Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Kenneth J has High Hopes in N. America Cup

June 13, 2007

Kenneth Jacobs enjoys naming racehorses after his grandchildren, which can lead to special moments on the track, as well as memorable dialogue away from it. Several years ago, when filly trotter Becca J was dominating the New York Sire Stakes circuit on her way to earnings of $318,068, Jacobs’ young granddaughter wanted to know why he was keeping all the purses – as in handbags.

“So I bought her a purse,” Jacobs said with a laugh. “I’ve got 14 grandkids, and it definitely makes it special to name the horses after them. They get all excited about it, too. It’s nice because it brings the whole family into it. It’s special to me because my grandkids are pretty special.”

On Saturday, the excitement will center on Kenneth J, both the horse and the grandchild. Kenneth J, the pacer, is among the finalists for the C$1.5 million (U.S. $1.4 million) North America Cup at Mohawk Racetrack in Ontario. Meanwhile, Jacobs’ grandson will be graduating from high school in Binghamton, New York.

“That will be a real party if [the horse] wins,” Jacobs said.

Kenneth J was beaten by a length by Yankee Skyscaper in his North America Cup elimination race. Other elimination winners were Sutter Hanover and Tell All. For the year, Kenneth J has won two of three starts, including the Empire Breeders Classic at Tioga Downs in New York. Last season, he won seven of 11 races in 2006, including the New York Sire Stakes championship and divisions of the International Stallion and Bluegrass stakes. He was second in the Breeders Crown.

“We eased him back with the Empire Breeders and gave him a week off; I knew this would really tighten him up,” said Jacobs, who is the president and CEO of K.J. Electric, the largest independent distributor of electric motors, drives, controls and power transmission products in New York.

“He did super [in his elimination] as far as I’m concerned. The only thing I’m worried about is post position. If we get posts nine or 10, it’s going to hurt me because we’ll have to leave and I really race better from behind. It is what it is. I feel very confident we’ll be in the hunt. There are a lot of good horses in there; it’s going to be interesting. You know there are always surprises depending on how the race goes.”

Jacobs, who lives near Syracuse, was a race fan going back to the 1960s. He bought his first horses 30 years later. Kenneth J represents Jacobs’ second shot at the North America Cup, although his first attempt in 2001 ended with Exporter failing to make the final and finishing second in the consolation.

“I enjoy and love the horses; it’s my passion away from work,” Jacobs said. “It’s in my blood. I can watch races even if I don’t have a horse in them. I stuck to New York-bred horses because I love to go to the races and watch them.”