Peacock Kitten will have to work out a trip to repeat in John Henry Stakes
Peacock Kitten has some obstacles to overcome Saturday night when he defends his title in the $60,000 John Henry at Evangeline Downs.
A closer, Peacock Kitten will have to negotiate a field of 12 when he starts from the outside post in the 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-olds and up. Peacock Kitten also will be making his first start since March.
But there is one key variable working in the horse’s favor – a love of the local course. Peacock Kitten has won three races and finished second in three others from nine starts on the Evangeline turf.
The field includes Vodka Gimlet, a 3-year-old multiple stakes winner making his turf debut. Also signed on for the John Henry are the second- through fourth-place finishers from last month’s Louisiana Legends Turf at Evangeline – Jaci’s Royalty, Behemah Star, and City Park.
Peacock Kitten was a two-length winner of the race a year ago, utilizing his patented closing kick. He raced exclusively over the turf course at Evangeline last year. This year at 7, Peacock Kitten has made two starts, with his most recent a ninth-place finish to Grade 1 winner Two Emmys in the Grade 2 Muniz Memorial on March 26 at Fair Grounds.
Peacock Kitten earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 82 against the high-class competition in the Muniz, and the number stacks up favorably in the John Henry. He shows a series of endurance-minded works at Evangeline, and his trainer, Rylee Grudzien, wins at a strong 27 percent rate with horses coming back from layoffs of 61-180 days, according to statistics from Daily Racing Form.
Peacock Kitten figures to drop over to the rail after the start of the John Henry, and will be guided through the field when the time comes by regular rider Devin Magnon. Peacock Kitten races for BW and HTS Stables and Jason Grudzien.
Peacock Kitten could get a decent pace setup behind Shippingport, Rightandjust, Behemah Star, Strong Eagle, and Speaktomeoflove.
A solid pace might also serve the cause of Vodka Gimlet, who used his closing kick to win a pair of two-turn stakes last meet at Delta Downs – the Louisiana Premier Prince and the Big Drama.
The John Henry drew 13 entries, with Beachcombing stuck on the also-eligible list.