenwood and receive a beautiful trophy from New Jersey's Secretary of Agriculture commerating his incredible accomplishments.  Hermosillo had a year to remember, his best in a long and successful career that has seen him win 11 races and over $660,000 in purse money from age 2-7, including 5 races and over $230,000 in purses in 2011. Congratulations to our entire team, including trainer Steve DiMauro and his crew, who won three races with Hermosillo this summer including a repeat victory in the $100,000 Charles Hesse Handicap, a race he won in 2009, and trainer Steve Mick, who won two nice races with Hermosillo last winter in New York. Kenwood Racing has had a lot of good horses over the last two decades but Hermosillo will go down as one for the ages. Other horses have won bigger races (Prime Meridian winning the California Derby in 1998 comes to mind), but few horses anywhere have Hermosillo's combination of speed, heart, and longevity. We are looking forward to another banner year with Hermosillo as a (GASP!) 8 year old in 2012, a highlight of which will certainly be his attempt to win the Charles Hesse III Handicap, New Jersey's most prestegious race for state bred runners, for the third time in his long and storied career!


Kenwood partners Jack Czajkowski, Tom Christein and Co-Owner Gert Odendaal receive Hermosillo’s award as New Jersey’s Thoroughbred of the year for 2011 from New Jersey's Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher