Peacock Kitten, trainer notch first stakes in John Henry
Peacock Kitten and his trainer, Rylee Grudzien, both picked up the first stakes wins of their careers Saturday night in the $60,000 John Henry at Evangeline Downs.
Peacock Kitten won by two lengths over Shake Some Action, while it was another 2 1/2 lengths back in third to Nate’s Attack.
The John Henry was a 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-olds and up.
Peacock Kitten ($13) was the second horse to start in a stakes for Grudzien. He was content to let the pace go Saturday, racing along the inside as Maga Man jumped out to the lead and set fractions of 23.26 for the opening quarter, 48.21 for the half-mile and 1:12.32 for six furlongs. Peacock Kitten angled off the rail on the final turn, came four wide into the stretch, and rallied with good energy to win on firm turf in 1:42.35.
Devin Magnon, who recently returned to riding after sustaining back and rib fractures in a January spill at Delta Downs, was aboard Peacock Kitten. It was his third win since returning to race riding on June 30. Magnon won with his second mount back, on July 1 at Evangeline.
Peacock Kitten was winning his second straight race at the meet, behind an allowance at Evangeline. Peacock Kitten is a son of Kittten’s Joy who races for BW and HTS Stables and Jason Grudzien.
Rylee Grudzien won her first race as a trainer on Nov. 7, 2018, according to records from Daily Racing Form.
Peacock Kitten has now won 5 of 15 starts for earnings of $142,051.