An up and down first half of August and when the dust had settled, Kenwood Racing had 1 win, 1 second and 1 third from 7 starts. Sonny’s Pharoah started the month off with a game 2^nd on August 4^th at Penn National. Moved sharply up in class off an 11+ length blowout win on July 20^th at Penn National, she did everything right. While no match for the heavy favorite, she was clearly best of the rest of the field. This filly keeps on improving, she’s young and bred to have a future ahead of her.

After a great month in which almost every horse ran well in July, followed by Sonny’s Pharoah’s excellent 2^nd to start things off on a good note for August, things hit a bump in the road on August 5^th when two well-regarded horses ran very poorly. Our first two year old starter of the year Pink Cashmere broke badly at Monmouth Park and after getting dirt in her face early, never ran a step, finishing a dull and well beaten 8^th. Rider (and all of us) thought she ran very greenly (immaturely), but no doubt we expected MUCH better from her. She saddled perfectly and it was a real disappointment, especially with 20+ people in attendance including her breeder, Esther De Jong, but horses frequently need a race or two to show their best and hopefully that will prove to be the case here. She came out of the race fine and is expected to run back at the end of August.

Then at Saratoga on August 5th, El Botas made his Kenwood debut in a tough race with a good post, where trainer Gary Gullo was brimming with confidence. He broke perfectly, was in the dream spot close up 3^rd behind two battling early leaders, and simply stopped running. Pulled up by his rider who said he felt really uncomfortable on the turf (even though he’s run well on grass before, but this was a very hard turf course, the winner pulled up lame after the race and couldn’t make it to the winner’s circle) and as soon as he stepped back on the dirt after the race was run, felt totally fine. The good news for the day was that, as expected, he was claimed from us out of the race. Our plan was to win a big purse and get him claimed, we sure didn’t accomplish the first part, but took care of the 2^nd. Claim notwithstanding, it was not the big day we hoped for, but that’s the racing game.

Our annual meeting was held for the first time this year at Monmouth Park at the Garden Room on August 6^th, as with over 40 partners and co-owners in attendance, we had outgrown Kenwood’s office space (thank you all for your support!). This year’s meeting lasted just under two hours and was very well received. Our thanks to all who were able to join us, including several out of town guests. The winner for longest distance travel goes to co-owner Dick Davis, who drove up from North Carolina for the weekend. We were happy to have so many people on hand in person for an informative meeting with excellent questions and a fun day of racing afterwards.

On August 10^th, Long May You Run shipped to Delaware Park, when nothing went for him at Penn National. He ran a super race, winning by ½ length in a race that was super tough for the level and was run in a sizzling fast 110.23. Pressured the entire race, his class showed as he simply refused to quit. This is yet again an example of running in the right spot, he was properly placed where he could return to his best form after 2 sub-par races. This horse would NOT be nearing $200,000 in career earnings, if we had not placed him in races where he could continue to be comfortable and competitive. We’ve done right by the horse and the owners by racing him where he can have a happy, safe career and continue to be competitive after 4 years of running for us.

Finally, August 14^th was not the best day, but not a disaster with horses in three exceptionally tough spots. Little Cherie was a dull 4^th at Monmouth Park, with no real excuse. To be fair, it was a tough allowance race against males, but she didn’t run nearly as well as she did when 2nd last time out. Dance N Denae ran very well at Monmouth one race later, despite ending up 8^th (a LOT better than Cherie’s dull 4^th). Dance N Denae sat a good trip, moved into 2^nd turning for home, and simply was outrun by faster horses in the stretch. There’s an enormous difference between the $20,000 horses that she beat last time and the $35,000 horses she faced here. Finally, Nominal Dollars was badly bumped at the start in the 10^th race at Saratoga, lost part of a rear shoe, and still ran very well to finish 3^rd. He was moving up from $40,000 claiming non winners of 2 races lifetime to an allowance race, the toughest jump in the game perhaps. All things considered, he ran really well.

The three races above on August 14^th are an excellent example of the difference the class of the race makes. All three horses were facing vastly tougher company and it showed. Yes, it feels really different finishing 8^th than standing in the winner’s circle, but in truth while Little Cherie did regress, the other two ran as well or better finishing 8^th and 3^rd as they did the previous time when they both won impressively. What we (and other savvy owners) do, now that they showed they aren’t quite at this level, is to run them right back where they won at last time, and if someone wants to claim them so be it. A hard lesson for many to learn, but we’ll keep doing right by our owners and our horses.

Finally, we have two entries for the coming week as Bobby Blue Eyes is in the 10^th race Friday, August 19^th for his debut at Gulfstream Park, and on Wednesday, August 17^th, Huamantla runs at Penn National. We are looking for races for the debuts of High Five Cotton and Lead Investor as well. May the horse be with us all for the rest of August and beyond!