Maddy Stakes: Pontchatrain reels in Winding Ways in sharp score

ARCADIA, Calif. - An eager Pontchatrain won her second stakes of the autumn on Santa Anita’s hillside turf course in Saturday’s $101,500 Sen. Ken Maddy Stakes for fillies and mares, staying closer to the pace than jockey Gary Stevens expected.

Fourth on the hillside and into early stretch, Pontchatrain ($6.6) took the lead in the final furlong with a wide rally and won by a length over 6-1 Winding Way, who led in early stretch. Judy In Disguise, a 12-1 shot, finished third.

Pontchatrain ran about 6 1/2 furlongs on turf in 1:12.25.

“She was a little keen today,” Stevens said. “I made the lead earlier than I wanted.”

Pontchatrain, owned by Glen Hill Farm and trained by Tom Proctor, won the Unzip Me Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the hillside turf course on Sept. 28. The Grade 3 Sen. Ken Maddy Stakes was Pontchatrain’s first start in a graded stakes, and first start against older fillies and mares.

Proctor said after the race that he plans to run Pontchatrain in one-mile turf races this autumn and winter. By War Front, Pontchatrain has won 4 of 6 starts and earned $204,482.