Swan Kenzie and LeWayne Miller kicked off the month of November with a maiden breaking win Wednesday, Nov. 1 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. The sophomore trotting filly joins a long list of winners from her family, including the tough May Baby.
Swan Kenzie with LeWayne Miller earned her maiden breaking win Wed. Nov. 1 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Photo by Dean Gillette
Starting from post seven, Swan Kenzie didn’t tangle with the early leaders and drifted over to sixth as Closed Deal and Trace Tetrick clicked off the first quarter in :28.4. Heading to the half, Miller placed Swan Kenzie on the outside and flushed out Buster Hall. They began chasing down the leaders past the half in :59.1 with Buster Hall crossing over to the front. By the time the field had reached the three-quarter mile marker, Swan Kenzie had taken over the lead.
Into the stretch, Swan Kenzie trotted home strong to score the win in 1:58.1, a final quarter in :29.1. Lovely Heart and Marvin Luna finished one and three-quarter lengths back in second over Buster Hall and Brad Ferguson for third.
Swan Kenzie paid $5.80 for the win. The Swan for All three-year-old is owned by Oakwood Farms, who has reclaimed her. They also bred the filly at their farm in Montgomery, Ind.
As a yearling Swan Kenzie had a lot of eyes on her due to the success of her maternal family. The filly was initially purchased for $42,000 and has changed hands several times. After only one start last year at two, she changed hands back to Oakwood and is now under the direction of Trainer Susan Miller. She finished third in her first start before coming back for her maiden breaking win Wednesday. Her dam, Free Wheeling, is nearly a 100 percent producer. In addition to May Baby, who has more than a half million on her card, she is the dam of Wheels a Turning with more than $250,000, and Big Wheel, with more than $100,000 on her card.
Later in the card, Ponda Montejo and Darrell Wright scored a win in two-year-old conditioned claiming action. The freshman son of Dover Dan sat patiently in the two hole while Edukate and Brad Ferguson set the tempo. In the stretch, Ponda Montejo found racing room and moved up for the win by a head over Devine Swan, who closed on the outside for LeWayne Miller. Younoimawinner and Jared Finn finished third. The time of the mile was 2:01.3.
Ponda Montejo paid $11.00 for the win. He is owned and trained by Leroy Slabaugh. Pond-A-Acres bred the gelding, who was making his ninth career start.