Kitten’s Point Bewitching on Closing Day at Keeneland

It took her most of the 12 furlongs to do it, but when Kitten’s Point finally forged her way to the front, there would be no stopping her on the way to a half-length victory in today’s $150,000, Grade 3 Bewitch, the penultimate race of the Spring meet at Keeneland.

Sent off as the 5-1 fifth choice in an evenly matched field of 14 fillies and mares, Kitten’s Point, under rider Edgar Prado, claimed an early spot in the middle of the pack, as longshot Lots o’ Lex set all the early fractions. Always looking in good position, Kitten’s Point bided her time through the slow pace, before inching up closer to the leader on the backstretch.

On the far turn, Kitten’s Point loomed up on the outside, but as Lots o’ Lex began to falter on the lead, another mare got the jump on the eventual winner.

11-1 chance, Cay Dancer and Joel Rosario came through an opening on the rail to snatch the lead away from the longtime leader, and briefly looked like she might be home free, as the running really began. Kitten’s Point kept coming on the outside, though, and was able to make a last, late surge in the final 50 yards of the sprint to the wire, that carried her to victory. Cay Dancer easily held second, while 40-1 longshot, Maria Maria finished well to claim the third place check.

The winning rider thanked the connections for the return mount on Kitten’s Point, after the race, and explained his good trip. “When I asked her, she answered,” said Prado. “I was pretty much in the clear the whole way.”

Speaking of the connections, Kitten’s Point’s victory gave her trainer Graham Motion his third consecutive victory in the Bewitch, having previously trained Inimitable Romanee and Strathnaver to victory the past two years.

Once upon a time a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filly Turf participant, Kitten’s Point has seemed to find her niche in turf marathoning.

Owned and bred by George Strawbridge’s Augustin Stable, Kitten’s Point, is a five-year-old chestnut daughter of top sire, Kitten’s Joy. The Bewitch win was her 5th in 15 career starts, and her second stakes win of 2015. She began the season with a win in the 12-furlong Astra Stakes at Santa Anita, before finishing sixth in The Very One (beaten only 2 ½-lengths) and third in the Orchid, both at Gulfstream Park.

Kitten’s Point finished the 1 ½ miles over the firm Keeneland turf course in 2:30.28. She returned $13.60 to her happy backers for a two dollar win bet.

With Keeneland’s Spring Meet a done deal, Churchill Downs will open tomorrow evening with an 11-race card, just one week away from the 2015 Kentucky Derby.