Stephanie's Kitten Outgames Hungry Island in Distaff Turf Mile
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Photo:
Eclipse Sportswire
Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s homebred Stephanie’s Kitten, making her first start in more than six months, outgamed defending champion Hungry Island by
a neck to win the 28th running of the $288,750 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile presented by Longines (Grade II) at Churchill Downs.
CHURCHILL DISTAFF TURF MILE QUOTES
Julien Leparoux, rider of Stephanie’s Kitten, winner: “She
closed very good, obviously. Wayne (Catalano) just told me to get out,
make her comfortable because there was going to be a good pace for us
today. And
she finished the last quarter very good. I think the ground maybe is
good for us today.”
How is the turf course currently? “It’s
getting very soft. But it’s safe and it’s good so it’s going to be good
racing. The winners will be the ones that like turf like that.”
Wayne Catalano, trainer of Stephanie’s Kitten, winner:
“She loves the course. She’s a very nice filly. It’s a great
opportunity to train a filly like this. You know, she won a good
racetrack (in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
Fillies in 2011 at Churchill). We didn’t know how soft it was or what it
was, but it looked like it was perfect. We’ve been there before on
these kind of trips where we had long layoffs. … We’ve got a pretty good
idea how to do it.’’
Javier Castellano, rider of Hungry Island, runner-up:
“I don’t think the soft conditions hurt my chances. She handled it well
and did the best she could. We were just second best today to a horse
we were battling with
from the eighth pole on.”
James Graham, rider of Daisy Divine, third:
“She didn’t get to dictate the pace like we usually do. I don’t think
she needs to be on the lead but she ran a really game race like she
always does. She shows up every time
and she’s an awesome filly.”
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