After romping to an open-length victory on dirt at Churchill Downs in
her previous start, heavy favorite Kathmanblu cemented her credentials
as a leading candidate for the $1-million Kentucky Oaks (G1) this spring
with an easy victory on turf on Saturday in the $100,000 Sweetest Chant
Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
The bay filly from the first crop of WinStar Farm stallion Bluegrass
Cat rallied from 12 lengths off the pace under Julien Leparoux and shook
free of a mild challenge from runner-up Excited at the eighth pole to
win by a comfortable 1¼ lengths under a hand ride.
Trained by Ken McPeek for Five D Thoroughbreds and Wind River
Stables, Kathmanblu covered one mile in 1:39.14 as the 1-to-2 favorite
on a course rated as good. The victory was a demonstration of both
talent and versatility following her visually impressive 8½-length tour
de force win in the Golden Rod Stakes (G2) on November 27 at Churchill, a
win that followed a game third-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup
Juvenile Fillies Turf (G2) in a trouble trip earlier that month at the
Louisville track.
Read More