Just Call Kenny scratched from Monmouth feature

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Just Call Kenny, the 5-2 morning-line favorite, was a veterinarian’s scratch from Friday’s feature at Monmouth Park, a $44,000, second-level optional $30,000 claiming sprint.

The race had been slated as the comeback spot for the winner of the Spectacular Bid Stakes for 3-year-olds at Gulfstream Park in January. The colt came out of the race with a slight condylar fracture that required surgery.

Trainer Pat McBurney had mapped out a demanding schedule for Just Call Kenny to make the meet’s main event, the $1 million Haskell Invitational on July 27.

The allowance race Friday would have been followed by the $100,000 Long Branch Stakes here July 5.

If he performed well enough in the Long Branch, the Haskell was the ultimate goal.

That roadmap hit a bump when McBurney learned that Just Call Kenny had been placed on the vet’s list in Florida, barring him from racing in New Jersey until cleared. The horse favored the right foreleg following the Spectacular Bid and was vanned from the test barn back to his stall.

“I don’t recall getting a slip from the veterinarians down there,” McBurney said. “When we got him the ride back to the barn, he must have been put on the list at that time.”

Instead of racing Friday, Just Call Kenny spent the morning clearing his name. It included a supervised work, five furlongs in 1:14.20, and a mandatory blood sample.

If the blood work comes back clean, Just Call Kenny will be eligible to race.

That leaves the Long Branch as the lone prep for the Haskell.

“The three races would have been a very busy schedule,” McBurney said. “You always have it in the back of your mind, does he peak in the second race? Then he might bounce in the Haskell. This could work out better for him in the long run.”