Kennedy Road carries Sovereign Awards implications

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Arzak returns to Woodbine on Sunday and could boost his case for Canadian champion male sprinter honors in the Grade 2, $175,000 Kennedy Road Stakes.

Based in Maryland with trainer Mike Trombetta, Arzak didn’t waste any time getting to the three-start minimum in Canada required for Sovereign Award consideration. He won the Grade 3 Jacques Cartier and Thorncliffe Stakes on Tapeta with Beyer Speed Figures in the high 90s in the spring, before finishing second to Bound for Nowhere in the Grade 2 Highlander on the grass.

Since the July 2 Highlander, Arzak was a close fourth in the Grade 3 Troy at Saratoga, after which he finished sixth in the Grade 2 Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs. He ran fourth over yielding ground most recently in the Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint at Aqueduct.

“We tried a couple of grass races in late summer that didn’t work out quite as well as I’d hoped,” Trombetta said. “His race at Saratoga was really good. He got beat three-quarters of a length to Golden Pal and had a troubled trip. This is our last shot at the synthetic before the season’s over.”

Arzak is getting back on Lasix with Kazushi Kimura along for the ride.

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A victory by Secret Reserve or Lucky Score in the six-furlong event should make them a Sovereign Award finalist in the male sprinter category.

Secret Reserve won the Grade 3 Bold Venture in August and is coming off a troubled third behind Lucky Score and Rockcrest in the Grade 3 Vigil on Sept. 25.

“It was just a tough trip [in the Vigil], but it’s racing and that happens,” trainer Mike Mattine said. “He’s been training well since the race. He loves to train. He’s very eager to race again. He gives you an honest effort every time.”

Lucky Score notched his first stakes in the six-furlong Vigil with a 90 Beyer, which was just shy of the 92 Beyer that Secret Reserve got in the 6 1/2-furlong Bold Venture.

Red River Rebel went into a slump after taking his May 20 season opener in an Ontario-sired allowance. He woke up on Oct. 23 when romping in a conditioned allowance with an $80,000 claiming option, much to the delight of trainer Kevin Attard.

“He ran a huge race,” Attard said. “He worked out a great trip coming up the fence under David Moran. He ran fast with a good number. He obviously needs to run that race back in the Kennedy Road.”

Roaring Forties made his last two starts on turf, ending up fifth in the Grade 2 Nearctic after a gate-to-wire score in a Sept. 5 conditioned allowance/optional claimer.

“Not having any conditions, he has to face tough competition now,” trainer Katerina Vassilieva said. “He’s been just a notch below this caliber, but he’s a trier. He comes out and tries every time.”

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