Kilwin's late charge brings triumph in Untapable Stakes

FRANKLIN, Ky. – Halfway through the Untapable Stakes on Sunday at Kentucky Downs, the 2-year-old filly Kilwin had 11 horses ahead of her, none behind. At the finish, everyone had a view of her hindquarters.

Last to first, Kilwin was much the best in the Untapable, roaring past the field through the final three furlongs to post a half-length victory in the 6 1/2-furlong Untapable, earning $558,300 of a $998,550 total purse.

Now Kilwin has two wins from two starts - she had tracked the leaders winning a 5 1/2-furlong turf maiden debuting at Ellis Park. Her trainer, Rusty Arnold, said he was mildly surprised seeing Kilwin so far back. Her jockey, Jose Lezcano, was happy with his position.

“She broke all right. With a 2-year-old, I just want to get them comfortable,” Lezcano said.

Kilwin got comfortable. And when Lezcano came between horses and got her to the outside in upper stretch, she went off like a bomb. With a bunched scrum of horses inside her, Kilwin skipped past and on to a visually impressive victory. A 5-1 shot on the morning line, Kilwin paid $7.36 as the 5-2 favorite. The public liked her Sunday. Arnold has liked her for months.

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“From her first breeze,” Arnold said. “She’s talented and athletic.”

Owned by Ann Braxton-Lynch’s BBN Stable, Kilwin is by Twirling Candy out of Spanish Star, by Blame. She’s mentally advanced for her age – and fast. How far will she go? Hard to say. Her brother, One Timer, who ran here Saturday, is a crack turf sprinter. Her sister, Just Basking, won the Iowa Oaks this summer and has a victory over 1 1/4 miles. Arnold said he’d wait, see how the filly took this race, and then make a plan for the fall.

Shezafunkydrummer, who herself last started at Prairie Meadows in Iowa, set off for the early lead, laying down splits of 22.10 and 45.41. She stuck around, too, and was the last horse left for Kilwin to pass. Shezafunkydrummer in the final furlong-and-a-half shifted in, then out, and the riders of the horses behind her when she swerved claimed foul, but neither objection was allowed. Abientot finished third, three quarters of a length ahead of Civetta, who was the horse Shezafunkydrummer came out on.

Kilwin passed them all in the Untapable. The next horse that beats her to the wire will be the first one to do so.

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