Kadira successfully shortens up

Kadira, cutting back from a mile to race in Saturday's six-furlong, $50,000 Gowell Stakes at Turfway Park, used her speed to dominate, winning by 8 1/2 lengths.

Breaking from the fence, she was hustled to the lead under Larry Melancon and after taking pressure through an opening quarter in 21.95 seconds, easily put away the opposition. She led by 1 1/2 lengths after a half-mile in 44.93 and drew away under urging through the stretch to complete six furlongs over Polytrack in 1:09.68.

"She hadn't run in a little while so I went to riding her a little bit, and she just took off," Melancon said.

Birdgirl chased the winner throughout and finished three lengths in front of the late-running Absolutely Cindy in third.

It was the second stakes victoruy for Kadira ($4.60), won the Bassinet at River Downs last summer. She is owned by Carl Pollard and trained by David Vance, who is recuperating following surgery for neck injuries sustained in a car accident Dec. 9.