Kenneally has two for allowances as Churchill ends meet
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLELOUISVILLE, Ky. – The curtain comes down Sunday on another eventful meet at Churchill Downs, with the track prepared to rid itself of excess inventory with fan-appreciation specials and horsemen sliding one foot out the gate as they look ahead to the next venue.
Hot dogs, soft drinks, draft beer, and bottled water will cost just $1 on Sunday as a means of thanking fans who patronized Churchill at a 38-day meet that began April 26.
Meanwhile, trainers have been busy in recent days getting ready for their next move, as quite a few Kentucky stables will be heading off to Saratoga within the next week or two. Eddie Kenneally is one of those, as his Spa stable will comprise horses from here and Belmont Park.
“We’re looking forward to it as always,” said Kenneally.
Before Churchill ends, Kenneally will be represented in a pair of first-level allowances that anchor the 10-race Sunday finale. Princess Mariah will start as the likely favorite in race 7, while Little Gidding will be a longer price in race 9. Both co-features offer purses of $52,000.
Princess Mariah, with Julien Leparoux to ride, most recently was second for the same condition May 25. She is part of an oversubscribed field in a 1 1/8-mile turf race.
“She ran great last time,” said Kenneally, who was here Friday but is scheduled to be at Belmont on Sunday to saddle Milam in the Victory Ride. “She’s an improving filly. If she runs back to that, she can win. The mile and an eighth is what she wants. Hopefully, she can get it done.”
Little Gidding, a homebred for the Stonecrest Farm of Perfect Drift fame, also will have Leparoux aboard when facing eight other fillies going six furlongs.
“She’s taking a jump in class, and it looks like a solid race, so I don’t know if she’s good enough to beat this kind just yet,” said Kenneally.
Among the probable favorites in the ninth race is Angie’s Prim Lady, whose trainer, Brad Cox, has enjoyed a breakthrough meet, with 15 wins through Thursday. Cox also has an entry in the earlier allowance in Morning Star, a last-out maiden winner.
First post Sunday is 12:45 p.m. Eastern, with the seventh going at 3:47 and the ninth at 4:48. Closing day means all pool jackpots will have a mandatory payout, even in the case of no perfect tickets.
Live action on the Kentucky circuit moves Thursday to Ellis Park in Henderson.