Country House's sister, Mitchell Road, wins on Preakness Stakes day

While Kentucky Derby winner Country House didn’t make an appearance on Saturday’s Preakness Stakes card, his older half-sister did — and she made the family proud.

Off as a 2-1 favorite in the Grade 3, $150,000 Gallorette Stakes, Mitchell Road set all the fractions and scored an authoritative victory on the Triple Crown race’s undercard.

Mitchell Road is by English Channel and out of the War Chant mare Quake Lake. Meanwhile, Country House’s dirt speciality comes from his sire, Lookin At Lucky.

After going in 23.28, 47.07 and 1:10.59, Mitchell Road coasted through the lane, completing 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.21.

"We’ll enjoy this," said Riley Mott, assistant to and son of trainer Bill Mott. "She gave her little brother a big update there.”

It was a few lengths back to Thewayiam in second and Viva Vegas in third.

“She has a nice cruising speed, and she’s just a runner," said jockey Joel Rosario. "She got over the turf very nice. I was confident.”

Wearing the same silks as Country House did in the Derby, Mitchell Road made the Gallorette her fourth straight win and fifth overall from seven starts. The 4-year-old has never finished worse than second, with this her graded debut.

“She’s developed with age into a very nice filly," Riley Mott said. "She showed talent from Day 1. She’s never been out of the exacta and she’s developed into a very nice filly. She got a little bit sick after her race at the Fair Grounds, and needed a little time to recuperate, which is why you’re only seeing her now at Pimlico. She always trains very forwardly, very willingly, and she surely ran well today."

Riley Mott said the Just a Game (G1) on Belmont Stakes day could be next.

Country House, meanwhile, is back to walking the shedrow at Churchill Downs. A cough last week and developing sickness knocked him out of consideration for the Preakness Stakes.