Bobby’s Wicked One Wires Scratch-Shortened Kenner

NEW ORLEANS, LA – Autumn Hills Racing Stables’ Bobby’s Wicked One took advantage of a scratch-shortened field to easily wire Saturday’s $100,000 Duncan F. Kenner Stakes at Fair Grounds.

Breaking from post 2 under Miguel Mena as the 1/5 favorite in the field of three, Bobby’s Wicked One broke sharply and immediately assumed control of the pace. Racing several lengths clear, the bettors’ choice posted unpressured fractions of :22.02 and :44.87.

Rounding the far turn still very much in hand, Bobby’s Wicked One skimmed the rail in the stretch but cleared away without being asked. With Mena doing his best impression of a statue, the Al Stall, Jr., trainee crossed 4 1/4 lengths ahead in a final time of 1:08.55 for the 6-furlong sprint over the good (sealed) main track.

“It was just a matter of getting a good break,” Mena said. “We broke well and were able to get out to the early lead. He’s a fast horse and does it well within himself so I was just along for the ride. He’s a nice horse.”

Hog Creek Hustle and Do Share raced in second and third, respectively, from the start and finished the same with 3/4 of a length separating them in the end. Malpais and Pete’s Play Call scratched.

Bobby’s Wicked One’s win was his second straight, having taken the local Thanksgiving Classic Stakes on Thanksgiving Day against a similarly scratch-shortened field of three. The 5-year-old son of Speightstown improved his overall record to 15-6-4-1 with $544,257 earned.

“We’re going to keep him happy and healthy,” Stall said. “We might point him to the ($500,000) Count Fleet Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn (April 20, 6 furlongs, 4yo&up) and see what happens. Maybe at the end of the year he will be a Breeders’ Cup horse at Keenland which is another track he has put in some good efforts at.”

Bobby’s Wicked One returned $2.60 to win. There was no place or show betting.