Runner-up in her previous four starts—the last three in graded stakes company—Gary and Mary West’s Keep the Peace looks to finally break through when facing seven fillies and mares in the $150,000 Endine Stakes (gr. III) Sept. 12 at Delaware Park. The 4-year-old filly by Touch Gold was installed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite.
The six-furlong Endine is the feature of Delaware’s Owners Day program and will go as the eighth race. Post time is set for 4:24 p.m. EDT.
In her most recent outing, Keep the Peace finished second in the six furlong Honorable Miss Handicap (gr. II) at Saratoga Aug. 9. Previously, the New York-bred ran second in the grade I Princess Rooney Handicap at Calder Race Course July 11. Her last victory was Feb. 12, when she notched a 2 1/2-length triumph in a six furlong allowance contest at Gulfstream Park.
Eddie Kenneally trains Keep the Peace, who has been graded stakes-placed seven times in her 12-start career. The chestnut filly, bred by Berkshire Stud and out of the Carson City mare Look Upon, has totaled three wins and earnings of $313,014.
David Cohen will have the mount on Keep the Peace for the first time and they will break from post 2.
Gold Square's Lady Chace has been consistent all year, except for her last outing in which she finished fifth in the Honorable Miss. The 4-year-old daughter of Tiznow has posted a record of two wins, two seconds and two thirds from seven starts this season, including victories in the six-furlong Saylorville Stakes at Prairie Meadows June 26 and a 5 1/2-furlong allowance optional claiming contest at Fair Grounds Feb. 12. The Kentucky-bred is trained by Steve Margolis and has a career record of 5-2-2 from 16 starts with earnings of $227,625. Brian Hernandez Jr. will ride the 7-2 second choice on the morning-line.
Margolis considers the Honorable Miss to be a one-race clunker and is expecting an improved performance from his charge.
“She was training nice at Churchill,” Margolis said. “We brought her to Saratoga for the week and she trained very well and I was very happy with the gallops. All season, she has run well and competitively. She had a great trip, but did not kick on against some very nice fillies. So far while training over the Delaware strip, she has had two decent works, so we are hoping for a better performance.”
Danny Bramer and Eric Gulley's Iron Butterfly is another expected to improve at Delaware Park. In her most recent outing, the 5-year-old daughter of Foresty ran sixth in a six-furlong Delaware Park allowance optional claiming contest. Previously, the Kentucky-bred trained by Brad Cox finished fourth in the $150,000 First Flight Handicap (gr. II) June 28 at Belmont Park in her graded stakes debut.
“She came out of the race in good order and I have noticed the track here at Delaware has tightened up a bit over the last month," said Cox. "In her last work over the Delaware track, she worked extremely well.”
The lone 3-year-old in the race is George and Lori Hall’s Bold Union, runner-up in the Aug. 29 Victory Ride (gr. III) at the Spa, two lengths behind impressive winner Sara Louise, who happens to be the last horse to defeat Rachel Alexandra. Kelly Breen trains the filly by Dixie Union.
$150,000 Endine Stakes (gr. III, Race 8, 4:24 p.m.), Fillies & Mares 3 & Up, 6 Furlongs, (Dirt) PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer, Odds
1. Sunday Geisha (KY), K Carmouche, 117, B N Levine, 8-1
2. Keep the Peace (NY), D Cohen, 117, E Kenneally, 2-1
3. Iron Butterfly (KY), J Shepherd, 117, B H Cox, 12-1
4. Lady Chace (KY), B J Hernandez Jr., 121, S Margolis, 7-2
5. Casanova Killer (KY), J Rose, 121, S Klesaris, 8-1
6. Fearless Leader (FL), D Centeno, 121, M Lerman, 8-1
7. Pious Ashley (KY), A R Napravnik, 121, M D Wolfson, 8-1
8. Bold Union (KY), J A Velez Jr., 117, K J Breen, 5-1
