Appeal Factor will bid to maintain her perfect record – three stakes appearances and three wins – in Sunday’s $50,000 Kent Stakes over 6 1/2 furlongs at Emerald Downs. The daughter of The Factor’s 2024 debut in last month’s Seattle Stakes was deceptively good in that she was hard used early while still retaining enough for a 1 1/2-length victory. Mild early bumping from both sides may have inspired regular rider Silvio Amador to hustle the 2023 divisional champion away from potential trouble. Suddenly she was on the lead, initially with a pair pushing the pace from inside and later another applying pressure from her outside. Splits of 21.60 seconds and 44.01 are routine enough for Emerald stakes horses, but this was a 3-year-old filly making her first start in more than 10 months. With the race under her girth and an opportunity to relax a bit in the early stages, the end result may become even more emphatic. :: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets. A David Martinez trainee, Appeal Factor has continued to work well since her return. The Oak Crest Farm colorbearer worked a bullet half-mile in 46.40 on June 29. Appeal Factor drew post 2, which could lead to more early pressure and the need to use some of her ability to stay clear of traffic. “The post position is not so bad because the pair on either side do not have much speed, so it gives us the hope that we will get out,” Martinez said. Chief among the opposition are the two-three finishers in the Seattle Stakes. Paynt Ya Later, another Martinez trainee, was the beaten favorite in that race after winning for the second time on May 11 with a 75 Beyer Speed Figure. After winning her first pair in wire-to-wire fashion, Paynt Ya Later employed stalking tactics in the Seattle Stakes. Beginning from the rail, she encountered trouble on the turn when another rider checked his mount in front of her. Paynt Ya Later lost by just two lengths in the end. Victoria’s Charge is one of six from the Seattle Stakes who are entered back in the Kent. The Alan Bozell trainee stalked the early pace and then moved to pressure Appeal Factor from her outside on the turn, finishing a solid second. It was a particularly strong effort. Martinez has a total of three entered in the Kent Stakes, including first-out claim Classic American, who won by an emphatic 10 1/4 lengths over a group of four other $25,000 maiden claimers. Chai is a lightly raced filly who is 2 for 2 in 2024 for trainer Kay Cooper. She got a 71 Beyer in her maiden win May 19, and a narrow allowance victory on June 23 netted a 62 Beyer. Joe Toye-trained I’m Telling Mom applied early pace pressure to Appeal Factor and was the first runner checked on the turn when lacking room. She is lightly raced and eligible to improve. Others exiting the June 15 Seattle Stakes are Rocky Bay Rae and Arctic Breeze. The pair finished fourth and fifth, respectively, behind Appeal Factor. Rockit a Day, Veronica’s Delight, and maiden Signora Vittoria complete the field. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.