Just Call Kenny Rallies to Capture Friday Feature
Just Call Kenny Rallies to Capture Friday Feature
Castrenze Gets First Local Win, Russell Makes Riding Return
Federico Tesio, Weber City Miss Top Stakes-Filled Saturday
LAUREL, MD – Multiple graded stakes-placed Just Call Kenny swept to the lead on the far outside in mid-stretch and powered to the wire for a 1 ¼-length victory in Friday’s featured ninth race at Laurel Park.
The 6-year-old son of Jump Start, trained by Patrick McBurney for ABL Stable, Dominic Bossone, James Cahill and Peter Donnelly, won the third-level $47,000 optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds and up in 1:23.48 for seven furlongs over a fast main track.
It was the first win for Just Call Kenny ($9.40) since taking a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance in October 2015 at Belmont Park. He finished third and fourth, respectively, in a pair of optional claiming sprints at Laurel over the winter.
“He’s been doing great all winter,” McBurney said. “It’s nice to get back to the winner’s circle with him.”
Breaking from Post 7 in a field of eight, jockey Forest Boyce settled Just Call Kenny in third as Double Whammy ran the opening quarter-mile in 24.05 seconds. Double Whammy was still in front after a half in 47.46 pressed by Stolen Love when Boyce swung outside to launch a bid after straightening for home. Double Whammy, favored at 8-5, was second with Blu Moon Ace getting up by a neck over Stolen Love for third.
“He doesn’t have a big burst but he kind of just grinds it out, that’s why we think he’ll like a mile better,” McBurney said. “After this race we’ll be looking for a little stakes somewhere, so we’ll keep our eyes open.”
Winner of the 2014 Spectacular Bid at Gulfstream Park in his third career start, Just Call Kenny went on to run third in both the Indiana Derby (G2) and Discovery Handicap (G3) that year. For Friday’s race, McBurney removed the blinkers Just Call Kenny had worn dating back to the summer of 2015.
“We had originally put the blinkers on him because he’s big but he’s always been a little antsy in the gate and would get away slow, and for a while it seemed to help him. In his last race we thought maybe he didn’t get a good look at the horses outside of him to run by them. We took them off and he broke better today than he has in a while.”
Castrenze Gets First Local Win, Russell Makes Riding Return
Apprentice jockey Ashley Castrenze picked up her first local win since returning from a lengthy absence due to injury when she piloted the Mark Reid-trained Circle of Light to a 4 ¾-length victory in Friday’s sixth race.
Castrenze, 20, made her 2017 debut April 14 at Laurel and had gone winless in her first seven mounts at the track, including 4-5 favorite Zimbabwe in Friday’s second race. She rode at Parx during Laurel’s dark days earlier this week, winning with Paper Moon on April 17.
Castrenze broke four ribs on her left side in a spill at Laurel Oct. 16, the day after she finished as the ninth-leading rider at the Delaware Park meet with 29 wins. She ended 2016 with 47 wins from 329 mounts and nearly $1.16 million in purse earnings.
“It feels great. I’ve just got to get back in the swing of it,” Castrenze said. “I feel just a little like I’m new out there again. It’s been a while. My agent made me get a personal trainer for three months and made me go four or five times week, I galloped and breezed a lot in the mornings and I’d sit and watch the races at home and ride my Equicizer. It’s still nothing like being out there. It’s tough to get back into it. I just have to ride more races.”
Meanwhile, jockey Sheldon Russell made his return to riding for the first time since Sept. 24 when he finished fourth on Whisper Hill Farm’s Impressive Way for trainer Cal Lynch in the second race. He was off the board in his other mount, Hamilton Smith-owned and trained Buzz Lite, in the sixth.
Russell, 29, ruptured the radial collateral ligament in his right hand when Dannhauser broke down on the far turn of the Bert Allen Stakes. He had only been back eight weeks after returning from a torn labrum and broken shoulder, winning 16 of 138 mounts before being hurt again.
“It’s just nice to be back. It’s been such a long time; six months is a long time to sit on the sidelines,” Russell said. “It’s always nice to come back and have the support from some of the top trainers here. Cal Lynch has been great, Hamilton Smith, Tim Keefe; I could name so many of them. Everyone’s been very nice to me. Physically I feel very good, I feel ready. I’m happy I got the two races under my belt today. If I could get a winner Saturday or Sunday I’ll be smiling even bigger.”
Federico Tesio, Weber City Miss Top Stakes-Filled Saturday
The $125,000 Federico Tesio for 3-year-olds and $125,000 Weber City Miss for 3-year-old fillies top an 11-race card with five stakes worth $475,000 in purses.
The Tesio is a ‘Win and You’re In’ race for Triple Crown-nominated horses to the 142nd Preakness Stakes (G1) May 20, and the $125,000 Weber City Miss for 3-year-old fillies (Race 4) is a ‘Win and You’re In’ for the 93rd Black-Eyed Susan (G2) May 19 at historic Pimlico Race Course.
Also on the program is the $75,000 Primonetta for fillies and mares 3 and up at six furlongs on the main track, and the $75,000 Dahlia for fillies and mares 3 and up and $75,000 Henry S. Clark for 3-year-olds and up, both at one mile on the turf.
Notes: Jockey Steve Hamilton rode back-to-back winners Friday on Year Book ($9.20) in the second race and Professor Zoom ($9.40) in the third. Jockey Forest Boyce swept the late daily double with Just Call Kenny ($9.40) in the ninth and Forever Bernardini ($) in the 10th. Jockey Jevian Toledo took off his final three mounts of the day after being unseated by 3-year-old filly She’s Stunning on the path from the paddock to the main track prior to the seventh race.
Rainbow 6 Carryover: $463.66
