Miss River Rat surges from well back to take Pat Whitworth

Miss River Rat stormed home from the back of the field to win the $50,000 Pat Whitworth Illinois Debutante by one length on Saturday at Hawthorne Race Course.

Making her second start following an encouraging third-place finish in a turf sprint, Miss River Rat switched to dirt Saturday – and really disliked the experience running down the Hawthorne backstretch.

Clearly resenting the shower of kickback on Hawthorne’s winterized main track, Miss River Rat pinned her ears and ran with a climbing stride while dropping back to eighth of nine going into the Debutante’s one turn. Still some 15 lengths behind at the three-furlong marker, she found stride on the outside through the second part of the bend, came between horses while well off the rail at the head of Hawthorne’s long homestretch, and, once out of the kickback, leveled off nicely to roll past Loveyoulikecrazy.

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Loveyoulikecrazy stalked close to the pace, took the lead in midstretch, and held on for second by a neck over 29-1 shot Cantoo. Cat Royale, the 3-2 favorite, was a flat fifth after a perfect trip, while Mom’s Town, winner of the Showtime Deb Stakes last month at Hawthorne, faded to last.

Miss River Rat paid $10.60 and was timed in 1:20.43 for 6 1/2 furlongs over a fast track. Chris Block trains the filly for her breeder, Tim Keeley. Miss River Rat is by Will Take Charge out of the Cactus Ridge mare Peyote Patty, who had a good racing career herself while trained by Block for Keeley.

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