A big month for KARAKONTIE juveniles continued Friday when King Kontie won the Henry Mercer Memorial Stakes at Charles Town.
The gelding was the first to take over pacesetting duties in the 4 ½ furlong dirt race and quickly built a two-length lead. Rated by Fredy Peltroche during the early stages, the gelding faced his first bout of pressure when Jubawithatwist approached him.
King Kontie refused to give in and dug deep to keep Jubawithatwist from getting the lead with the pair coming home in a dead heat 6 ½ lengths ahead of the rest of the nine-horse field.
Racing for owner-breeder Ray Pennington III, the Ollie Figgins trainee has won two of his four starts with a third-place finish as well to have $87,560 in earnings.
King Kontie is one of four stakes performers out of Jumelle Springs. That mare also produced stakes winner Unaquoi and the stakes performers Nellysford and Roll Dem Bones among her nine winners. This family also includes stakes winner Falconese, Pinson, Open Meadows, and Miss Perfecta.
This is the second juvenile stakes winner in two weeks for KARAKONTIE alongside Natalma Stakes (G1) winner She Feels Pretty, who is now headed to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.