Kennesaw Mountain Wins Pimlico Feature

Kennesaw Mountain earned his third consecutive victory, winning Saturday’s $45,000 feature at Pimlico Race Course in a photo finish.

This afternoon, Kennesaw Mountain gained a short lead at the top of the stretch then dueled with D C Dancer the rest of the way, winning by a nose at the wire. Trevor McCarthy was aboard the winner, who stopped the clock in 1:45.72 for 1 1/16 miles. Kennesaw Mountain paid $13.40.

The 4-year-old son of Forestry was winless in his first seven career starts although he did finish on the board six times. The win streak began in February when the Gary Capuano trainee teamed up with McCarthy for his maiden score. A month later the duo rallied for a photo finish victory.

“He is just a game horse,” McCarthy said. “He loves it. He likes to let the horses go by him because he likes to chase them. He knows where the wire is and how to get there. The last eighth of a mile he was on the rail, which wasn’t the best place to be today, but he just battles. He loves to win.”

McCarthy rode two winners on the 10-race card and leads the jockey standings with 11 winners after seven live racing days at Pimlico. The 19-year-old becomes a journeyman next Sunday.

“I am pleased with the start of the meet and it looks like we’ll have some business once I lose the bug,” added McCarthy, who topped the standings at the recently completed Laurel Park winter meeting. “It looks like Mike Trombetta and Benny Perkins are going to stick with me and I just hope to keep riding well.”

Trainer Tim Keefe saddled three winners on the card, visiting the winners’ circle with Respectful Ed ($7.20-race 2), Don’tstop Theparty ($14-race 3) and It’s My Perogative ($4.40-race 10).