For the Reporter
Princess Kennedy wore down Brookys Star in deep stretch and notched a neck victory Sunday in the 37th running of the $81,250 Washington Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at Emerald Downs.
Ridden by Rocco Bowen 121 pounds, Princess Kennedy ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.79 and paid $5.40, $3.20 and $2.20. Tom Wenzel is the winning trainer for owner/breeder David Thorner of Yakima, Wash.
“We’ve been breeding horse for 30 years and this is the biggest win we’ve ever had,” said a jubilant Thorner in the winner’s circle. “This was great job by Tom Wenzel, a great ride by Rocco Bowen and a wonderful horse.”
Rallying from sixth in a field of seven, Princess Kennedy (photo, No. 5) saved ground around the last turn, angled out into the stretch and gradually caught Brookys Star for the victory.
Bowen said everything went according to plan in the Oaks.
“Tom (Wenzel) and I, we always handicap each race,” Bowen said. “We knew (My Heart Goes On) was the speed of the race and when she didn’t break well I was even more relaxed. I was following Isaias Enriquez (on Find Joy) and he had a good trip and I had a clean trip. It was all really smooth. Everybody on the team did a great job and this is a good horse.”
A Kentucky-bred by Sun King-Pat Hand, Princess Kennedy earned $46,750 to increase her career bankroll to $129,238. Her overall record is 3-3-1 in 12 starts, including a third in the May 29 Irish Day Stakes and second in the June 26 Kent Stakes. With the 3-year-old series having produced four different winners in as many races, Princess Kennedy has a good chance to be voted the tracks Top 3-Year-Old Filly.
Brookys Star, ridden by Leslie Mawing at 121 lbs, nearly led gate to wire, setting fractions of :22.17, :45.22, 1:09.66 and 1:35.06, and dug in gamely in the final furlong. Brookys Star paid $4 and $2.80.
Find Joy, ridden by Isaias Enriquez, finished third and paid $2.60, while My Heart Goes On, Say It Slow, Sunrise Glow and Mara’s Warlock completed the order of finish.
Notes
Jim Penney had only the third three-win day by a trainer this season at Emerald Downs, scoring victories with Rally Cap Rudy ($10.80), Hoody ($5.40) and first-time starter Moneydontspenitself ($4.40). The latter, a 2-year-old Street Boss colt, ran five furlongs in :57.43 while winning the $18,500 maiden special weight for 2-year-olds. … Frank Lucarelli and Candi Tollet also had three win days earlier this season. … Bowen rode two winners Sunday and leads Leslie Mawing 68-49 in the jockeys’ standings. Bowen has wins on 13 straight cards, and the win aboard Princess Kennedy was his 300th at Emerald Downs. … Mawing, Eswan Flores and Ronald Richard also rode two winners each Sunday. For Richard, it was his third straight double. … Apprentice Jose Barnes suffered a broken bone in his hand/wrist area in a mishap prior to Saturday’s eighth race and is out for the season, according to agent Keith Drebin. The accident occurred as Barnes was thrown off his mount, Yacht Ta Hey, when the horses were leaving the paddock for Saturday’s eighth race. A 20-year-old South African, Barnes’ week began on a high note with a victory on Freedomofthehills in Friday’s seventh race. … Hats off to Joe Withee and Jacob Pollowitz for each picking five winners Sunday on Handicappers Corner. … Live racing resumes Friday with a seven-race card at 6:30 p.m.
