Kauai Katie Brilliant in Forward Gal

Kauai Katie! What can I say about this brilliant filly without breaking out the horse racing hyperbole? At this point, the bay daughter of Malibu Moon has done nothing wrong except get beat at a distance not to her liking. Fortunately for her, trainer Todd Pletcher recognized that she definitely belonged in the sprinting niche and has made the smart call to keep her sprinting rather than try to stretch her out again.

 

 

Sent off as the deserving heavy favorite in the G2 Forward Gal, Kauai Katie was loath to allow bettors to beat her at the betting windows. Sharp out of the gate, she set brisk fractions under jockey John Velazquez and still had plenty left in the tank as she pulled away willingly from a field that included strong contenders My Happy Face, Spring Venture, and undefeated Fusaichiswonderful. 

 

 

With champion Groupie Doll off for the first half of the year, Kauai Katie stands poised to take over as the top female sprinter, for now at least. Her total win margin tallies 35 3/4 lengths thanks to the strong performances she has put in. Pletcher stated that Katie was finished at Gulfstream for the meet since there are not any more graded stakes sprints for 3-year old fillies for the rest of the meet. Her summer goals will be the Prioress and Test Stakes at Saratoga. 

 

 

The real test for Kauai Katie will not come in either of those races restricted to 3-year fillies; the real test for her will be facing her elders during the second half of the year. Right now, there just is not a 3-year old filly that can stand up to Kauai Katie in sprints. She is just too good. Facing Groupie Doll, Dust and Diamonds, and Teddy's Promise will be a whole different horse race, but if Kauai Katie continues to progress in much the same way that she already has, then she will be well up to the task.