Kenneally blows into Hurricane Bertie Stakes on a roll

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Now that Eddie Kenneally is on a roll, why stop now?

Kenneally won stakes on both Florida coasts last Saturday – the Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs and the Captiva Island at Gulfstream Park – and he’s liable to tack on another when Lady Kate runs this Saturday in the Hurricane Bertie at Gulfstream.

“Lady Kate definitely likes Gulfstream,” Kenneally said this week from his main winter base at the Palm Meadows training center.

That’s for sure. Lady Kate is 3 for 3 at Gulfstream and winless in four starts elsewhere, so Kenneally is getting one more race here for the 4-year-old Bernardini filly before migrating north to Kentucky at month’s end. Lady Kate was among a sizable field of fillies and mares expected when entries were taken here Wednesday for the Grade 3, $150,000 Hurricane Bertie at seven furlongs.

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Meanwhile, Kenneally is looking ahead to the Keeneland meet with Outburst, a 3-year-old British-bred filly who now has won both of her U.S. starts since being imported here from France, and Girls Know Best, an uncommonly quick turf-sprint specialist with 13 wins from 27 career starts. Outburst goes in the April 5 Appalachian and Girls Know Best in the April 11 Giant’s Causeway.

“I may also have Abscond for the Appalachian,” said Kenneally, referring to the Blame filly who won the Grade 1 Natalma last September at Woodbine. “They’re both really nice fillies.”

Outburst won her American debut last month from off the pace, but led all the way in the Grade 3 Florida Oaks under Javier Castellano.

“She’s adapted to American racing in quick order,” said Kenneally, a 53-year-old native of County Waterford, Ireland. “She’s come a long way in a short time. Javier did the right thing in letting her go after she broke so sharp, but I don’t know if that’s her best running style. She’s probably going to be better suited tucking in and settling, and that’ll make her closing kick even better. You do have to be encouraged with the way she’s performed so far.”

Kenneally added that Scabbard is no longer on the Triple Crown trail after finishing fifth in the Lecomte, then sixth in a division of the Risen Star, both at Fair Grounds.

“He really didn’t have any excuse in his last race, so we’re going to try him on the grass in an allowance race,” he said.