K P Wildcat gets up in Harry Henson Handicap
K P Wildcat, stretching out to a mile after a pair of sprints to start her 4-year-old campaign, overcame post 10 to win the $100,000 Harry Henson Handicap for fillies and mares on Sunday at Sunland Park.
A winner of the one-mile Island Fashion locally 13 months ago, K P Wildcat ($7) was making her first start around two turns since finishing second in the Zia Park Oaks to close out her 3-year-old campaign in late November.
K P Wildcat was patiently ridden jockey Roimes Chirinos, sitting eighth going into the first turn and sixth, some six lengths back, as 9-5 favorite Danzatrice and New York shipper Catsadiva dueled through an opening half-mile in 45.94 seconds. African Rose, seeking to win this stakes for the third time, mounted a three-wide bid to overtake Catsadiva turning into the stretch as Danzatrice dropped out of it.
But African Rose grew leg weary in the drive and K P Wildcat rallied along the rail to overtake Catsadiva by a half-length. African Rose held onto third. The winning time for a mile was 1:36.50.
A daughter of Include trained by Weston Martin for owner Karl Pergola, K P Wildcat is now 6 for 11 with earnings of $290,645.