from the Meadowlands Publicity Department

Kenny The Cowboy is a recent import from New Zealand and has two wins and a third in this three Meadowlands starts since the first of the year, including last week’s impressive 1:53.4 mile.

“A friend called me from New Zealand last fall, offering me a horse who was a three-year-old turning four,” said trainer Ross Croghan.

“I asked him if he had anything that was two turning three. There’s a lot more opportunity to make money with a three-year-old over here than an older horse because of all the series and late closers you can nominate to. The guy called me back and said ‘I’ve found one of the better ones over here and he might be for sale.’ That’s how the deal came together, and we paid six figures for him. The big reason I bought
him was because he was three and had paced in 1:55 in New Zealand. I figured he’d go in 1:52 or better here, which can make you some money.”

A son of In The Pocket, Kenny The Cowboy is owned in partnership by Let It Ride Stables of Delray Beach, Florida; the Mentally Stable of Far Hills, New Jersey and Ron Bash of Pompano Beach, Florida.

“When we first got him, he trained all right, and I was high on him to the point where I thought he’d do real well for the first half of the year,” said Croghan. “I’d only trained him in 2:05 then stuck him in a qualifier just to see what we might need to change under race conditions. He paced in 1:59.2, with a good last quarter on a cold and windy day. Brian [driver Brian Sears] said he was perfect and not to change a thing.

“He really hadn’t trained enough to be strong his first start,” Croghan continued. “He needed a couple of good miles to bottom him out. He won his second start in 1:56.4, first over with a good last quarter. He’s a rowdy colt who is a handful at the barn, but, so far, he’s been perfect on the track and you can race him any way you want.”

Kenny The Cowboy was scratched sick on January 29 but rebounded for his victory last week.

“He had a dirty throat,” said Croghan. “It wasn’t real serious but enough to miss a start. One horse in our barn got sick so you start watching them all since they’re in the same enclosed area. If you have 20 horses, chances are 10 of them will get it.”

Croghan is confident that Kenny The Cowboy can hold his own in the Junior Trendsetter Series.

“There’s always some nice colts in this series but he looks like he’s as good as anything,” said Croghan. “Brett [Pelling] has some nice ones, and I really like Best Of Show. As far as down the road, my colt will probably go in 51 and change in April or May. We staked him up to a lot this summer. He’s a nice colt.”

ROMANCE MEETS RACING ON VALENTINE’S WEEKEND AT THE MEADOWLANDS

The unlikely duo of racing and romance converge during Valentine’s weekend at the Meadowlands.

The Meadowlands’ Terraces and Pegasus restaurants will offer special four-course menus for couples in search of a unique dining and entertainment venue for their romantic celebration on Friday, February 13 or Saturday, February 14.

The Terraces menu features a grilled vegetable tower appetizer, Californian mesclun salad, choice of chateaubriand or Atlantic salmon as an entrée and a chocolate Florentine cookie cup filled with strawberry mousse for dessert.

The Valentine’s menu in Pegasus includes an appetizer of cornmeal encrusted fried oysters, the restaurant’s signature Pegasus salad, choice of beef Wellington or Chilean sea bass as an entrée, and chocolate crème brulee with fresh berries for dessert.

The price is $75 per couple in Terraces and $90 per couple in Pegasus. Both packages include a complimentary champagne toast with strawberries. For reservations, call 201-THE-BIGM.