Empire Stallions, one of Australia's premier breeding establishments, is very pleased to announce the addition of the brilliant son of Bettor's Delight KENNETH J p,2,1:50.3; 3,1:49.3; 1;49.3f ($1,562,007) to its 2009/10 stallion lineup.
KENNETH J was an exceptional 2-year-old winning 7 stakes races from 11 starts earning $421,990. His most prestigious win at 2 was the $93,000 International Stallion Stake during Grand Circuit week in Lexington, KY. Winning from post 8 in 1:50.3, KENNETH J became the fastest winner in the 40-year history of this 2-year-old classic, besting such previous winners as Niatross, Jate Lobell, Life Sign, Artiscape and The Panderosa. Following this victory, KENNETH J returned the next week to capture the $95,000 Bluegrass Stake defeating the best 2-year-olds in the country over the Red Mile.
KENNETH J also excelled in the New York Sire Stakes. Racing for purses of $187,325, he won four NYSS races by a combined 14 lengths over four different half-mile racetracks setting two track records. KENNETH J also won the coveted $150,000 New York Sire Stakes Night of Champions Final and was named the New York 2-Year-Old Pacing Colt of the Year. He ended his juvenile season with a very close second in both the elimination and final of the $600,000 Breeders Crown and was the second fastest 2-year-old in North America in 2006.
By virtue of his remarkable 2-year-old season, KENNETH J was ranked Number One on the United States Trotting Association's Experimental Speed Ratings of 3-Year-Olds prior to the start of the season - and he did not disappoint. KENNETH J accumulated a further 8 stakes wins and 6 placings earning $936,137 at 3.
His wins included the elimination and final for the $133,000 Empire Breeders Classic - both in track record times of 1:52.2f and 1:51f respectively, over Tioga's five-eighths mile track. KENENTH J's performance in the $478,000 Gold Rush Stake was sensational where he set another track record winning over Monticello's half-mile oval in 1:52.1h.
His dominance of New York racing was once again evident when he captured three New York Sire Stakes over three different half-mile tracks, set two new track records and won his second straight $150,000 New York Sire Stakes Night of Champions Final. For his efforts, KENNETH J was voted the New York 3-Year-Old Pacing Colt as well as Horse of the Year!
KENNETH J returned at 4 to win multiple open and invitational events including a 1:49.3 victory over Chester's five furlong track - just one-fifth of a second off of Jenna's Beach Boy's current 4-year-old World Record of 1:49.2 set in 1996. Among his most memorable races that season was a very strong third in the $500,000 Breeders Crown. KENNETH J retired at the end of his 4-year-old season with 18 wins, 15 placings from 46 lifetime starts with earnings of over $1.5 million.
KENNETH J was trained by Linda Toscano of New Jersey who also trained Breeders Crown Winner Molly Can Do It and World Champion Jet Laag among many other great stakes performers. "KENNETH J loved to both train and race," said Toscano. "He had wicked speed, was impeccably gaited and had an outstanding work ethic."
KENNETH J is undeniably World Champion Sire's Bettor's Delight's finest son and is out of the stakes winning Artsplace mare Advantest p,2,1:57.1; 3,1:54.3 who is the dam of 3 winners - all in 1:54.3 or faster from her first 4 foals. His grandam is the Nihilator mare Cheerful Earful who has to her credit an impressive 10 winners from 11 foals with 9 in 2:00. His third dam is Tarport Cheer - dam of 3 in 1:55 and 11 in 2:00 including two World Champions in Cheery Hello and Tarport Hap and the prolific sire Tyler B.
KENNETH J is a striking, dark bay horse standing 15.3 hands with excellent conformation and fertility. KENNETH J's service fee for the 2009/10 season has been established at $4,000 including GST and is Vicbred, Breeders Crown, Bathurst Gold Crown, NSW State Bred and Breeders Challenge eligible.
David JAMES