New King. (Jim McCue/TMJC)
Piece of “Kake” for Rodriguez, Ness on turf
Dan Illman/Laurel Park
LAUREL, Md.— “I think he’s going to be a fun horse,” trainer Brittany Russell said after New King finished second to stablemate Worcester in Laurel’s $100,000 Frank Whiteley Stakes on April 12.
Let the fun begin.
The few handicappers brave enough to stand against New King in Saturday’s featured eighth race, a $48,000 state-sired allowance for 3-year-olds and upward at six furlongs, noted that the 4-year-old Into Mischief colt hadn’t registered a public workout since finishing tenth of twelve in Churchill’s restricted Knicks Go Stakes on May 3.
Those horseplayers may not have anticipated New King’s natural ability, class, and tactical speed. In a race devoid of early foot, jockey Sheldon Russell took the bull by the horns, guided New King to the lead, dropped down splits of 23.21 and 47.39 seconds, then shrugged off all challengers to prevail by 3 ¼ lengths in 1:11.29 over the fast track.
He accomplished all of that on three shoes, as he lost one of his plates during the race.
“By no means was his training what it should have been coming into this,” Brittany Russell admitted. “I didn’t get to train on him like I needed to. He did that on talent. I’m really proud of him today. He’s just a racehorse.”
Bold Diversion tried his best to finish second. Rapidity placed another 2 ¾ lengths behind in third. Straight to Water and Addy’s Laddy T N T completed the order of finish. The Wolfman and Call Me Andy scratched.
New King returned $2.60 to win while receiving a nice confidence boost following three straight losses.
“That was the idea,” said trainer Brittany Russell. “We sent him to Churchill, and he ran huge against Worcester here. I feel like I know him now. It’s taken a little bit of time.”
New King is by perennial champion sire Into Mischief out of a winning half-sister to stakes-winners Laurie’s Rocket and Greeley’s Rocket from the family of Grade 1 winner Adieu. The 4-year-old colt was bred in Maryland by 2500 Determined Stud.
Purchased for $700,000 as a yearling, he races for the partnership of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Dianne Bashor, Robert Masterson, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, and Tom Ryan.
Although New King won two races around two turns for Bob Baffert before being transferred to Russell during the winter, his trainer believes that shorter distances might work better for the colt.
“Personally, I think the six to seven [is what he wants],” Brittany Russell said. “I think he’s a free-running horse.”
Piece of “Kake” for Rodriguez, Ness on turf
“He ran his eyeballs out,” Jaime Rodriguez said after Kake’s Arrow won his fourth consecutive start, a $53,000 second-level allowance with a $40,000 claiming option at 1 1/16 miles on turf.
The last time Kake’s Arrow raced, he grabbed an easy lead under Rodriguez, coasted through glacial fractions, and then sprinted home to score by 4 ½ widening lengths. It was a classic example of a rider “walking the dog” on the front end.
This time, they made Rodriguez work. Goodbye Note eased off the inside on the first turn to push Kake’s Arrow through fractions of 23.83 and 47.00 seconds.
“I could feel the way his breathing was today that we were going quick,” Rodriguez stated.
Kake’s Arrow then displayed push-button acceleration to spurt away from Goodbye Note during a third quarter in 23.59 and had plenty left to deny late-rushing L’Antharis by a length in 1:40.85 over the firm going.
“I was confident like the last time,” Rodriguez said. “When he doesn’t feel [pressure], he relaxes and gets comfortable. But every time they attack him, he wants to keep going. He has a big heart.”
Kake’s Arrow returned $3.20 to win as the prohibitive favorite.
“He was waiting for the last second when I asked him,” Rodriguez said. “When [Goodbye Note tired] at the three-eighths turning for home, I made him change the lead, and he gave me a kick. He ran huge.”
Kake’s Arrow made his second start for trainer Jamie Ness after being claimed for $25,000 on May 3 for Darryl Abramowitz’s DEA Racing.
Bred in Kentucky by J-5 Equestrian, Kake’s Arrow is a 5-year-old gelding by Arrogate out of stakes-placed turf router Charm City Girl by Pioneerof the Nile. Her third dam, Tout Charmant, was a multiple Grade 1 winner routing on turf.
Kake’s Arrow began his career for trainer Michael Matz. Last year, Brittany Russell claimed him as a four-start maiden for $45,000. He won three of four races for that barn before being haltered by Ness.
Kake’s Arrow has won half of his ten appearances for $134.890 in purse money.
Around the Track ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Give Dad the ultimate Father’s Day experience with Laurel Park’s “Father’s Day at the Races” on Sunday, June 15, between noon and 4 pm ET. Enjoy a specially designed buffet featuring Dad’s favorites – from perfectly grilled meats to classic sides, all prepared by our executive culinary team. Davidus Cigars will provide Lord Baltimore Maduro Cigars in our designated smoking areas, and our Father’s Day bourbon bar features an exceptional selection of American whiskeys. Laurel Park will also feature two special steeplechase events as well as the $100,000 Stormy Blues Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 5 ½ furlongs on the turf. For tickets and more information, visit https://www.laurelpark.com/fathersday/ …
Jockeys Horacio Karamanos, Yedsit Hazlewood, and Sheldon Russell enjoyed two-win days on Saturday while trainer Brittany Russell saddled two winners.
