When Scott Mawaka, founder of Mo Speed Racing, heard of trainer Will Walden's recovery from substance abuse, he was inspired by his journey and felt they shared things in common in successfully leading their lives in sobriety.
Now they share something else—as winners of the $300,000 Pennine Ridge Stakes (G3T) June 4 at Saratoga Race Course with the streaking West End Kid.
"So this was the horse we decided to work with. I think things happen for a reason," Mawaka said from the winner's circle.
Heavily favored West End Kid starred throughout in Friday's 1 1/16-mile grass race, pressing the pace of longshot Chips and Fish through fractions of :24.28, :49.14, and 1:12.57 before asserting his superiority over the final five-sixteenths of a mile. He crossed the wire 1 1/4 lengths ahead of runner-up Blackmail, who bid from a stalking position but was never a threat to overtake West End Kid.
Bottas nosed out Glavine for the show position in the race for nine 3-year-olds.
The winner ran 1 1/16 miles on a firm inner turf course under Tyler Gaffalione in 1:40.94, returning $4.14 for a $2 bet. The victory was his third in a row after a troubled fourth-place finish on debut at Gulfstream Park this winter. His two prior victories came in Kentucky under Gaffalione in the maiden and allowance optional claiming ranks.
"We've always thought very highly of this horse," Gaffalione said. "The thing that I'm very impressed with is his progression throughout his racing. He's starting to relax more. He's really just developing into a racehorse. He's got a really good turn of foot and, honestly, I don't think we've really even got to the bottom of him."
Though Walden has kept West End Kid spotted in races from a mile to 1 1/16 miles over his four-race career, he views the 3-year-old as as capable of handling a longer distance. Asked if the July 4 Belmont Derby (G1T) at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Saratoga was an option, he replied, "It's possible for sure, but we'll let the horse tell us."
West End Kid is a bay 3-year-old son of Twirling Candy out of the Scat Daddy mare To a Friend. On behalf of Mo Speed Racing, bloodstock agent Marette Farrell purchased the colt for $350,000 from the Navas Equine consignment to the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. He has now made $304,954.
West End Kid is the third graded stakes winner of 2026 for Twirling Candy, who stands for $75,000 at Lane's End in Kentucky.
"He's tactical. He has a wicked turn of foot. He's won by open lengths the last three starts," Walden said. "You combine a little Twirling Candy on top of Scat Daddy, and 'freaky' is what you are able to get, and I think that is what they got with him. I'm super happy for the ownership, Mo Speed (Racing). Scott Mawaka and his family are here today, and I'm happy they got to see the 'Kid' run."
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