Kendall’s Boy on fence for Breeders’ Futurity

Trainer Tom Amoss will decide whether Kendall’s Boy steps up in class, and if Sum of the Parts should defend his title (Keeneland/Coady Photography) Jerry Namy’s Kendall’s Boy had the misfortune of running into what was likely the most ballyhooed juvenile at Saratoga in August when he chased Havana, trained by Todd Pletcher. Off that runner-up finish, Kendall’s Boy delivered as the 1-5 favorite when he broke his maiden three weeks later at Churchill Downs, winning by 5 1/4 lengths. Nominated to Saturday’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity, Kendall’s Boy got a taste of Keeneland’s Polytrack surface Monday morning, working five furlongs in company in 1:00 4/5. Fractions for the work were :13 1/5, :25 3/5 and :37 3/5 with gallop-out times of 1:13 1/5 for six furlongs and 1:27 3/5 for seven-eighths. “He ran a good race in his debut,” trainer Tom Amoss said, hedging on a possible run here Saturday. “I think I may be throwing a lot at him too fast. He will be an entry-day decision (for the Breeders’ Futurity).” Also working Monday morning for Amoss was Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence’s Sum of the Parts, who covered a half-mile in :51 2/5 under jockey Leandro Goncalves. Amoss said it is possible that Sum of the Parts could come back Friday to defend his title in the Grade 3 Phoenix. The most recent horse to win the Phoenix in consecutive years was Zuppardo’s Prince (1980-81). Unplaced as the favorite in all three starts this campaign, Sum of the Parts has not raced since his fifth in the June 10 Karl Boyes Memorial.

In other Fall Stars Weekend news:

Keeneland has released the latest probables for the opening-weekend stakes.

Conquest Stables’ My Conquestadory, who defeated males in her career debut in
the Summer Stakes at Woodbine, is expected to be the marquee name of up to a
dozen two-year-old fillies to pass the entry box Tuesday for Friday’s
62nd running of the Grade 1, $400,000 Alcibiades.

The 1 1/16-mile race on the Polytrack is the first of five Grade 1 events for
Fall Stars Weekend and serves as the centerpiece for opening day of the 17-day
fall meet that runs through October 26. The Alcibiades is also a “Win and You’re
In” race for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita.

My Conquestadory will switch to Polytrack for the Alcibiades (WEG/Michael Burns Photography) Trained by Mark Casse, who won last year’s Alcibiades with Spring in the Air, My Conquestadory won the Summer at a grassy mile by 3 1/4 lengths. According to Stakes Coordinator Allison DeLuca, eight other fillies are considered as likely starters with three others deemed as possible. Likely starters are Designer Legs, Maria Maria, Richies Party Girl, Rosalind, She’s Offlee Good, Sweetsoutherndame, Tamazula and Thank You Marylou. Possible participants include Battlefield Angel, Granny Mc’s Kitten and Lien On Kitten. Harry Rosenblum’s Gentlemen’s Bet, winner of the Iowa Sprint and third-place finisher in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt, is expected to be the most prominent name to pass the entry box Tuesday for Friday’s 161st running of the Grade 3, $200,000 Phoenix at six furlongs on the Polytrack. The Phoenix is a “Win and You’re In” race for the $1.5 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita. DeLuca names the following as likely: Ghost Is Clear, Go Blue Or Go Home, Laugh Track, Laurie’s Rocket, Marchman, Occasional View, Winning Cause and Xbalanque. Aside from the aforementioned Sum of the Parts, Central Banker and Console are likewise possible at this point.

Three Saturday stakes are “Win and You’re In” races for the Breeders’ Cup —
the Breeders’ Futurity winner qualifies for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup
Juvenile; the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile victor gets a ticket to the $2 million
Breeders’ Cup Mile; and the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America winner
qualifies for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare
Sprint.

Horse of the Year Wise Dan is scheduled to defend his title in the Shadwell
Turf Mile, with his probable challengers being Silver Max, Skyring, Summer Front
and Willcox Inn. Handsome Mike, Nikki’s Sandcastle, Turallure
and Whatthecatdrugin are possible.

Should Kendall’s Boy line up in the Breeders’ Futurity, he would likely face Arctic Slope, Conquest Titan, General
Jack, Laddie Boy, Lunarwarfare, Oogeley Eye, Solitary Ranger, Tiznowforamerica
and We
Miss Artie. Bro Rodrigeaux and Give No Quarter are under consideration.

Saturday’s Grade 1
First Lady is expected to attract Better Lucky, Daisy Devine, Dayatthespa, Hungry
Island, Miz Ida, Say and Solid Appeal, with Assateague, Samitar and Unavailable
just potential runners.

Champion female sprinter Groupie Doll will seek to repeat in Saturday’s Grade
2 Thoroughbred Club of America, where she will probably meet Gypsy Robin, Judy the Beauty, Livi Makenzie, Purely Hot
and Tanglewood Tale.

Turf sprinters likely for the Grade 3 Woodford are Global Power, Great Mills
and Stormofthecentury.

Sunday’s Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” races are the Grade 1
Spinster, a stepping stone to the $2 million Distaff, and the Grade 3 Bourbon, a
prep for the $1 million Juvenile Turf.

The Spinster field will probably include Amazonas, Byrama, Closing Range, Emollient, Hard
Not to Like, Hard to Resist, On Fire Baby, Open Water, Sisterhood, Sisterly
Love, Summer Applause and Wine Princess. Discreet Marq is possible.

Likely for the Bourbon are All Cash, Bashart, Boji Moon, Here’s Johnny, Poker
Player and Solar Flair.

Entries for Saturday will be taken Wednesday with Sunday’s card being drawn
Thursday.

The final “Win and You’re In” race at Keeneland is the 23rd running of
the Grade 3 Jessamine, leading up to the Juvenile Fillies Turf. DeLuca’s list of probables for the October 9
contest are Bern Legacy, Courtesan, La Mejor Fiesta, Lien On Kitten, Runway Giant and Zinzay.

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