Cowan, Forty Under, Pass the Plate Win at Fair Grounds
Image:
Description:
Photo: Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir
Via the disqualification of Just Might, Cowan wins the Duncan F. Kenner Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
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 and Cowan tried to savage that rival in the process, causing Sir Alfred James 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)
Forty Under Determined in Colonel E. R. Bradley Score
A plan to hustle Forty Under into early position paid off for jockey Mitchell Murrill in the $100,000 Colonel E. R. Bradley Stakes, also on the Fair Grounds card. Murrill sent the 6-year-old son of Uncle Mo over from the outside post in a field of 10 and tracked pacesetter Two Emmys all the way around in the 1 1/16-mile turf test, with just two lengths separating them at the most throughout their journey.
"Looking at the PPs of this horse—and I've ridden him once before—he's not a real big, strong-finishing horse," Murrill said of the Mike Maker trainee. "He just kind of stays (at) one pace. I figured if I could get him up close early from coming from the (outside), I could have a decent shot of getting him home."
Two Emmys showed the way through splits of :23.73, :48.63, and 1:13.03 and shook clear to a two-length advantage on the drive for home. But Murrill had Forty Under on the move, and as Halo Again rallied alongside from third, Forty Under found just enough to eke out the victory by a head.
"For a second, you know, (Halo Again) passed me, but I picked (Forty Under) back up and he stuck his head out first."
Forty Under (gray) sticks his head out to win the Colonel E.R. Bradley Stakes
Halo Again claimed the place and Two Emmys completed the trifecta in a final time of 1:43.45 on turf.
Forty Under was bred in Kentucky by Cedar Hill out of the Black Tie Affair mare Argent Affair and was a $70,000 purchase by current owner Three Diamonds Farm from Gainesway's consignment to the 2020 Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age Sale. His current record stands at 4-1-2 from 17 starts, with earnings of $352,246.
Video: Colonel E. R. Bradley 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 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.