Our Epiphany Wins Hilltop Stakes

PTK LLC’s Our Epiphany led from start to finish in the $100,000 Hilltop Stakes for 3-year-old fillies Friday at Pimlico Race Course.

The 1 1/16-mile Hilltop was scheduled to be run over the turf but was moved to the main track because of heavy morning rains. The switch in surfaces led to five-race day scratches, leaving a field of three.

Our Epiphany, under Grant Whitacre, covered the distance in 1:48.07 and won by a 1 ½ lengths Tupancy Links took second and Southern Equity was third.

The winner, a daughter of Great Notion trained by Dane Kobiskie, paid $3.20.

HILLTOP STAKES QUOTES

Winning Trainer Dane Kobiskie (Our Epiphany): “When a race becomes a three horse race, it becomes a jockeys’ race. I told him to make a decision to take the lead or fall back and get in the two or three path and force the other riders to work. The first jump she’s always a step slow and then she’s fully engaged. I felt better when it came off the grass, because I know what she can do on the dirt.”

Winning Jockey Grant Whitacre (Our Epiphany): “She broke well from the gate and from there I was able to control the pace. You can get a better trip when you get out there and get good position. Once I got the lead, I was able to sit still and wait to move on her.”