Kenneally sees graded stakes in Hop Kat's future; Scabbard to turf?

As racing schedules remain undetermined, trainers are unable to map out a specific plan for their charges. But they often have a general plan in mind, as is the case with Eddie Kenneally-trained Hop Kat.

The Stay Thirsty colt exited an 11-month layoff Sunday to win a first-level allowance going six furlongs at Gulfstream Park.With Tyler Gaffalione aboard, he shook clear at the top of the stretch for a one-length win in 1:10.71.

"Ideally, he looks like a horse that could run in some of the nice 3-year-old races going forward," Kenneally said.

"He’s a pretty talented horse, and he overcame being inside and being back in behind horses yesterday. … He managed to get the job done."

Owned by Homewrecker Racing LLC, Hop Kat debuted a winner going five furlongs last May at Churchill Downs and hadn't raced again until Sunday.

"So he’s 2-for-2, and hopefully at some point we’ll be running in some graded stakes races with him," Kenneally said.

Meanwhile, the original plan for Florida Oaks (G3) winner Outburst was to run her back in Keeneland's Appalachian (G2), "so that's not going to happen," Kenneally said, with the Spring Meet canceled.

"We’re just waiting to see what’s happening at Churchill, hoping we can open sometime in May and there’ll be some suitable races for her," the trainer added. "But she’s a serious filly, and I think she’ll have a big say in the 3-year-old turf filly division this year."

The March 7 Florida Oaks was the third straight score for the British-bred daughter of Outstrip, who broke her maiden last October in France and then won a one-mile allowance race on the turf at Tampa Bay Downs in February.

The future is less certain for Scabbard, who finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and ran second in two other stakes races last season. He hasn’t hit the board in four tries since.

"Scabbard is fine," Kenneally said. "He’s training along at Keeneland. Unknown what we’re going to do with him. We might try him on the grass. He’s never run on turf, but I think he’d handle it just fine. So we’re maybe looking at a turf allowance for him when Churchill opens."

Another possibility for the son of More than Ready is a shorter trip.

"That could happen," Kenneally said. "His best race was the mile-and-a-sixteenth Iroquois, when he was second to Dennis’ Moment, but we’ll just see what’s available for him on the grass and go from there."