Kitten’s Point scratches out Dowager win

Kitten’s Point lived up to her 3-2 favoritism on Sunday at Keeneland, rallying to take the $125,000 Dowager S. (G3) by 1 3/4 lengths under jockey Edgar Prado.

The duo settled into midpack early in the 1 1/2-mile grass contest while Naples Gold set the opening splits of :24.69 and :49.81. Honey Lake was pressing the leader the entire time and stuck her head in front past three-quarters in 1:14.82.

By this point Kitten’s Point had moved up into fourth just behind the front runners. Ceisteach, who raced in third throughout on the outside, began her move entering the turn and was followed by Modernstone and Kitten’s Point.

Ceisteach held command entering the lane but Kitten’s Point was wearing her down, eventually taking over and pulling off to stop the clock in 2:30.37 on the firm turf.

Ceisteach held second by a half-length on Modernstone, with Trophee following another two lengths back in fourth.

Kitten’s Point, trained by Graham Motion for George Strawbridge’s Augustin Stable, earned her second straight stakes win in this spot. The Kitten’s Joy five-year-old mare captured the Mrs. Penny S. at Parx Racing last out on September 5, and also boasts scores in the Herecomesthebride S. (G3) and Bewitch S. (G3) on her resume.

Kitten’s Point photo courtesy of Keeneland/Coady Photography

DOWAGER QUOTES:

Edgar Prado (winning rider of Kitten’s Point): “I had a beautiful trip. She broke running out of there. I was able to sit right behind the speed. She gave me everything she had in the stretch. She’s a gutsy filly. She knows the way (to the finish).”

Jane Buchanan (racing manager for winning trainer Graham Motion): “(Graham will) be delighted. He loves winning here at Keeneland, especially for (owner) Mr. (George) Strawbridge.”

“She’s such a lovely filly to train. I think Edgar agrees she’s such a lovely filly to ride as well. She loves this track.”

Drayden Van Dyke (rider of runner-up Ceisteach): “No excuse. We had an ideal trip. I got her to settle for me and got her tucked up just behind the front two and she naturally inherited the lead turning for home. When we straightened up (down the stretch) and I asked her, she just got run down. Second-best.”

Paco Lopez (rider of third-place finisher Modernstone): “My trainer (Kelly Rubley) said (she’s) a longshot but I told her I wanted to run well today. I really like that filly. She tried very hard; she just got a little tired to the finish. I am really happy with that finish for that filly.”