Katie's Eyes runs down Free as a Bird in Unbridled Sidney

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – As the featured Unbridled Sidney Stakes unfolded Saturday on the Churchill Downs turf, trainer Mike Stidham was wondering the same thing as many bettors who had made Katie’s Eyes, his budding turf sprint star, the 7-5 favorite in the five-furlong race.

“What are we doing behind Free as a Bird?” asked Stidham.

Katie’s Eyes had an answer: a torrid stretch run that carried her and jockey Florent Geroux past Free as a Bird and all the rest to win the $66,029 race by 1 1/4 lengths. Free as a Bird, the 9-5 second choice, was second by a length over Richies Party Girl.

Katie’s Eyes, a 4-year-old filly by Leroidesanimaux, returned $4.80 after finishing in 56.44 seconds over a firm course and validated her 13-1 upset last month in the Giant’s Causeway at Keeneland.

“Man, she is one fast horse,” said a smiling Stidham.

Stidham bemoaned the lack of graded opportunities for female turf sprinters and said he might consider waiting on the Grade 3 Royal North Stakes, a six-furlong turf race on July 26 at Woodbine.

On a muggy afternoon, Gift Receipt, a 21-1 shot, cut out fractions of 22.26 and 44.60 seconds before tiring from those efforts. Richies Party Girl was the first to get past, but then Free as a Bird, having raced closer than normal, surged to the lead – only to be overhauled by the outside blitz of Katie’s Eyes.

Shrinking Violet and Knit One Purr Too were early scratches, leaving a field of eight.

The $2 exacta (7-6) paid $11.60, the $1 trifecta (7-6-2) returned $23.70, and the 10-cent superfecta (7-6-2-1) was worth $14.21.