Night Prowler Gets Up Late in Transylvania

Paul Pompa Jr.’s homebred Night Prowler got up in the final strides to edge favored Luck of the Kitten by a neck to win the 27th running of the $100,000 Transylvania (G3) Presented by Keeneland Select for 3-year-olds before a Wednesday afternoon crowd of 8,459.

The race initially was scheduled for April 3 but was one of four races that afternoon postponed by inclement weather.

Night Prowler covered the 1 1/16 miles on a turf course labeled as soft in 1:44.03 and gave trainer Chad Brown his third stakes win of the meet and jockey Javier Castellano his fourth. It was the first Transylvania victory for Brown and Castellano.

Luck of the Kitten took the lead out of the gate and led the field of five through fractions of :24.31, :49.10 and 1:14.78 with Saham in closest pursuit and Night Prowler third in a ground-saving position.

At the head of the lane, Saham drew even with Luck of the Kitten and briefly pushed in front while Castellano swung Night Prowler off the inside into the three path. Luck of the Kitten regained command inside the eighth pole and just failed to hold off the winner.

Night Prowler is a Kentucky-bred son of Giant’s Causeway out of the More Than Ready mare Mary’s Follies. It was the second Grade 3 victory for Night Prowler, who also took the Dania Beach at Gulfstream Park in his 2015 debut.

Night Prowler improved his record to 6-3-0-2 with earnings of $182,695. Wednesday’s win was worth $60,000.

Night Prowler returned $5.20, $2.40 and $2.20. Luck of the Kitten, ridden by Mike Smith, paid $2.20 and $2.10 with Saham finishing third another half-length back under Paco Lopez and paying $2.40 to show.

Top of the Page finished fourth with Majestico fifth. Tuba and A Lot were scratched from the

race.

Source: Keeneland Association