Ima Happy Cat sharp for Kent Stakes

It is hard to go past Ima Happy Cat in the $50,000 Kent for 3-year-old fillies on Sunday at Emerald Downs. After all, she is facing mostly the same horses she easily handled in the $50,000 Seattle Stakes on May 20, and if she didn’t have to steady a couple of times going down the backstretch, the 2 1/2-length margin over Bella Mia in the six-furlong race may have been larger.

The only new face among the six horses entered in the 6 1/2-furlong Kent is Downwind, who is coming off a win for trainer Blaine Wright in a maiden special weight race May 15 at Golden Gate Fields.

Ima Happy Cat surprised trainer Dan Markle and her owners Sue and Tim Spooner when she won a maiden special weight race at Golden Gate April 28 in her first start this year. They were just looking to get a race into her prior to returning to Emerald, where she finished second and third in two starts in straight maiden races last year.

She proved her front-running victory was no fluke with a strong performance in the Seattle Stakes.

With a sizzling interim half-mile work in 45.80 seconds on June 3, Ima Happy Cat clearly is a happy horse right now.

“She’s doing just fine and she couldn’t have blown out a match after her work,” Markle said. “I was a bit surprised with how fast the work was, but she has a really nice stride and she did it pretty easily. What helps her be a good horse is that she doesn’t get rattled and saves her energy for when she comes out of the gate.”

Ima Happy Cat drew post 4 with Rocco Bowen retaining the mount.

KEY CONTENDERS

Ima Happy Cat, by Smiling Tiger
Last 3 Beyers: 70-74-30

◗ She couldn’t have been more impressive winning the Seattle Stakes, and her sharp work is a good sign she’s ready for a similar effort Sunday.

Bella Mia, by Harbor the Gold
Last 3 Beyers: 64-57-57

◗ Trained by Wright, she was the champion 2-year-old filly in Washington last year and finished second in the Seattle Stakes in her first start of the year. She figures to move forward after dueling through quick fractions in the Seattle, her first start since she won the Washington Cup Juveniles Fillies on Aug. 27.

◗ She will need to be on her toes breaking from the rail with Julien Couton riding.

Diamonds R, by Alternation
Last 3 Beyers: 60-64-57

◗ The Tom Wenzel-trained Kentucky-bred looked good winning a first-level allowance race with a $25,000 claiming option in her first start of the year, and then didn’t get off to a great start when she finished fourth in the Seattle.

◗ She drew an outside post, and if Leonel Camacho-Flores can get her to stalk she could make a big impact in a race chock-full of speed.