Yes This Time Sneaks Up On Like The King To Take Kent Stakes

Riding the rail under Joe Bravo, Yes This Time went from last on the final turn to first in the final furlong of the 1 1/8-mile Grade 3 Kent Stakes at Delaware Park in Wilmington, Del. The soft turf and a stubborn front running Like the King were no trouble for the son of Not This Time, who earns his fifth win of six starts in 2021.

After an even start, Like the King took an easy length-and-a-half lead over Be Here and Eamonn, with Wootton Asset in fourth. The pace was slow, Like the King cruising through fractions of :25.63 for the first quarter and :51.21 for the first half. He maintained that easy lead, controlling the pace through the first mile. Into the stretch, Like the King held on to the lead, unwilling to give it up as Bravo and Yes This Time snuck up on the rail to challenge. Like the King tried to hold on, but Yest This Time was able to pass him in the final strides to win by a length in a slow 1:52.39 on soft turf.

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Wootton Asset, Doubleoseven, Eamonn, and Be Here rounded out the field of six in the G3 Kent Stakes.

“I was concerned about the pace,” said winning trainer Kelly Breen. “Honestly, the leader (Like the King) got out there and went a half in :51 and three-quarters in 1:16 and two races before, they did not go that slow. I was concerned about being towards the back early, but the rail opened up and he came running. We are schooling him for the Kentucky Downs race (Dueling Grounds Derby – Sept 5) by getting him used to going up and down the hills and being able to rate. He is a pretty neat horse with a lot of guts. He is a nice horse to train and he is pretty cool. Other than his first race, everything has been basically win pictures. He is a pretty nice horse.”

Yes This Time paid $4.20, $2.60, and $2.10. Like the King paid $3.80 and $2.60. Third-place Wootton Asset paid $3.40 to show.

Yes This Time is a 3-year-old colt from the first crop of Taylor Made stallion Not This Time. Bred by Barry Golden, he is out of the Smart Strike mare Smart Jilly. He is owned by Edge Racing and trained by Kelly Breen. His win in the Kent Stakes marks his sixth win in eight lifetime starts for earnings of $201,825.