My Heart Goes On should be tough to catch in Kent Stakes
My Heart Goes On ran too good to lose when she was nipped at the wire by Hastings invader Princess Katie in the $50,000 Irish Day Stakes at Emerald Downs on May 29. Now, with Princess Katie staying home, My Heart Goes On looks like the one to beat in the $50,000 Kent Stakes at Emerald on Sunday. The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies drew seven horses and headlines a 10-race card that begins at 2 p.m. Pacific.
Despite dueling through sprint-like fractions with the previously undefeated Invested Prospect in the one-mile Irish Day, My Heart Goes On looked like the winner in midstretch. However, the quick fractions took their toll, and despite a game effort, she wasn’t able to fend off Princess Katie’s rally from well back.
How good was the performance from My Heart Goes On? Invested Prospect faded to finish last. B C Z Middleton, who was closest to the early leaders and tired to finish fifth, came back to upset older fillies and mares in the $50,000 Washington State Legislators last Monday.
My Heart Goes On is clearly the speed of the speed and could be long gone if she breaks alertly with Francisco Duran retaining the mount.
Tom Wenzel likes the way Princess Kennedy is coming into the Kent. After a dull effort when she was favored to win the $50,000 Seattle Stakes in her first start at the meet, she rallied to finish third in the Irish Day. Following that improved effort, she came back to work a bullet five furlongs in 57.60 seconds on June 16.
“She is doing real well right now, and I am hopeful she’ll run a good race,” Wenzel said. “That was a big race from My Heart Goes On last time though.”
Wenzel also entered Sunrise Glow, who is coming off an impressive win going six furlongs in a maiden special weight race June 11. She is the first foal out of the route stakes winner Dynazaper.
“This is a big step up, but she is bred to go long, and she galloped out real strong after her win,” Wenzel said.
KEY CONTENDERS
My Heart Goes On, by Albertus Maximus
Last 3 Beyers: 73-57-63
◗ She almost took them all the way in the Irish Day, and without having to deal with Invested Prospect early and Princess Katie late, she is undoubtedly the one to beat.
Princess Kennedy, by Sun King
Last 3 Beyers: 71-53-54
◗ She appears to be coming around after an ambitious fall campaign that saw her overmatched in the Grade 2 Pocahontas at Churchill and the Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland.
Sunrise Glow, by Distorted Humor
Last 2 Beyers: 70-50
◗ That was a smart win in her second start, and her breeding suggests she will thrive going a middle distance.