Kent Stakes | Horse Racing Free Tips

Life Is Good Headlines Star-Studded Saturday of Racing

Holiday weekends are often synonymous with exciting race cards and this Fourth of July weekend is no exception with a dozen graded events on tap Saturday that include some of racing's best. The highlight of the day's action is the return of 'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief), who is making his first start back since finishing fourth in the G1 Dubai World Cup Mar. 26 in Belmont's GII John A. Nerud S.

A dominant winner of last year's GII Kelso H. and GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and this term's GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S., Life Is Good spent some time at WinStar after his return from Dubai and has been breezing steadily at Belmont for Pletcher since Memorial Day weekend. Flavien Prat climbs aboard the fleet-footed bay for the first time Saturday.

“Flavien has proven he rides really well in any occasion,” said Pletcher, who indicated this race is a prep for the GI Whitney S. “There might be some similarities to Flightline (Tapit) and Life Is Good, but we'll have a talk about the horse a little bit. He's got kind of a quiet touch, so that should suit him well.”

While Life Is Good will certainly be the heavy favorite, there is one member of this five-horse field who could give him a run for his money. Godolphin homebred Speaker's Corner (Street Sense) kicked off 2022 with a trio of seemingly effortless victories in the GIII Fred Hooper S., GII Gulfstream Park Mile and GI Carter H. He received a 114 Beyer Speed Figure for that win, which trumps Life Is Good's best figure of 110 in the Pegasus. The bay enters this off a third-place finish behind unbeaten sensation Flightline in the GI Hill 'n' Dale Met Mile June 11 and Jose Ortiz takes over the controls from Junior Alvarado, who will be riding for trainer Bill Mott in Kentucky.

The Nerud certainly looks like a match race between these two formidable foes as Repo Rocks (Tapiture), Harvard (Pioneerof the Nile) and War Tocsin (Violence) are overmatched to say the least.

Also on tap at Belmont Saturday is the GIII Dwyer S. for sophomore colts. The regally bred Charge It (Tapit) looks to rebound in this cutback in trip after a poor effort in the GI Kentucky Derby, where he finished 17th. The 'TDN Rising Star' was a green, but good second in the GI Curlin Florida Derby in April and the Run for the Roses may have just been too much too soon. You can count on Pletcher to have the colt ready to roll in this softer spot and his back-to-back bullets on the local training track affirm that. With the colt's regular rider Luis Saez at Churchill Downs for Americanrevolution (Constitution), the Hall of Famer calls on his right-hand man John Velazquez to take over the reins.

Chad Brown has an intriguing runner in the Dwyer in Peter Brant's Nabokov (Uncle Mo). The $775,000 KEESEP buy earned his diploma at this oval when extended to two turns last time in his second start May 15.

Cox Holds Strong Hand at Churchill

Churchill Downs also offers a pair of intriguing graded events and Brad Cox has a strong chance to take both. He sends out Juddmonte homebred Mandaloun (Into Mischief)–who is making his first start since a well-beaten ninth in the G1 Saudi Cup–in the GII Stephen Foster H., a Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' event. The colt was promoted to first via DQ in both the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Haskell Invitational S. last year and crossed the line first in the GIII Louisiana S. in January. Cox also saddles Caddo River (Hard Spun) off a trio of optional claimer scores.

Olympiad | Coady

That pair face some stiff competition from New York in Olympiad (Speightstown) and Americanrevolution (Constitution). The Bill Mott-trained Olympiad is a perfect four-for-four this season, topped by wins in the GIII Mineshaft S., GII New Orleans Classic and GII Alysheba S. Meanwhile, Americanrevolution, who shares the same connections as Life is Good, looks to return to winning ways. Capturing the GI Cigar Mile Dec. 4, the chestnut spent six months on the shelf and was a disappointing fourth in his return in the track-and-trip Blame S. June 4.

The GII Fleur de Lis S. attracted just five distaffers, but two of them are Grade I winners. Cox sends out Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil), whose trio of Grade I wins includes the 2020 GI Kentucky Oaks. The bay was run down last time by this field's other top-level scorer Pauline's Pearl (Tapit) in this venue's GI La Troienne S. May 6. That Stonestreet homebred ran back in the local Shawnee S. June 4, finishing fourth as the heavy favorite behind She's All Wolfe (Magna Graduate).

Sprinters Star at Gulfstream

Female sprinters get a chance to secure a spot in the Breeders' Cup Saturday at Gulfstream in the GII Princess Rooney S., a 'Win and You're In.' Champion Ce Ce (Elusive Quality) won this event last term en route to a victory in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint and she will be heavily favored to defend her title. Winner of the GII Azeri S. earlier this year, the chestnut was third behind champion Letruska (Super Saver) and last-out GI Ogden Phipps S. winner Clairiere (Curlin) in the GI Apple Blossom H. Apr. 23.

Her biggest competition will come from claim-to-fame Glass Ceiling (Constitution), winner of the GIII Barbare Fritchie S. and GIII Distaff H. The bay enters off a third to Bella Sofia (Awesome Patriot) in the GII Bed O'Roses S. June 10.

Male sprinters get a chance at graded glory in Hallandale too in the GIII Smile Sprint S. The race will go through GI Woody Stephens S. winner Drain the Clock (Maclean's Music), who makes his first start since finishing seventh in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen S. Mar. 26.

Delaware & Canada Also Offer Graded Action

Sophomores will be in the spotlight at Delaware Park Saturday with the GIII Delaware Oaks and GIII Kent S. Ruthless S. winner Shotgun Hottie (Gun Runner) looks like the one to beat. The bay receives Lasix for the first time off a third-place finish in Aqueduct's GIII Gazelle S. Apr. 9.

The GIII Kent S. features 3-year-old colts on the grass and the likely favorite is Harrell Ventures' Main Event (Bernardini), winner of the Cutler Bay S. He was last seen finishing ninth in the GII American Turf S. at Churchill May 7. He faces Brad Cox runner Tommy Bee (Medaglia d'Oro), who was second in a trio of listed stakes.

Woodbine hosts four graded events Saturday: the GIII Selene S. for 3-year-old fillies, the GIII Marine S. for sophomore colts, the GII Nassau S. for older fillies and mares, and the GII Highlander S. for older male turf sprinters. Jonathan Thomas could win both the sophomore events with Catiche (Arrogate) in the Selene and Fuerteventura (Summer Front) in the Marine.

Lady Speightspeare (Speightstown), winner of this venue's GII Bessarabian S., faces SW & MGSP Crystal Cliffs (Fr) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) and GSW Plum Ali (First Samurai) in the Nassau. The Highlander is topped by the Wesley Ward-trained Bound for Nowhere (The Factor), a two-time winner of the GII Shakertown S. at Keeneland.

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Yes This Time Sneaks Up On Like The King To Take Kent Stakes

Riding the rail under Joe Bravo, Yes This Time went from last on the final turn to first in the final furlong of the 1 1/8 mile Grade 3 Kent Stakes at Delaware Park in Wilmington, Del. The soft turf and a stubborn front running Like the King were no trouble for the son of Not This Time, who earns his fifth win of six starts in 2021.

After an even start, Like the King took an easy length-and-a-half lead over Be Here and Eamonn, with Wootton Asset in fourth. The pace was slow, Like the King cruising through fractions of :25.63 for the first quarter and :51.21 for the first half. He maintained that easy lead, controlling the pace through the first mile. Into the stretch, Like the King held on to the lead, unwilling to give it up as Bravo and Yes This Time snuck up on the rail to challenge. Like the King tried to hold on, but Yest This Time was able to pass him in the final strides to win by a length in a slow 1:52.39 on soft turf.

Find this race's chart here.

Wootton Asset, Doubleoseven, Eamonn, and Be Here rounded out the field of six in the G3 Kent Stakes.

“I was concerned about the pace,” said winning trainer Kelly Breen. “Honestly, the leader (Like the King) got out there and went a half in :51 and three-quarters in 1:16 and two races before, they did not go that slow. I was concerned about being towards the back early, but the rail opened up and he came running. We are schooling him for the Kentucky Downs race (Dueling Grounds Derby – Sept 5) by getting him used to going up and down the hills and being able to rate. He is a pretty neat horse with a lot of guts. He is a nice horse to train and he is pretty cool. Other than his first race, everything has been basically win pictures. He is a pretty nice horse.”

Yes This Time paid $4.20, $2.60, and $2.10. Like the King paid $3.80 and $2.60. Third-place Wootton Asset paid $3.40 to show.

Yes This Time is a 3-year-old colt from the first crop of Taylor Made stallion Not This Time. Bred by Barry Golden, he is out of the Smart Strike mare Smart Jilly. He is owned by Edge Racing and trained by Kelly Breen. His win in the Kent Stakes marks his sixth win in eight lifetime starts for earnings of $201,825.

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Wootton Asset Seeking First U.S. Victory In Saturday’s Kent Stakes

Madaket Stables' Wootton Asset will be seeking his first victory in North America in the $150,000 Grade 3 Kent Stakes at Delaware Park this Saturday. The French-bred son of Wootton Bassett will be making his 2021 debut in the mile-and-an-eighth grass affair for 3-year-olds. The Kent has been carded as the seventh race with an approximate post time of 4:15 p.m.

Last year, Wootton Asset posted a record of two wins and a second from seven starts with earnings of $73,745. He made his first four career starts in France where he won his career debut and followed with a victory. In his next two outings, he finished fourth and fifth in a pair of stakes. In his stateside debut, the H. Graham Motion trainee ran second beaten a neck in Laurel Futurity at Pimlico. He followed with a pair of off-the-board efforts in the Awad at Belmont Park and Cecil B. DeMille at Del Mar to close his 2020 campaign.

“I thought he ran well last year,” said trainer H. Graham Motion. “When we ran him in the Laurel Futurity, he basically ran off the plane. Since he had been running in France before he shipped to the United States, we really were not sure how many more races he had him and maybe the California race may have been one too many. He really came to the United States to run on firmer ground and the first time we ran him, in the Laurel Futurity, it was extremely soft, but he ran well extremely well. He had the winter off and I think he has grown up a lot. Victor (Carassco) gave him a good work going seven-eighths on the Tapeta at Fair Hill on Saturday, so we are hoping for a nice effort from him in the Kent.”

#	HORSE	OWNER	TRAINER	JOCKEY	Wg	OD
1	Gershwin	Godolphin	Michael Stidham	Joe Bravo	117	8-1
2	Yes This Time	Edge Racing	Kelly Breen	Joe Bravo	117	3-1
3	Shackled Love (MTO)	Z W P & Non Stop	Gary Capuano	Jaime Rodriguez	117	8-1
4	Be Here	Augustin Stable	Jonathan Thomas	Daniel Centeno	117	8-1
5	Like the King	M Racing Group	Wesley Ward	TBD	117	2-1
6	Eamonn	Robert Cotran	Joseph Orseno	Mike Smith	122	4-1
7	Wootton Asset	Madaket Stables	H. Graham Motion	Victor Carassco	117	6-1
8	Vikram (MTO)	LaPenta, Bridlewood & Au	Jonathan Thomas	Jaime Rodriguez	117	6-1
9	Doubleoseven	McCarty Racing	Jeremiah O'Dwyer	Johan Rosado	117	12-1

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Saratoga Derby Targeted By Clement For Kent Stakes Winner Gufo

Otter Bend Stables' Gufo (by Declaration of War) won for the fourth consecutive time and improved to 3-for-3 in his 3-year-old campaign after winning the Grade 3 Kent on Saturday at Delaware Park in Wilmington, Del.

Gufo ran third in his debut in November at Aqueduct Racetrack and has gone undefeated since, including a 1 1/2-length score in the 1 1/16-mile English Channel on May 2 at Gulfstream Park before a half-length score in his graded stakes debut going 1 1/8 miles on the Delaware Park grass. Gufo covered nine furlongs on firm turf in a track record 1:46.94, lowering the previous course record of 1:47.19 set by American Patriot in the 2016 Kent.

Trainer Christophe Clement said the Kent effort, which resulted in a 90 Beyer Speed Figure, could set up a potential start in the $500,000 Saratoga Derby on August 15 at Saratoga Race Course.

The second running of the Saratoga Derby is part of NYRA's Turf Triple series for 3-year-olds and is contested at 1 3/16 miles.

“He's a nice horse and getting better,” Clement said. “He'll be trained for the Saratoga Derby. We'll try to train him for that and go from there.”

Before heading up to the Spa, Clement saw a plethora of turf workers breeze Sunday morning at Belmont Park.

Eight-time graded stakes-winner Pure Sensation breezed four furlongs in 50.55. The 9-year-old veteran posted his first work since running seventh in the Grade 1 Jaipur on June 20, Belmont Stakes Day, that marked his seasonal bow and first start since running fifth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint in November at Santa Anita.

“He looked good and worked well,” Clement said. “He was very willing. The main thing is to go one step at a time. It was good to get a race. He seems to be sound and willing, so if everything goes well in the next week or two, we'll be looking for another race. There's a race in mid-July [Wolf Hill, July 18] at Monmouth.”

Owned by Patricia Generazio, Pure Sensation is 14-5-7 with earnings of more than $2 million in 37 career starts.

Wegetsdamunnys and Olympic Games breezed four furlongs in 50.33 in company Sunday, setting up potential starts for both of them in the $80,000 River Memories on Closing Day of the Belmont spring/summer meet on Sunday, July 12.

Clement said they are both looking at the 1 ½-mile turf route in the River Memories. The French-bred Olympic Games, owned by Martin Schwartz, made her first North American start and first for Clement by running second by a neck to La Australiana, in the Treasure Coast on June 7 at Gulfstream. The 4-year-old daughter of Olympic Glory made her first five starts in France and raced once in Italy in November for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget before shipping over and being transferred to Clement's care.

Wegetsdamunnys, owned by Scott Krase and Peter Stokes, returned off a near seven-month layoff to beat optional claimers going 1 1/8 miles over the Belmont turf on June 8. She will look to start her 5-year-old year 2-for-2 and win her first stakes in the process.

“They are both coming into the race good and worked well this morning,” Clement said.

Sophomore filly Logic N Reason made her first start of 2020 on June 14 at Belmont, running seventh against allowance company as she wiped off the rust in her first start since a sixth-place finish in the Tepin on December 5 at Aqueduct that was moved off the turf.

The Declaration of War filly, owned by The Elkstone Group, put in an impressive solo work, going five furlongs in 1:02.48 and galloped out strong. Clement said he hasn't decided on a firm target for her next start.

“I'm not sure yet, we're keeping the options open,” Clement said.

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