Another exciting and successful month for Kenwood Racing comes to a close. For August, we had two wins and seven in-the-money finishes from our 13 starters.

August 20th began on a good note in morning training at Monmouth Park, where all horses went well. Then came two excellent races at Delaware Park enjoyed by 16 Kenwood partners and co-owners who braved the traffic from  NJ and Pa. to enjoy an impressive win by Silver Bouquet, followed two races later by an excellent debut 3rd by High Five Cotton.

Silver Bouquet came into her race off two very dull efforts since we claimed her this spring. Trainer Steve DiMauro knows the filly well, having trained her previously, and his patience paid big rewards as she was on the bit from the start and overcame a tough trip which saw her 8 wide at the rear of the pack turning for home to mow down the entire field and win going away. Kudos to Steve and his crew for a fine turnaround here, much appreciated by the happy crowd in the winner’s circle who all cashed some nice tickets too at generous 14 to 1 odds.

Next up was the much anticipated debut of High Five Cotton, who has trained exceptionally well ever since his purchase at OBS this spring. Bet down to 5 to 1 odds off his 8 to 1 morning line despite excellent works, which showed the quality of this field, he saddled like a veteran, never turning a hair. Cotton broke perfectly, battled hard for the lead in a very fast time and kept battling to the end, finishing a very good third, beaten by an exceptionally talented Union Rags colt (owned and bred by the owners of Barbaro) who looks like a sure stakes horse, and another Monmouth based horse who had the benefit of a race under his belt and was working blazingly fast for this one. It was nine lengths back to the rest of the field, so the first three really separated themselves in a race run in fast time, 1:10.78, for any two year old let alone two year old maidens. We are very high on this horse and his debut today did nothing to diminish our confidence in him.