Kenneth J returns to NYSS action

Kenneth J has already earned $498,759 this year, in what his connections call the first half of his 3-year-old season. Now, after a three-week break, the pacing colt will kick off the second half of his potentially million-dollar year with a start in the New York State Fair on Saturday at Tioga Downs.

A total of 23 colts and geldings entered the State Fair for 3-year-old colt pacers, which split into three divisions worth a total of $103,923 in purses. This event will kick off the second and final weekend of the New York State Fair, which continues at the Nichols, N.Y., oval through Monday, Aug. 20.

Kenneth J, under the care of trainer Linda Toscano, started his now lucrative sophomore season by sweeping the elimination and final of the Empire Breeders Classic at Tioga Downs in May. After earning checks in two races carrying purses of at least $1 million—the North America Cup and the Meadowlands Pace—and competing in other top-flight stakes engagements, the colt earned himself a small vacation.

Kenneth J has not appeared at a pari-mutuel track since his July 30 victory in Monticello Raceway’s $478,000 Gold Rush final and owner Ken Jacobs of Baldwinsville, N.Y., says that was all in the plan.

“We have a big schedule coming up and I wanted him to rest,” explained Jacobs. “He has 14 more starts this year. He’s been turned out and just relaxing at a farm. He put on at least 100 pounds this last three weeks—he was starting to tuck up a little because he was racing hard. Now he is full of himself and ready to go for the second half of this year. I could have put him in a lot of races during the three weeks, but we scheduled him for some time off and we’re sticking to the plan.”

In addition to competing in top level stakes events on the Grand Circuit, one of Jacobs’ priorities is advancing his colt into the New York Sire Stakes final to defend the title he earned last year as a 2-year-old. To do this, Kenneth J will be competing exclusively on the New York circuit until after the Sept. 15 New York Sire Stakes finals.

While Jacobs and his wife Rita will be joined at Tioga Downs on Sunday by some of their family, Kenneth J’s namesake—Jacobs’ grandson Kenneth—won’t be on hand.

“My grandson wanted to come on Saturday, but he has to go back to college,” said the owner.

Regardless, the colt will have plenty of cheering fans when he starts from post three in the 10th race on Saturday as the 8-5 morning line favorite. Although Hall of Famer Ron Pierce has been the regular driver behind the son of Bettor’s Delight, leading New York Sire Stakes reinsman Jim Morrill Jr. will pick up the lines on Saturday and for all of the colt’s remaining New York starts. Earlier this year Morrill steered Kenneth J in his Empire Breeders Classic victory and in his single previous New York Sire Stakes win.

In an earlier State Fair division on the program, Morrill will direct Wealth Manager for the first time and the pair will be seeking the colt’s sixth win this season. Trained by Ray VanDreason for owner David Towne, the Bettor’s Delight colt could eclipse the $100,000 mark in career earnings with a victory. He will start from post five in race 8.

Capital Advisor has been billed the 5-2 early favorite in the fifth race, the first State Fair division on the card. After winning his last outing, an overnight at Saratoga Raceway, trainer-driver Jay Randall will attempt to keep his colt on a winning path. He has already scored twice against New York-bred competition.

Post time for the 11-race card on Saturday is 6:50 p.m. State Fair racing action continues on Sunday with the 3-year-old pacing fillies and concludes on Monday with the 2-year-old colt and filly trotters. Sunday’s card is highlighted by the Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial Trot, featuring some of the top sophomore trotters in the country. (HHBNY)

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