Kitten’s Point can give Motion unprecedented double
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Graham Motion is getting pretty good at this. After sending out Holiday Star to win the Sycamore Stakes on Thursday, the 51-year-old trainer now has eight victories in marathon turf stakes at Keeneland, and he’s aiming to do even better.
Motion will send out the favored Kitten’s Point on Sunday in the Dowager Stakes as he tries to become the first trainer to win the Sycamore and Dowager at the same meet.
“We’ve been pointing her to this,” said Motion. “She’s coming off a race where we shortened her up, but this mile and a half is more her deal.”
Kitten’s Point will break from post 1 with Edgar Prado aboard in the 24th running of the Grade 3, $125,000 Dowager, the eighth of nine races on a Sunday card that starts at 1:05 p.m. Eastern. Ten fillies and mares are entered, with Motion also represented by Lady of Gold (post 4, Joe Rocco Jr.).
Kitten’s Point, a 5-year-old Augustin Stable homebred, has been a stalwart in this niche, having won three stakes this year, including the Grade 3 Bewitch here in the spring. In her most recent start, she prevailed as an odds-on favorite in a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes against Pennsylvania-breds at Parx Racing.
After Sunday, Keeneland goes dark for two days before the final four-day stretch of the “regular” fall meet gets underway Wednesday. The 17-day meet technically ends Oct. 24, with the Prelude to the Cup set for Oct. 29 and the Breeders’ Cup for Oct. 30-31.
Key contenders
Kitten’s Point (Last 3 Beyers: 98-88-85)
* Prado made it a point to keep Holiday Star well off the rail during their winning Sycamore run, citing chewed-up inner lanes, so it should be interesting to see how he handles this late-running mare as the three-turn Dowager unfolds.
Trophee (Last 3 Beyers: 88-84-82)
* French-bred filly has made commendable progress Beyer Speed Figure-wise and otherwise for trainer Christophe Clement, going through her maiden and first allowance condition this summer while using a steady off-the-pace running style.
Honey Lake (Last 3 Beyers: 77-88-77)
* A two-back winner of an ungraded stakes over the Del Mar turf, this handy G. Watts Humphrey homebred figures to be on or near the lead from the start when ridden by veteran Jon Court.
Miss Chatelaine (Last 3 Beyers: 89-75-89)
* The lone 3-year-old in the field, this Clement trainee finished ahead of older stablemate Trophee when getting through her second allowance condition last month at Belmont Park and now picks up Joe Bravo.