Willy D’s Returns to Grass in Kent

Chris Sobocinski/Delaware Park

WILMINGTON, Del.— Danny Brown, Charis Brenneman and Greg Compton’s Willy D’s will be returning to the grass seeking his first career stakes win when he faces eleven rivals in the $150,000 Kent Stakes this Saturday.  The mile and three-eighths turf affair for 3-year-olds has been carded as the eighth race with an approximate post time of 4:00 pm.

Last year, Willy D’s broke his maiden in his career debut in a seven-and-a-half-furlong maiden on the grass at Delaware Park in September.  Since then, the Kentucky-bred has posted a record of a win and two seconds from nine starts on the dirt, including a second in the five and half furlong $150,000 Advent Stakes at Oaklawn Park on December 8.  In his last, the son of Lookin At Lucky trained by Greg Compton finished fourth in the mile and a sixteenth $150,000 Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park on June 15.  He has a career record of two wins and two seconds from ten starts with earnings of $122,759.

“He is training well and he ran a decent race against a fairly tough field at Monmouth in his last,” said trainer Greg Compton.  “Everybody kind of lined up and went for the lead.  I did not expect that and it was a fast pace on a tiring track, but he fought hard and just missed third.  He has trained well out of that race, so we think this is as good a spot to get him back on the grass as any.  We are going to get him back on a turf course we know he can handle since he has already won here before. He shows up and tries every time and that is all you can ask.” 

$150,000 Kent Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile and three eighths (turf)