Cowan, Pass the Plate Capture Stakes at Fair Grounds
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Photo: Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir
Via the disqualification of Just Might, Cowan wins the Duncan F. Kenner Stakes at Fair Grounds
Although Griffon Farms and Michelle Lovell's Just Might cruised to the finish line of the Jan. 22 $100,000 Duncan F. Kenner Stakes Jan. 22 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots as the easiest of winners, his hopes of securing his third straight stakes score were quickly dashed as the steward's inquiry sign flashed immediately following the race.
The incident happened in the initial stages of the turf sprint, when even-money favorite Just Might, breaking from post 5, angled in a bit too sharply across horses under jockey Colby Hernandez. He bumped into Cowan , who was forced into an oncoming Sir Alfred James , causing that rival to steady hard to avoid catapulting over the inside rail.
Just Might led throughout the Kenner, rattling off a :22.52 first quarter and :45.69 half-mile before keeping the challenge of Cowan at bay under the wire by 2 3/4 lengths.
Clocking the 5 1/2 furlongs on a good turf course in 1:03.40, Just Might was placed last and the Steve Asmussen-trained Cowan, ridden by Joel Rosario, was awarded the Kenner victory. Just Might's stablemate, Strike Me Down , was placed second with Mr. Hustle completing the trifecta in third.
Cowan ($10.60) is owned in partnership by William L. and Corinne Heiligbrodt, Madaket Stables, and Spendthrift Farm. Graded-stakes placed, the Kenner was the first stakes score for the 4-year-old son of Kantharos , who increased his earnings to $826,602. He sports a record of 3-6-1 from 13 starts and was bred in Kentucky by Hill 'n' Dale Farm out of the Smart Strike mare Tempers Flair .
Video: Duncan F. Kenner S. (BT)
Pass the Plate Feasts in Fair Grounds Return
Pass the Plate was unlucky at the start of the $98,000 Marie G. Krantz Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds when bumped and shuffled back at the break.
But she made her own luck the rest of the way, rallying from last with an outside rally to catch Lovely Ride by a head in the closing strides. The 5-year-old daughter of Temple City , owned and bred by Silverton Hill out of the Great Notion mare Pocket Gift , raced 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:44.15. She paid $19.20 to win.
Though the break didn't go well for Pass the Plate, she was well equipped to overcome the obstacle, being a late runner.
"That's why I wasn't worried when they shook me off out of the gate," said winning rider Marcelino Pedroza Jr.
Pass the Plate edges Lovely Ride in the Marie G. Krantz Memorial Stakes
Pacesetting Adelaide Miss weakened to be a distant third, 3 1/4 lengths behind the runner-up, a neck ahead of Brazilian group 1 winner Janelle Monae , who made her U.S. debut Saturday.
Winner of the Pago Hop Stakes at Fair Grounds in December 2020, Pass the Plate fell short of victory in eight starts in 2021, though she remained competitive, never finishing worse than fifth. A return to the New Orleans oval seemed to bring out a return to peak form.
"She sure does have that late kick; she comes running every time," said trainer Paul McGee.