Jenda's Agenda stretching out for second start

Jenda’s Agenda won’t intimidate anyone with her physical presence. The 3-year-old filly is on the smallish side, nothing special to look at – but she also looks like a runner.

Jenda’s Agenda won her debut Jan. 7 at Fair Grounds by 6 1/4 lengths while geared down and ridden out, and she is set to make the second start of her career in the fourth race there Sunday. Jenda’s Agenda is one of six entrants in the race for first-level allowance horses or $50,000 claimers at one mile and 70 yards on dirt and is coupled in the wagering with Pretty Prediction.

Larry Jones trains the coupled entry, and Jones knows something about talented 3-year-old fillies. In 2008, Proud Spell won the Fair Grounds Oaks on her way to a win in the Kentucky Oaks.

“If you remember, Proud Spell wasn’t exactly a big filly either,” Jones said shortly after Jenda’s Agenda’s winning debut.

Jones also knows quite a bit about Jenda’s Agenda. He and his wife, Cindy, campaigned her dam, Just Jenda, and are the breeders and co-owners of Jenda’s Agenda, who, like Proud Spell, is by Proud Citizen.

Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farms bought into Jenda’s Agenda following her debut victory, and it’s not difficult to see why. Jenda’s Agenda was outbroken in that six-furlong race but came through along the inside to take the lead in the first furlong. Entering the far turn, and without being seriously asked, the filly kicked into another gear and darted away from her pursuers, and she did the same thing again before the eighth pole.

On pedigree and style, Jenda’s Agenda looks likely to adapt to two-turn racing, and she should be formidable at short odds Sunday.

Summertime Sky drops in class after finishing fourth in the Silverbulletday Stakes last month, but from the appearance of her debut win in a grass sprint, she could wind up being a turf horse. Fault was second to Summertime Sky on turf, then came back with a two-turn dirt maiden win Jan. 21.

Stonetacular won her only start by four lengths last September at Churchill Downs, and though the horses behind her have not subsequently panned out, she looked amply talented.

“We were looking to come back six furlongs, but the race didn’t go,” trainer Neil Howard said. “We think she’s done enough to be ready for this. It’s kind of a steppingstone race to get started.”

◗ Cool Arrow was among 14 horses entered Thursday for the Feb. 25 Risen Star Stakes, and trainer Joe Sharp said he and owner Brad Grady are “leaning slightly” toward running in the race.

Cool Arrow also was entered Friday for Monday’s Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Cool Arrow won the $300,000 Springboard Mile at Remington Park on Dec. 12 in his most recent start. He is a front-running type who will, if nothing more, have a pace impact on whichever race his connections choose to target.