Kant Hurry Love shows off her speed in Garland of Roses

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Away from the races for nearly six months, Kant Hurry Love displayed speed and tenacity in her return to win Sunday’s $135,000 Garland of Roses Stakes by a neck at Aqueduct.

After putting away pace-challenger Autumn Evening, Kant Hurry Love held off a late run from Ain’t Broke to earn her seventh career victory, third in a stakes. Kant Hurry Love had twice suffered narrow losses in open company stakes, including a neck defeat to Hot Fudge in this race last year.

The victory could be the last race for Kant Hurry Love, since she is expected to be sold in a sale in February. It is possible she could also be bred. Kant Hurry Love hadn’t run since winning the Dancin Renee Stakes for New York-breds in June.

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“Just glad to get through this,” winning trainer David Duggan said. “We missed some pivotal opportunities coming up to this. We were just hoping she would get right, [winning in] open company for a New York-bred is pivotal from a breeding perspective.”

The complexion of the Garland of Roses changed some when expected favorite Ellen Jay was scratched in the morning. St. Benedict’s Prep also scratched, reducing the field to six.

Breaking from the outside post, Kant Hurry Love broke running under Romero Maragh. Kant Hurry Love set fractions of 22.77 seconds and 46.15 while getting pressed from the outside by Autumn Evening.

Those two took their battle into the lane before Kant Hurry Love put away Autumn Evening. A new rival emerged in Ain’t Broke, who was flying down the center of the track under Eric Cancel. But Kant Hurry Love found enough in reserve to hold off Ain't Broke.

“She responded very well at the top of the lane, the other horse came to me, I just tapped her and she engaged the bridle a little, but I realized the horse next to me was pretty much out of gas,” Maragh said. “My only other dangers would be horses that are coming from behind, so once she switched leads she really leveled off well. There was quite a bit left in the tank, to be honest.”

Kant Hurry Love, a 5-year-old daughter of Kantharos, covered the six furlongs in 1:10.32 and returned $11.60 to win.

“She’s as tough as old boots,” said Duggan, who trains Kant Hurry Love for owner Ken Wheeler. “If you had half of them that had her heart you’d be doing well.”

Ain't Broke finished second by two lengths over Autumn Evening. Cara’s Time, Mystic Pleasure, the even-money favorite, and Captainsdaughter completed the order of finish.

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