John F Kennedy faces must-win situation in optional claimer
ARCADIA, Calif. – The racing career of the Irish import John F Kennedy will be determined in an optional claimer on turf at Santa Anita on Sunday.
Once the future-book favorite for the 2015 English Derby, John F Kennedy must run well to stay in training or will be sent to stud in Argentina, trainer Paulo Lobo said.
The second-level optional $62,500 claimer is at 1 1/8 miles on turf. Lobo said he would like to see a win or a close finish to keep John F Kennedy in training at least until the summer.
John F Kennedy, 4, won the Grade 3 Golden Fleece Juvenile Turf Stakes in Ireland in September 2014 to earn a spot at the top of the future-book list temporarily. He was winless in three starts last year, ending with a third in the Group 3 Kilternan Stakes at Leopardstown in Ireland last September.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien at 2 and 3, John F Kennedy, by Galileo, has won 2 of 6 starts. John F Kennedy did not start in the 2015 English Derby after finishing last of seven in the Group 3 Dante Stakes in England last May.
John F Kennedy was sold to a group of South American breeders last winter. Lobo is taking a guarded approach to Sunday’s race.
“It’s a long layoff,” Lobo said. “His works on dirt are average. He’s very much a grass horse.”
John F Kennedy has worked only on dirt since arriving in California from Ireland over the winter. There have been no turf workouts at Santa Anita this year to preserve a course that will be replaced this summer.
Lobo said that if John F Kennedy runs well, “There are a lot of options. If he doesn’t run well, he’ll go” to Argentina, he said.
John F Kennedy is part of a field of eight that includes Hobbits Hero, who has won his last two starts and is entered to be claimed for $62,500.