Kennyten, who did the unexpected, will start next in Best Pal Stakes
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ARCADIA, Calif. - The 2-year-old colt Kennyten was not expected to win his first start in a maiden race at 4 1/2 furlongs by 7 1/2 lengths at Santa Anita last Friday, not expected to finish in 56.99 seconds, or to earn a lofty Beyer Speed Figure of 91.
Kennyten, in the mind of trainer Vladimir Cerin, was not expected to do anything out of the ordinary.
“I thought we’d need a race,” Cerin reflected on Sunday.
“I knew he was fast, but I didn’t know he’d be fast at the end of the race.”
The idea, Cerin said, was to start Kennyten on Friday and aim for a restricted maiden race at Del Mar later this summer for juveniles sold at auctions for $150,000 or less, or entered to be claimed for $150,000.
Kennyten was bought for $140,000 at Ocala Breeders’ Sale of 2-year-olds in-training in Florida in March.
Instead, Kennyten is scheduled to have his second start in the Grade 3 Best Pal Stakes, a six-furlong race for 2-year-olds at Del Mar on Aug. 8.
“You don’t know what will happen with a baby, but so far so good.”
Kennyten is by the first-year stallion Drain the Clock, and races for David and Holly Wilson. Cerin said Kennyten was selected at the sale by fellow trainer Michael McCarthy, who bought prospects on behalf of the Wilsons and will have several 2-year-olds for them this year. Kennyten was the only one sent to Cerin.
For the Wilsons, Cerin also trains Mr. A. P., who has not raced since a second-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar last October. Mr. A. P., who worked five furlongs in 1:01.80 at Santa Anita on Sunday, is scheduled to return to action at Del Mar, which opens its summer meeting on July 17.
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