Kerness K pops off long layoff
Trainer Niall Saville notches 100th lifetime victory

LAUREL, MD— Jockey Jeiron Barbosa blamed himself after Cactus finished third in his first start for trainer Robbie Bailes.

"Last time, Robbie told me to sit off the pace and try to stay close [to the leaders],” Barbosa said. “I lost the whip last time, so that's why I couldn’t win. I told Robbie I was sorry, to give [Cactus] to me next time, and the horse could win. The horse has talent on the grass.”

Barbosa’s assessment proved correct in Saturday’s co-featured eighth race at Laurel Park, a state-bred or state-sired allowance for 3-year-olds and upward at 5 ½ furlongs on the Bowl Game Turf Course.

Utilizing a different running style, Cactus beat the gate with a flying start, immediately cleared to the lead from his far outside post position, and took the field on a merry chase, prevailing by three lengths in 1:02.69 over the firm course.

"Today, he broke sharp," Barbosa noted. "I looked behind and had two [lengths] in front on the turn. I waited as long as I could. When I looked behind in the stretch, I had three in front, so I kept pushing, and he did it too easy. He was so comfortable. He did everything."

After winning two races last Saturday on the Jim McKay Maryland Million program, Bailes continued his hot streak. Cactus paid $9.40 as the public’s second choice.

Great Heavens rallied belatedly for second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Jolly Boss. Rye Diggitydog placed fourth, but was moved to fifth via disqualification after impeding Chickahominy through the stretch. Favored Boujee Bubblez, Bigdaddysboy, Virginia Fitz, Watch Out World, and Great Quality completed the order of finish.

Bred by James Hibbert, Cactus is a 5-year-old gelding by Twirling Candy out of stakes-winning dirt sprinter Gypsy Judy. He sold for $52,000 as a yearling before being purchased for $300,000 as an OBS March 2-year-old in training, and sent to trainer Norm Casse.

Cactus won his first two starts, then placed third in Oaklawn’s Hot Springs Stakes at one mile on dirt. After that race, the consistent Cactus bounced from barn to barn before Bailes took him for $16,000 at Colonial on Aug. 29.

Cactus boasts a record of seven wins from 33 starts, earning $237,147.

*Kerness K pops off long layoff

“It was worth the wait,” owner Gary Aisquith said after Kerness K posted a gritty front-running win in the co-featured ninth race, a state-bred or state-sired allowance for 3-year-olds and upward at six furlongs.

Trainer Brittany Russell excels with horses returning from long breaks, and she certainly had Kerness K ready to go in his first start following a 308-day layoff.

The second winner piloted by Jevian Toledo this afternoon, Kerness K showed sharp gate speed, battled with Paco the Taco Man through fractions of 22.40 and 45.35 seconds, then held firm in the stretch to prevail by a length in 1:10.04 over the fast track.

Paco the Taco Man was second, four lengths ahead of favored Cattivo Ragazzo. Then came Carvellian Quest, Square Slice, Falcon Blue, Foggy Dew, and Heldish.

Kerness K returned $9.20 as the second choice in the betting.

Aisquith and Russell began their partnership last fall and have now compiled a record of five wins from nine starts. They claimed Kerness K out of the gelding’s final race last year, a victory in a $40,000 claimer.

"I'm not going to take any of the credit," Aisquith continued. "I leave it up to Brittany. She saw some potential.”

Aisquith knows what it’s like to campaign talented horses, as he owned Breeders’ Cup winners Monomoy Girl and Uni in partnership with Michael Dubb and others.

Bred by Bowman & Higgins Stable, Kerness K is a 3-year-old son of Great Notion, Maryland’s perennial leading stallion. Purchased for $70,000 as a yearling by trainer Jamie Ness’s Jagger Inc., Kerness K won twice last year and placed in two restricted stakes races at Delaware. His third dam, Groovy Feeling, was a Grade 2 winner in New York.

*Trainer Niall Saville notches 100th lifetime victory

Trainer Niall Saville reached a career milestone in the fourth race when Spring Decision and jockey Matilda Burnham re-rallied along the inside to win a $47,000 maiden special weight for 3-year-olds and upward at six furlongs.

The victory was the hundredth in Saville’s career, which began in 2008. His first win came at Pimlico on May 7, 2010, when Hoofing captured an $8,000 maiden claiming race.

Saville’s two best seasons leading up to 2025 came in 2012 (11 winners from 70 starters) and 2014 (10 winners for $605,883 in earnings). This season, Saville has won 10 races from 47 starters.

Saville’s most accomplished runner was Legendary, who won two stakes races in 2014, including Belmont’s Grade 3 Knickerbocker.

*Around the track:

Russell, who was at Keeneland to saddle stakes-winner Maida in the Grade 2 Raven Run, also trains Cougar Cocktail ($27.60), a late-running winner of her career debut in the finale…Trainer Michael Trombetta enjoyed a two-win afternoon with both victories coming at 5 ½ furlongs on turf. Stars Align ($9.40) prompted and pounced to take the third race under Ismerio Villalobos, and Big Earn ($5.60) captured her third consecutive start in the fifth race for jockey Jorge Ruiz…Live racing resumes Sunday with an 11-race program. The first post time is 12:10 p.m. ET, and there are two “Value Pick 5” wagers, each with a low 12% takeout rate…Laurel Park proudly hosts the “Craft Beer Festival” on Saturday, October 25. Enjoy the best in local Maryland craft brewing on our Trackside Apron. For ticket information, click here.