Saratoga: Kauai Katie too good for foes in Adirondack

Barbara D. Livingston

Rosie Napravnik breaks a long drought with this victory aboard Kauai Katie in the Adirondack.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Stonestreet Stables's remarkable 2012 Saratoga meeting became even more remarkable on Sunday after its Kauai Katie sped to an easy 2 3/4-length victory over Salamera and three other overmatched juvenile fillies in the $200,000 Adirondack.

Kauai Katie’s triumph in the Grade 2 Adirondack gave Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet its sixth win from as many starters during the meet. Stonestreet also owns the undefeated juvenile fillies Teen Pauline, who set a course record in her only start, and Dreaming of Julia, who won her debut.

Kauai Katie’s victory was also the first for her jockey, Rosie Napravnik, since Aug. 2.

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As she did in her debut, which she won by a dozen lengths, Kauai Katie went right to the lead in the 6 1/2-furlong Adirondack and was rated through an opening quarter in 21.77 seconds and half in 44.93. Kauai Katie readily shook off her early pursuers when set down for the drive and maintained a safe advantage under steady urging to the wire.

Calder invader Salamera, who won a stakes in her previous start, took a run at the 2-5 Kauai Katieon the final turn but proved no match while holding a 1 1/2-length advantage over Fully Living at the wire. Cayllano and Vitameta completed the order of finish. Sweet Shirley Mae was scratched earlier in the day. 

Kauai Katie, a daughter of Malibu Moon trained by Todd Pletcher, paid $2.80 after completing the distance in 1:16.81 over a fast track.

“From an inside post with a fast filly and a couple of fast ones outside, we didn’t want to take away what’s natural to her,” said Pletcher. “When you go 21 and 3 and 44 and change you always worry how much they’re going to have left in the tank coming back on short rest going from 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 furlongs. But I thought she did it well.”

Pletcher said that with Stonestreet owning several top 2-year-old fillies, it’s uncertain where Kauai Katie might run next.

“They’re fortunate to have at least three really nice fillies, so we’ll let the dust settle then talk to the connections and come up with a game plan for her,” said Pletcher.