Virginia-bred Hard Enough faces Michael With Us and Saint Vigeur as he goes for a third straight stakes score–and first graded win–in the $200,000 Kent Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Delaware Park Sept. 7.
Bobby Dibona will send out Hard Enough for owner Peace Sign Stable as one of a field of eight 3-year-olds in the 1 1/8 mile turf test. The Kent is scheduled to be run as race seven on the card with an approximate post time of 4:15 p.m. EDT.
Since his claim by DiBona in January, Hard Enough has picked up three wins and three thirds on the grass in nine starts. Most recently the Hard Spun colt scored in the 1 1/16 mile Jersey Derby July 2 and the Aug. 17 Restoration Stakes at the Kent distance, both at Monmouth Park.
Daniel Centeno has the mount on Hard Enough, who will carry 116 pounds from post 7.
OBS Championship Stakes (colt and gelding division) winner Micahel With Us was runner-up to Hard Enough in the Restoration on the turf at Monmouth in his last outing. His most recent victory was a 1 3/4 length score two starts back in a May 26 allowance/optional claiming race, also at the New Jersey track.
With both his wins at 1 1/16 miles, the Bluegrass Cat colt will have to stretch out a bit to capture the Kent. Co-highweight with Saint Vigeur, Michael With Us will carry 118 pounds with Gabriel Saez aboard.
Since his maiden win on the dirt at Gulfstream Park in February, Mr. and Mrs. William Warren's Saint Vigeur has picked up an allowance/optional claimer at Aqueduct Racetrack and two runner-up finishes in graded stakes: Belmont Park's Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II) and Dwyer Stakes (gr. II).
The Kent will be the first effort on the grass for the Chad Brown trainee since last October. Saint Vigeur drew the outside post 8 and will carry Abel Castellano Jr. as part of his 118 co-highweight impost.
Candy Ride colt Grand Tito comes into the Kent off a fifth-place finish in the Naked Greed Stakes at Calder Casino & Race Course. Two starts back he captured Gulfstream's July 20 Showing Up Stakes by three lengths in a dead-heat with Backseat Memories after his maiden win at Calder in June.
Antonio Sano sends out Grand Tito from post 5 for owner Groupo 7 Racing Stable with Jesus Rios up.
Irish import Majestic Jess looks for his first U.S. score and comes to the Kent off a third and a fourth on the grass at Saratoga Race Course. The Majestic Missile gelding has two wins on synthetic tracks to his credit, but has yet to win beyond six furlongs. The Niall Saville trainee will break from the rail, and Trevor McCarthy has the mount.
Rounding out the field are Are You Kidding Me, runner-up last time out in Woodbine's Toronto Cup Stakes and second in that track's Summer Stakes Presented by TVG (Can-IIT) last September; John Elkins' homebred Readyshakego, who last won three starts back at Colonial Downs going 1 1/4 on the grass; and Mike Maker trainee Fear the Kitten, who is chasing his first 2013 win for owner Frank D Irvin.
$200,000 Kent Stakes (gr. IIIT, Race 7, approximate post time 4:15 p.m. EDT), 3YOs, 1 1/8 miles (Turf)
PP, Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Majestic Jess (IRE), T McCarthy, 116, N Saville
2. Are You Kidding Me (KY), R Maragh, 116, R L Attfield
3. Michael With Us (KY), G Saez, 118, S L DiMauro
4. Readyshakego (KY), F Boyce, 116, J J Campitelli
5. Grand Tito (KY), J M Rios, 116, A Sano
6. Fear the Kitten (IL), J Pimentel, 116, M J Maker
7. Hard Enough (VA), D Centeno, 116, B S Dibona
8. Saint Vigeur (KY), A Castellano Jr., 118, C C Brown
Blinkers On: Majestic Jess
