Dwyer S. (gr. II)
(gr. II , 8.5f ,)
KENSEI
(B h,
117
lb) $120,000
Mr. Greeley —Private Feeling , by
Belong to Me
B—Gulf Coast Farms LLC,
KY.;
O—Stonestreet Stables and Gulf Coast Farms;
T—Steven M. Asmussen
Convocation
(B g,
117
lb) $40,000
Pulpit —Shade Dance , by
Nureyev
B—Darley,
KY.;
O—Centennial Farms;
T—James A. Jerkens
Warrior's Reward
(B h,
117
lb) $20,000
Medaglia d'Oro —For All You Do , by
Seeking the Gold
B—Jayeff B Stables,
KY.;
O—A. Stevens Miles, Jr.;
T—Ian R. Wilkes
Margins: 3¼, 2¼, 2¼. Others: American Dance 117($10,000) , Masala 117($6,000) , Just Ben 117($2,000) , Sunday Sunrise 117($2,000) . Winning Jockey, Edgar S. Prado.
KenseiÕs victory in the July 4 Dwyer Stakes (gr. II) at Belmont Park was the coltÕs first in a stakes. The son of Mr. Greeley took the lead in the stretch and won by 31Ú4 lengths over Convocation, with 4-5 favorite WarriorÕs Reward finishing third in the 11Ú16-mile race.
Kensei, who earned a solid 105 Beyer Speed Figure for his holiday performance, was bred in Kentucky by Gulf Coast Farms, an operation headed by Jerry Bailey and Lance Robinson and located near Reddick, Fla. Gulf Coast is the breeder of such earlier graded stakes winners as Added Edge, Alpine Garden, Chelokee, Cowtown Cat, E Z Warrior, Magical Forest, Grand Adventure (in Canada), and Salute the Sarge. Cowtown Cat raced for Gulf Coast in partnership.
Jerry Bailey Sales Agency, agent, consigned Kensei to the 2008 Barretts May sale of 2-year-olds in training, where he was purchased for $300,000 by Jess JacksonÕs Stonestreet Stables. Jackson, who races BlackBerry Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Rachel Alexandra with Harold McCormick, sold a 25% interest in Kensei to Gulf Coast after the sale.
The day after the Dwyer, Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings was represented as a breeder by American Oaks Invitational Stakes (gr. IT) winner Gozzip Girl.
Kensei raced twice as a 2-year-old, winning a maiden race at Saratoga and then finishing unplaced in the Futurity Stakes (gr. II). He was consigned to this yearÕs Keeneland January horses of all ages sale but was withdrawn.
Kensei began this year with a victory at Oaklawn Park in April. He then placed in the Derby Trial Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs and the Woody Stephens Stakes (gr. II) at Belmont Park prior to the Dwyer.
Gulf Coast bought KenseiÕs dam, Private Feeling, for $130,000 at the 2004 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. Consigned by LaneÕs End, agent, she was in foal to Grand Slam.
Mr. Greeley was selected as a mate for Private Feeling because of his siring ability and her age (Private Feeling was 6 at the time of the mating). ÒWe like to send young mares to proven stallions, and Mr. Greeley was a proven stallion,Ó Bailey said.
Gulf Coast sold KenseiÕs half-brother Lookin At Lucky at this yearÕs Keeneland April sale of 2-year-olds in training. Lookin At LuckyÕs price, $475,000, was the third-highest at the sale. Consigned by Jerry Bailey Sales Agency, agent, he was purchased by Mike Pegram.
Private Feeling is boarded at Pam LittrellÕs Viking Stud near Paris, Ky. She produced an Afleet Alex colt this year and is carrying a full sibling to Kensei.
Mr. Greeley has sired 46 stakes winners, including additional 2009 added-money winners Mr Gruff (gr. III) and Merle T, who also was a stakes winner July 4. Mr. Greeley stands for $75,000 at the Beck familyÕs Gainesway Farm near Lexington.ÑD.S.
