Kauai Katie formidable in Vagrancy

Kauai Katie shoots for her first victory in more than a year when she takes on five other fillies and mares in Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Vagrancy Handicap at Belmont Park.

Kauai Katie, 3-5 on the morning line, carries top weight of 119 pounds as the only graded stakes winner in the 6 1/2-furlong Vagrancy, which is race 10 on a 12-race program that gets under way at noon Eastern. Post time for the Vagrancy is 5:38 p.m.

Kauai Katie posted a Beyer Figure of 100 in winning her debut as a 2-year-old, and was awarded that same number for winning the Old Hat Stakes in her 3-year-old bow. Less than four weeks later, she captured the Forward Gal, which was her third Grade 2 triumph, along with the Adirondack and Matron.[bc_video_id:324706:]

Kauai Katie returned in April 2013 to win an overnight stakes against three opponents at 1-20, using the race as a prep for the Acorn, in which she ran third after stumbling at the start. After finishing last in Saratoga’s Prioress at 2-5, Kauai Katie was through for the year. She returned four weeks ago in the Grade 2 Distaff Handicap, and rallied mildly to finish second behind La Verdad.

“She’s doing well,”’ trainer Todd Pletcher said. “Having a run under her belt should help her move forward. I think she was just a little rusty and she should be much sharper this time around.”

Five Star Momma won three straight races last fall, including minor stakes at Aqueduct and Penn National. She returns from a freshening for trainer Jena Antonucci, following in-the-money finishes in the Hurricane Bertie and Inside Information at Gulfstream Park.

“We’ve been giving her a little more time off lately as she’s stepped up into graded stakes, as those races tend to be harder on the horse,” Antonucci said. “She ran great in the Inside Information; she did all of the heavy lifting and just got beat 3 1/2 lengths. The start before that, she was beat by Groupie Doll at 6 1/2 [furlongs], so we’re very comfortable with the distance.”

Also in the field are Jane of All Trades, Lion D N A, Mama Zee, and Merry Meadow. Merry Meadow was cross-entered in Friday’s Skipat Stakes at Pimlico, but trainer Mark Hennig planned to scratch from that race in favor of the Vagrancy.

◗ In race 5, Chart Topper breaks from the outside against four rival 3-year-olds in the $100,000 Paradise Creek Stakes, scheduled for seven furlongs on turf. Chart Topper has won three of four starts on grass for trainer Brian Lynch, and looms the one to catch and beat.

Three of the others – Cabo Cat, Mister Popsicle and Otoy – are eligible for preliminary allowance conditions.

Green Mask has raced exclusively on synthetic surfaces thus far. Both of his victories were at Keeneland.