Granny's Kitten returns to Penn National for Robellino Stakes

Granny’s Kitten will return to Penn National for the first time since he was narrowly beaten in last year’s Grade 3 Penn Mile to face Pennsylvania-breds in the $100,000 Robellino Stakes on Saturday night.

After competing in five graded turf stakes as a 3-year-old last season, finishing third, beaten three-quarters of a length in the $500,000 Penn Mile, and a well-beaten fourth in the Grade 3 Commonwealth Turf at Churchill Downs, Granny’s Kitten has been facing easier competition this year.

He got up by a nose in a second-level allowance at Keeneland, then was freshened before finishing second in the Mystic Lake Mile at Canterbury Park and the Leemat for Pennsylvania-breds on Tapeta at Presque Isle Downs.

His most formidable turf rivals in the 1 1/16-mile Robellino are Saratoga Jack, a dominant front-running winner of his turf debut in the Crowd Pleaser for statebred 3-year-olds at Parx on July 23; and the 6-year-old Uncle Dave, winner of last fall’s Alphabet Soup at Parx and a third-level optional $40,000 claimer for open company in late May.

There is a good chance of rain in central Pennsylvania on Saturday. If the race gets moved to the main track, favoritism would shift to Res Judicata, who won the Grade 3 Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park in his most recent start July 2.

Robellino, Race 4

KEY CONTENDERS

Granny’s Kitten, by Kitten’s Joy

Last 3 Beyers: 81-90-90

Frankie Pennington comes in from Parx to ride Granny’s Kitten for the first time. Colt was narrowly beaten as the 3-2 favorite in the one-mile Leemat. Note that trainer Mike Maker is 12 for 36 (33 percent) with a $3.05 return on investment with horses who finished in the money on a synthetic surface last time out switching to a turf route within 30 days. On the down side, Maker is 0 for 7 with turf runners at Penn National, including four losers at odds of 2-1 or lower.

Saratoga Jack, by Emperor Tiberius

Last 3 Beyers: 90-80-100

He looked good winning his turf debut against straight 3-year-olds and his 90 Beyer fits well with this group. Trainer Miguel Vera is just 2 for 22 (9 percent) with 3-year-olds challenging older horses, though they were all claimers or maidens.

Uncle Dave, by Langfuhr

Last 3 Beyers: 77-89-70

Like Saratoga Jack, this 6-year-old prefers to run on the front end, so there’s a potential for a speed duel that would doom both runners. Parx-based trainer Marcos Zulueta is 5 for 17 (29 percent) shipping to Penn National this season.

Res Judicata, by Smarty Jones

Last 3 Beyers: 94-83-80

This 6-year-old didn’t run well in his only try on turf, so clearly trainer John Servis entered here hoping the race comes off the turf. On dirt, Res Judicata is 9 for 24, including a wire-to-wire score in the Grade 3 Salvator Mile little more than a month ago.