Kenny Had a Notion Seeks to Rebound in Spectacular Bid

Louis J. Ulman and H. Neil Glasser's multiple stakes winner Kenny Had a Notion, beaten a neck in his most recent start, looks to snap a two-race losing streak when he takes on eight rivals in the Jan. 16 $100,000 Spectacular Bid Stakes for 3-year-olds at Laurel Park.

The defection of undefeated Jaxon Traveler with a minor foot bruise leaves Kenny Had a Notion and Shackqueenking, respectively trained by Laurel-based brothers Dale and Gary Capuano, as the lone stakes winners in the field.

Kenny Had a Notion won the 5 1/2-furlong Jamestown Stakes against fellow Virginia-breds over Laurel's world-class turf course and the six-furlong Maryland Million Nursery Stakes on dirt in successive starts 15 days apart in October.

In his most recent start, the Great Notion  gelding set a demanding pace in the seven-furlong Heft Stakes Dec. 26, fought on gamely along the inside, and just missed by a neck behind winner No Cents. He has breezed twice since, including a bullet five furlongs in 1:00.60 Jan. 6.

"He's been doing pretty well since that last race. He ran a pretty game race that day," Dale Capuano said. "He ran pretty hard, so hopefully he'll improve for it a little bit this time. We'll see. Hopefully, everything goes well."

Jorge Ruiz, aboard for both stakes wins as well as the Heft, gets a return call from Post 6 at co-topweight of 122 pounds.

Pocket 3's Racing's Shackqueenking alternated finishing first and second through four starts last year, breaking his maiden second time out and emerging from an extended stretch duel a nose in front in the Dec. 26 Howard County Stakes, both races going 1 1/16 miles over Laurel's main track. Victor Rosales, up in both wins, rides back at 122 pounds from Post 7.

Michael Dubb and Bethlehem Stables' Maythehorsebwithu beat Kenny Had a Notion when second in the First State Dash Stakes Sept. 26 at Delaware Park. A first-out maiden winner last summer at Delaware, the gelded son of Bullsbay  made his Laurel debut Dec. 11 with a popular front-running 1 1/4-length triumph.

"It was nice that we actually got to keep him home last time. He's Pennsylvania-bred, and we considered taking him up there for a stakes," trainer Brittany Russell said. "He ran well on this track, and I think it means a lot walking out of his own stall, so I think he deserves a shot on Saturday. He's been doing really well. No complaints with that guy."

Maythehorsebwithu drew Post 8 outside both stakes winners and will carry 118 pounds with pilot Sheldon Russell.

Erawan, Golden Gulley, Wicked Prankster, Scotch Rock's, Tiz Mandate, and Nobody Knew complete the field.

Entries: Spectacular Bid S.

Laurel Park, Saturday, January 16, 2021, Race 8

• STK
• 7f
• Dirt
• $100,000
• 3 yo
• 3:53 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Wicked Prankster (MD)	Alcibiades C. Cortez	118	Samuel G. Davis	20/1
2	2Golden Gulley (MN)	Alexander Crispin	118	Gary Capuano	20/1
3	3Nobody Knew (MD)	Angel Cruz	118	Claudio A. Gonzalez	4/1
4	4Tiz Mandate (KY)	Jevian Toledo	118	Damon R. Dilodovico	12/1
5	5Scotch Rock's (KY)	Victor R. Carrasco	118	Harold Wyner	15/1
6	6Kenny Had a Notion (VA)	Jorge Ruiz	122	Dale Capuano	7/2
7	7Shackqueenking (KY)	Victor Rosales	122	Gary Capuano	7/2
8	8Maythehorsebwithu (PA)	Sheldon Russell	118	Brittany Russell	3/1
9	9Erawan (FL)	Horacio Karamanos	118	Jose Corrales	6/1