New Owner and Trainer Hope Kedington Keeps Streak Going

With five days left in the Santa Anita meet, Kedington has a chance to become the season’s first five-time winner in today’s second race.

A 4-year-old Seattle Proud gelding, Kedington will be making his first start for owner Kassie Van Doren and trainer Rafael Becerra in the mile race after having been claimed for $16,000 April 3.

His new connections are jumping him three levels to face $32,000 claimers this afternoon as he tries to add to a winning streak that began Feb. 9. Kedington actually crossed the wire second that day, but was moved up to first after longshot Angela’stoughwater, also in today’s lineup, was disqualified and placed second.

Bred in California by John Toffan and Trudy McCaffery, who had only one win in six starts with Kedington before he was claimed for $25,000 by trainer Doug O’Neill, the dark bay won again on Feb. 28, March 15 and won by three lengths the day he was claimed by Becerra.

Tyler Baze, who has been the jockey during the streak, remains against a field that also includes Rehabilitated, who was beaten by a nose by Kedington on March 15; High On The Throne and Boomslang. Rehabilitated and Boomslang are trained by Bill Spawr.

Race of the day: Belterra, a winner of four of seven, among them the 2001 Golden Rod at Churchill Downs, heads a field of six fillies and mares in the $100,000 Doubledogdare at Keeneland. The 1 1/16-mile race also attracted Reason To Talk, Extend, Salty Farma, Seven Four Seven and Ifyouprefersilver.

Who’s hot: Jim Cassidy. The veteran trainer won two stakes on the same weekend for the first time when Steelaninch took the La Puente on Saturday and Star Vega won the Providencia on Sunday at Santa Anita.

Who’s not: The field in today’s fourth at Bay Meadows. The eight fillies and mares are a combined 0 for 66.

Exotically speaking: A pick three singling Rehabilitated in the second, using Sideshow Mel and Time To Strike in the third, and Farah Love, Fan Appeal and Stormy Spirit in the fourth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 1/229. Money: Previous day/meet total: $2.60/$1,289. Total bet: $1,376.