Kenneally's pair both have talent

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Eddie Kenneally hopes to continue his torrid start at the Gulfstream Park meeting when he sends out a pair of 3-year-old fillies in Wednesday's featured first-level allowance at six furlongs.

Kenneally has won with 4 of his first 9 starters at the meet, including the good-looking New York-bred Keep the Peace, who won this allowance condition on Jan. 4. Wednesday, Kenneally sends out the uncoupled entry of Carolina Belle and Grand Obsession against five rivals.

Carolina Belle, a daughter of Dixie Union, makes her North American and dirt debut after racing four times in Europe - twice on turf, and twice on Polytrack. Carolina Belle has been in Kenneally's care since Dec. 1 and working steadily over the dirt at the Palm Meadows training center.

"She's worked well on dirt here a few times so we expect her to run well first time in this country,'' Kenneally said. "I think she'll be relatively close; she does have some natural speed.''

Carolina Belle gets Lasix for the first time and will break from the rail under Edgar Prado.

Kenneally will also send out Grand Obsession, who has 2 wins from 6 starts. She has not been out since finishing third in this condition behind American County at Churchill Downs on Nov. 24. American County is entered in Saturday's $300,000 Sunshine Millions Oaks.

"She's an improving filly, hard-knocking,'' Kenneally said of Grand Obsession. "She won first time out and she has improved a lot during course of her 2-year-old season. She should run very well.''

The horse to beat may be Be Fruitful, a full sister to the Grade 1 winner Corinthian. After winning her debut in an off-the-turf race at Belmont, Be Fruitful was thrown to the wolves in the Grade 2 Demoiselle and was part of a five-way speed battle. She finished last.

Be Fruitful, trained by Jimmy Jerkens, returned in a first-level allowance race here on Jan. 4, where she finished second, beaten seven lengths, to the repeat winner Keep the Peace. Be Fruitful had a wide trip in that race.

American Asset, second in her last two starts, is another in with a chance.