This week came with a little sad info. that is a reminder of the risks of the game and just how fragile the racing careers of horses are. Three champions, California Chrome, Lady Eli and Main Sequence all sustained serious injuries-illnesses this past week (read below). Chrome is at best done for the year, Main Sequence is done racing for good, and Lady Eli’s life is in danger. Of course, our thoughts and good wishes go out to all these great horses and their connections.

California Chrome Likely Out for the Year

California Chrome, the 2014 Horse of the Year and dual classic winner, will likely sit out the rest of the year and may not race again because of a cannon bone bruise, trainer Art Sherman said July 12."He's probably out for the rest of the year," Sherman said. "It's three months, but that's almost the rest of the year, and if you're going to race him again, you have to get him back into training. If they decide to run him next year, he'll be fine... (The owners) haven't made up their mind, but I'll know in the next couple days." 

Star Filly Lady Eli Battling Laminitis

Undefeated Lady Eli, most recently a facile winner of the $1 million Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (gr. IT), is battling laminitis, according to her trainer Chad Brown and Jay Hanley, one of her co-owners."We're in a wait and see situation," said Hanley, who owns Lady Eli with Sol Kumin under their Sheep Pond Partners banner.

Main Sequence Retired from Racing

Tuesday, July 14, 2015 | Main Sequence |Flaxman Holdings’ Main Sequence (Aldebaran), 2014 champion turf horse and older male, has been retired from racing after a tendon tear was discovered in the aftermath of his seventh-place run in the GI United Nations S. July 5, Flaxman Holdings racing manager Alan Cooper said Monday. “Following Main Sequence’s poor performance in the United Nations [Stakes], a thorough veterinary examination was carried out last week,” Cooper stated in a post on the website of trainer Graham Motion’s Herringswell Stables. “A tendon tear was discovered and the decision has been taken to retire him. The 2014 Eclipse Champion Turf Male and Eclipse Champion Older Male has given his owners great pleasure throughout his career.

Back to Kenwood runners, with our best wishes for all these great champions above...  On the subject of keeping horses sound and safe (while offering nothing but credit to the great job everyone associated with the great champions above have done with these exceptional runners!)  we are justifiably proud of how many of the horses we have purchased the last four years at sales are still running today, how many races most of them have run, and how sound they have been. No champions from these bargain-priced purchases (yet!) but all have raced,  26 of 27 have won, 20+ have already earned more than their purchase prices, and none have died or sustained a career-ending or life threatening injury on the track. Credit goes both to our excellent trainers, and our ability to select sound horses with our sales process. We can’t guarantee all our horses will run, or win, or that none will get hurt, but these numbers speak for themselves. Sometimes these kinds of stats get lost in the day to day shuffle. If you win lots of races but also have lots of breakdowns and horses who never race, your overall finances will almost surely be terrible, even if you win the high percentage of races you need to in order to have a shot of success in this business. You need to win AND to keep horses racing sound and give them long, productive careers, a delicate balancing act to say the least for anyone in this game….

We  have updated possible races for all our horses (see entries page), including our two year olds. Several of the boys could run at Monmouth Park Aug. 23^rd for their debuts. As a general guideline the horses purchased earlier (groups 22 & 23 in March) will be ahead of the horses groups 24 (purchased in April) and 25 (purchased in May) since they have been training longer, but it’s NOT a race to see how can run soonest. The goal is a nice, safe, long, winning career for each horse! They are raceHORSES, not raceCARS, they will tell us when they are ready!  Title Fight was precocious and started (and won!) sooner than usual. Some of the best horses will usually start and win later, like Kentucky Derby winner ORB and our own stakes winning Michael With Us, both of whom were maidens at two and only got good at age three. Our two year olds worked out during the week with Sky Ace, Awesome Papa Al, JW Racer, Mackinaw Pharoah and Hardrainsgonnafall breezing at Monmouth July 18th, and Sonny's Pharoah breezing at Penn National (see below). Title Fight came out of his debut victory great and after several days walking was back on the track Friday 17th and eager to train.

Now a note about some horses claimed - sold and their records since leaving our barn...First note the result of old friend Dance With Gio, who was 5^th this week in New York. She has yet to win a single race since we sold her in January. Her owners have invested easily $20,000 + in the last 7 months to get about $10,000 in purses. Makes the $14,000 we sold her for look awful good. People hate to sell, privately or via claim, usually it’s the wise move! Next note that two very high profile, top trainers claimed My Little Darlings and Video Mov from us at Monmouth this spring. My Little Darlings was 2^nd to  last, beaten 14 lengths in her first start for her new connections (trainer David Jacobson, who is known for moving horses up off the claim) and has not been heard from since. They paid us $40,000 for her. Video Mov was claimed from us for $20,000 by the highest winning percentage trainer in North America, Jamie Ness, 5 weeks ago. He was 2^nd yesterday for $12,500, and we claimed him back for a 40% discount (read below). He’s a nice sound horse, Jamie couldn’t win with him even dropping way down in class from what he paid us for him.  Trainers and jockeys and owners and horses have hot and cold streaks, but when people can’t move horses up off you time and again you know you and especially your trainers are doing their job!

As mentioned above, on July 18th Kenwood welcomed Video Mov back to the barn, claiming him back for Kenwood and group #20 for $12,500 (he was claimed from us for $20,000 just over one month ago and we felt he was well worth having back with us at that bargain price). Scuba Sue, who we also claimed back off a fine winning race is ready to run, as is Big Apple Brit, Boardwalk Run, Jersey Jules and recent claim Huamantla, so the last half of July promises lots of racing action!

This notice is to inform you that one or more of your horses has worked out. 

Sky Ace (2-Year-Old Colt)

Date: July 18, 2015
Track: MONMOUTH PARK
Distance: Four Furlongs
Time: 48:60 Breezing
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: Dirt
Rank: 12/75 - See the day's workouts 

This notice is to inform you that one or more of your horses has worked out. 

Awesome Papa Al (2-Year-Old Colt)

Date: July 18, 2015
Track: MONMOUTH PARK
Distance: Four Furlongs
Time: 48:60 Breezing
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: Dirt
Rank: 12/75 - See the day's workouts 

This notice is to inform you that one or more of your horses has worked out. 

J W Racer (2-Year-Old Colt)

Date: July 18, 2015
Track: MONMOUTH PARK
Distance: Four Furlongs
Time: 49:40 Breezing
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: Dirt
Rank: 46/75 - See the day's workouts 

Another big week!  We began on a good note Wednesday July 8th at Penn National with a fine flying 2^nd at 22 to 1 in a super tough spot for Big Apple Brit. Passed no less than 5 horses in the final 70 yards from 7th and galloped out ahead of the winner two steps after the wire, beaten less than 1 length. Yet another game effort for this lower level but super consistent horse. Keeps picking up checks and winning races, sound and as honest as they come! 

Friday July 10th featured three horses running at two different tracks. First up was the career debut of Title Fight at Gulfstream Park, our first two year old of the year to reach the starting gate. This horse had trained forwardly for his debut but knowing almost all horses need a race or two to show thier best stuff (note Secretariat was 4th in his debut and American Pharoah was 5th, by far the worst starts of each of thier entire careers) we were expecting a solid effort but not a trip to the winner's circle this time. But things went his way as he sat a good trip behind the favored early leader, who opened up a 10 length lead on the far turn and then stopped suddenly. Inside the 16th pole it was a three horse battle to the wire and Title Fight lived up to his name by simply out-fighting the other two horses to the wire to win by a neck. Partner Allen J, Katz and co-owner Steve Cassidy and his family were on hand to celebrate in the winner's circle. Great to see our first two year old of 2015 win at first asking in a very impressive effort!  He picked up nearly $19,000 for the win, more than half of his $35,000 purchase price in his very first race, and the first leg of the Florida Stallion stakes could be next in August. Is he that good, who knows? What we DO know is he looks like a sound honest runner well worth what we paid for him and more! 

Friday evening at Penn National, Long May You Run disappointed as the favorite when 5^th, in a grass allowance event at 5 furlongs, our only real poor performance of the week. Looks like he didn’t handle the grass at Penn as well as we expected but as always he tried hard, and came out of the race none the worse for wear. Back to the dirt next time for him, probably early August at Penn. One race later, Titanium Jo was a game 2^nd in another Penn allowance; the winner got off to an easy, unchallenged lead and never looked back, but Jo fought every step of the way to get 2nd money in another good effort for her. We're evaluating our options with her, probably a similar spot at Monmouth or Penn in August, possibly a shot at The Monmouth Oaks Aug. 22nd if we decide to take a swing at a black type placing for this exceptionally well-bred filly at our home base where she trains every day. 

Saturday evening, Fuego Mi Amor was a closing 3^rd at Penn National in a lower level maiden race. She’s crying out to run longer and she’ll get that chance next time. Should take the needed step forward around two turns next race. Gradually maturing and still has the potential to become a decent runner before the year is out.

Workouts;  All horses at both Penn National and Monmouth Park trained very well this weekend. You can see the official times for the workouts below. All two year olds making nice progress towards their debuts, following in Title Fight’s fine footsteps!

Scuba Sue, Huamantla training great towards races end of July. There’s a race for Brit next week too, and one for Boardwalk Run, both at Penn National, both doing excellent coming off fine efforts and primed for more. Carl’s Only Vice will point towards big August 1^st race off works.   PJ’s Enigma galloped nicely at Penn 1st time, This Quay Home also galloping at Penn, both should run much better there in August. More on race dates, see our entries page!

When you are part of Kenwood you get the royal treatment! Our valued partners and co-owners will be enjoying this year's historic Haskell in style from private box seats and parterre suites!

This notice is to inform you that one or more of your horses has worked out. 

J W Racer (2-Year-Old Colt)

Date: July 11, 2015
Track: MONMOUTH PARK
Distance: Four Furlongs
Time: 50:80 Breezing
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: Dirt
Rank: 52/66 - See the day's workouts 

This notice is to inform you that one or more of your horses has worked out. 

Sky Ace (2-Year-Old Colt)

Date: July 11, 2015
Track: MONMOUTH PARK
Distance: Four Furlongs
Time: 49:40 Breezing
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: Dirt
Rank: 27/66 - See the day's workouts 

This notice is to inform you that one or more of your horses has worked out. 

Awesome Papa Al (2-Year-Old Colt)

Date: July 11, 2015
Track: MONMOUTH PARK
Distance: Four Furlongs
Time: 49:40 Breezing
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: Dirt
Rank: 27/66 - See the day's workouts 

This notice is to inform you that one or more of your horses has worked out. 

Sonny's Pharoah (2-Year-Old Filly)

Date: July 11, 2015
Track: PENN NATIONAL
Distance: Four Furlongs
Time: 49:80 Breezing
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: Dirt
Rank: 41/71 - See the day's workouts 

Lots of two year old action ahead as the summer heats up!

Title Fight gets in the 6^th race at Gulfstream Park Friday, July 10^th, about 3:30pm. This was our most precocious two year old purchase from the start; he’s been in training longer than the others and we expected a start by the end of July, so he exceeded even our expectations. That said, the vast majority of horses need a race or two to show their true ability (from Secretariat, 4^th in his debut to American Pharoah, 5^th in his debut, by far the worst races of both of their illustrious careers). However it’s still great to have our first two year old in the entries and ready to run.

Several other two year olds are not far behind Title Fight.  JW Racer was impressive at a half mile July 4th at Monmouth Park. Looking for a spot for next month if all goes smoothly. Sky Ace and Awesome Papa Al worked together at 3/8 of a mile July 4th. These are all nice colts with a promising future ahead of them! 

Mackinaw Pharoah also trained very well July 4^th. Three Arch Bay and Hardrainsgonnafall both galloped nicely, too. They were purchased in May, as opposed to the other above purchased in March and April so they are going to be ready later, but they too are doing well, as is Sonny’s Pharoah at Penn National. We really are happy with this year’s two year old crop so far!

In other news, Kenwood claimed the 3 year old filly, Huamantla, at Monmouth Park for Kenwood & group #21 on July 3rd. She ran well, a good 3^rd after pressing the early pace, and there should be a couple of nice spots for her in about 3 weeks. We are glad to have added her to our barn.

Jersey Jules was a very game 3rd at Belmont Park on July 5th, while PJ's Enigma lived up to her name, running dead last at Monmouth Park with no excuse!  It's been an odd summer so far, as Kenwood is struggling at Monmouth Park, our home base, while running very well with horses at Pimlico, Delaware, Belmont, and Penn National. Shows the ups and downs of the game very well.