Kitten makes her Point in Bewitch

Kitten’s Point has hit her stride since stepping up to 1 1/2 miles (Coady Photography)

Augustin Stable’s homebred Kitten’s Point (Kitten’s Joy) collared
rail-skimming Cay Dancer (Danehill Dancer) in the final yards of Friday’s
$150,000
Bewitch S. (G3), the closing day feature at Keeneland. The Pennsylvania-bred
five-year-old gave trainer Graham Motion his third consecutive victory in the 1
1/2-mile turf marathon, following Strathnaver (2013) and Inimitable Romanee
(2014).

Under Edgar Prado, Kitten’s Point settled just about in midpack as Lots o’
Lex (Kitalpha) opened up through fractions of :25, :50 2/5 and 1:16 1/5 on the
good course. By the time the leader reached the mile mark in 1:42 2/5, Kitten’s
Point was creeping into a closer fifth on the outside. Meanwhile, the stalking
Cay Dancer enjoyed a dream run up the fence, accosting Lots o’ Lex rounding the
far turn and grabbing a brief lead in midstretch.

But Kitten’s Point was rolling wider out and nabbed the 11-1 Cay Dancer by a
half-length in a final time of 2:30 1/5. The 5-1 fifth choice returned $13.60. A
pair of 40-1 shots rounded out the minor awards — Maria Maria (Curlin) got up
for third, with Courtesan (Street Sense) back in fourth. White Rose (Tapit), the
lukewarm 4-1 favorite, rallied from far back for sixth in the 14-distaffer
field.