**Please see attached photo of
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Contact: Jon Forbes
This year on opening day, Stonestreet was represented by Kauai Katie, who romped by 12 lengths at first asking in the fifth race.
Backed as the 9-5 top choice in the field of seven, Kauai Katie stumbled slightly at the start but quickly gathered herself from post position 1 and led by 1 ½ lengths through an opening quarter-mile in 22.29 seconds. The favorite extended her margin when put to a drive following a half in 45.67 before being geared down in the final sixteenth of a mile.
The final time of 1:03.66 was 1.36 seconds faster than Lignite’s mark in race 2, another maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies.
“Anytime you have a first-time starter you’re always worried they won’t get away cleanly and the rail sort of limits your options,” said trainer Todd Pletcher. “We knew she was quick and she was able to overcome that little bit of a stumble. She’s a fast filly and is bred to be precocious.”
Kauai Katie, a bay daughter of Malibu Moon, is out of More Than Pretty, who was runner-up in the restricted N.A.T.C. Futurity at
“I think [Kauai Katie will] excel at the shorter to mid distances,” said Pletcher. “We’ll see how she comes out of it and go from there, but we won’t rule out anything, yet.”
Kauai Katie was pinhooked for $90,000 as a yearling at Keeneland last September and was purchased by Stonestreet for $490,000 as a 2-year-old at Fasig-Tipton’s
Other Horses previously featured in the New York Watch series include 2010 Champion Two-Year-Old Male Uncle Mo, 2011 Champion Three-Year-Old Filly Royal Delta, and Grade 1 winners Boys At Tosconova, J. B.’s Thunder, Winter Memories, Currency Swap, and To Honor and Serve.
-30-
