A pair of OBS March graduates lined up side by side in the gate at Santa Anita Friday but it was the longer shot of the two, 8-1 third choice Kennyten (Drain the Clock), who earned his diploma en route to becoming his freshman sire's (by Maclean's Music) second winner and first 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'.
Bred in Kentucky by Nicholas Lotz and just a $20,000 Keeneland September yearling, Kennyten impressed in Florida earlier this year, selling to Holly and David Wilson for $140,000 after breezing his furlong in :10.
Drawn outside his main rival, he had a naturally faster gear away from the gate, out-sprinting the 1-5 favorite and $850,000 OBS March purchase for Zedan Racing Stables Nayar (Tiz the Law) to secure early position on the lead.
Once clear on the rail under jockey Ricardo Gonzalez, Kennyten set the cruise control and dared the three rivals closest to him to try and keep up. Calumet Farm runner Billy Goat (Vekoma) managed to stay alongside past the quarter pole and Nayar tipped out from third to try his luck but both runners failed to make an impact as Kennyten ran these colts off their feet through the final sixteenth, winning stylishly by 7 1/2 lengths while Gonzalez hardly drew his stick.
Nayar was a clear second and a further 6 1/2-lengths ahead of Boss Man Bolt (Bolt d'Oro) who came from last to finish third.
“We knew he was fast, didn't [know] if he was fit enough,” trainer Vladimir Cerin told the TDN. “I was wrong! Michael McCarthy bought him for Holly and David Wilson. Michael has become such a force in thoroughbred racing, not only as a future Hall of Famer but also as someone who can buy yearlings, 2-year-olds and older horses with great success.”
Bred in Kentucky by Nicholas Lotz, Kennyten is the second to the races and first winner for his Goldencents first dam. Lotz bought into the family via second dam Marianka whom he purchased for $11,000 at the 2011 Keeneland November Sale. Kennyten's dam is a half-sister to a pair of graded stakes winners such in Matt's Broken Vow (Broken Vow) and High Button Shoes (Carson City). Fairywren produced a filly by Jack Christopher last year and was covered by Complexity for 2026 but has yet to report a foal.
4th-Santa Anita, $65,000, Msw, 6-12, 2yo, 5f, :56.99, ft, 7 1/2 lengths.
KENNYTEN, c, 2, Drain the Clock
1st Dam: Fairywren, by Goldencents
2nd Dam: Marianka, by Ascot Knight
3rd Dam: Unforgetable You, by Vice Regent
Sales History: $20,000 Ylg '25 KEESEP; $140,000 2yo '26 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $39,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart and VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
O-Holly and David Wilson; B-Nicholas M. Lotz (KY); T-Vladimir Cerin.
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