In Saturday’s $100,000 What a Summer for fillies and mares at six furlongs, Kant Hurry Love hopes to put a capstone on a remarkable career by aiming for her third straight stakes triumph.The nine-race schedule included four purse money stakes, including the What a Summer.
Trainer David Duggan stated, “This will be her final run,” in reference to Kant Hurry Love. “She’ll be going to the sales at Fasig-Tipton in February.”On December 8, Ken Wheeler Jr.’s 6-year-old mare by Kantharos, Kant Hurry Love, made her comeback after a six-month hiatus to wire the field in Aqueduct’s Garland of Roses.”During Saratoga, we ran into some foot issues that we couldn’t get rectified,” Duggan said. “We were attempting to go for the Union Avenue, but had to scratch. She wasn’t coming around, so I sent her swimming for a month. The swimming helped.”
Hurry, Kant Since Duggan installed blinkers, Love has never been defeated.According to Duggan, “We needed a little bit of focus,” “We lost a photo or two for the wrong reasons once or twice.” St. Benedicts Prep, the 4¼ length winner of a high-level allowance at Aqueduct on January 2, is also invading from New York. In April, St. Benedicts Prep, which was owned by Ronald P. Stewart and trained by Linda Rice, was claimed for $80,000 and went on to win half of Rice’s eight starts.The adaptability of St. Benedict’s Prep has impressed Rice.She has the ability to take the lead and stalk second. But it turns out. Racing around one curve is, in my opinion, the secret to her success.
On November 29, Ms. Bucchero won Laurel’s Willa On the Move with a strong pace for trainer Diane Morici. The distance of that race was 6 ½ furlongs.In the winner’s circle following the Willa On the Move, assistant trainer Colton Moore remarked, “We were a little nervous for the six-and-a-half because six furlongs is her best.”
“She’s a game horse.”On December 21, Spencerian came together inside to win the limited Politely over distance and course for trainer Hugh McMahon and owner Larry Rabold. Spencerian, who won four of six races last year, was claimed for $16,000 at Timonium in 2023.”We didn’t know [when we claimed her], but she was compromised behind,” McMahon stated in the winner’s circle following the Politely. “We sent her to recuperate, and she got good. We didn’t do any real diagnostics, but we thought it was a fractured hip.”
The stakes are set Cheers to Clouds and the final winner! Keep Kelly from filling out the field. Repo Rocks, a triple Grade 3 winner, will surpass $1 million in career earnings with a strong showing in the $100,000 Fire Plug for 4-year-olds and above at 6 1/2 furlongs.Trainer Jamie Ness remarked, “Laurel likes the big sweeping turns.” “He is prepared to run a major one.”
For the first time since his triumph at Colonial on August 22 with restricted allowance, Repo Rocks is back in a sprint. He has wagered on two turns at Parx in the interim, most recently placing third in the Kris Kringle on New Year’s Eve.Winner of several stakes For the third straight race, the Prince of Jericho drew the rail post after placing in a pair of high-level allowances to close out his 2024 campaign.
Brittany Russell, Maryland’s top trainer by wins in 2024, remarked, “It’s amazing how many times this horse draws the rail.” On a few occasions, I’ve wondered what could have transpired if he had spent a little more time outside. From there, he knows what to do. I enjoy the location.For owner Tudox Farm and trainer Elisha Perez, Tudox Opportunity ships up from Penn National.
Tudox Opportunity has also won four sprint races, including a pace-pressing victory around two corners in the limited Chocolate Town on Nov. 27.Perez remarked, “He was kind of a slow learner,” “He never shown much throughout his [early] exercises, then all of a sudden, his light bulb went on. Since then, he has grown up and learned how to run. He enjoys running now and is not afraid of competition.”
Perez praised Tudox Opportunity’s versatility. “He’s not a speed horse; he can sit from off the pace or come from behind. He’s got different buttons on him.”
Stakes-placed Freeze the Fire, razor-sharp Full Irish, No Easy Days, and On the Mark also entered.
