On Saturday at Fair Grounds, the track will host the $60,000 Duncan F. Kenner Stakes. The six furlong contest has drawn a field of seven colts and geldings.
Clearly Now has been tabbed as the morning line favorite at odds of 7-5 for trainer Ron Faucheux. A six-year-old son of Horse Greeley, he is a seven-time career winner and a multiple graded stakes winner. He is stepping back up to stakes competition after winning an optional claiming race at Fair Grounds in his first start of the year. Jose Valdivia, Jr. will be in the irons and they are scheduled to break from post position six.
Second choice at morning line odds of 7-2 is Cinco Charlie for trainer Steve Asmussen. A four-year-old son of Indian Charlie, he has been on the board in eleven of his thirteen starts and has seven total victories. He returned to the races off of a seven-month layoff last time out and will try to rebound after finishing sixth in an optional claiming race. Florent Geroux will be aboard and they are scheduled to break from the rail.
Also in the field at morning line odds of 4-1 is Shotgun Kowboy for trainer W. Bret Calhoun. A four-year-old son of Kodiak Kowboy, he has been on the board in eight of his nine starts and is a six-time winner, most of which came against state-bred company in Oklahoma. He was last seen finishing seventh in the Clark Handicap (G1) after three straight wins. Robby Albarado will be aboard and they will break from the outside post.
The field is set for the $1 million Haskell, where Nyquist will be trying to re-stake his claim as the top three-year-old in the country.
On Sunday at Monmouth Park, the featured race is the $300,000 United Nations Stakes. Scheduled to be run at a mile and three-eighths on the turf, the Grade 1 event has drawn a field of ten colts and geldings.
On Sunday at Monmouth Park, the featured race is the $150,000 Pegasus Stakes, a key prep race for the Haskell Invitational (G1). The Grade 3 event will be contested at a mile and a sixteenth and has drawn a field of seven three-year-olds.
With five grade 1 races and a grade 2, the undercard for the June 11 Belmont stakes could be the best single day of racing on the calendar outside of the Breeders’ Cup.
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