Kenda changes tactics to win Special Goddess
ARCADIA, Calif. – Kenda took a bold, new front-running approach Sunday in the $75,000 Special Goddess Stakes, and it led to victory in the turf sprint stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita.
Beaten favorite last out when she raced inside and behind horses, Kenda broke running Sunday and led most of the race under Flavien Prat. Madame Dancealot, the favorite who defeated Kenda last out with a perfect trip in the clear, did not get such an advantageous trip Sunday and finished second.
Storm the Hill, who briefly headed the winner in the stretch, finished third, followed by Cynthiana and Saburai. Special Ring unseated Rafael Bejarano in the post parade, got loose, and was scratched. Bejarano took off the remainder of the card.
Kenda, who was headed between calls into the stretch, re-rallied to win in 1:12.69. Trainer Phil D’Amato said he plans to stretch Kenda to two turns this summer at Del Mar. She has won two races from seven starts.
Kenda paid $9.40 as the third choice. The Special Goddess was the first leg of the pick six; the Sunday pool was $185,329.