Vettori Kin rallied to overhaul stablemate Harlan Strong in upper stretch and drew off to a 2 1/2-length tally in Saturday’s $100,000 Louisville H. (G3) at Churchill Downs. A Brazilian Group 1 winner, the 5-year-old horse notched his first North American victory in his fifth attempt and James Graham was up for Kenny McPeek.
Owned by Fern Circle Stable, Stud TNT and Old Friends, the winner completed 1 ½ miles in 2:30.14 on firm turf.
Off as the 3-1 second choice among eight rivals, Vettori Kin stalked the pace in midpack and after advancing closer on the final of three turns, the bay son of Vettori accelerated five wide into the stretch to seize command.
Harlan Strong tracked the pace during the early stages and easily held the place as the 5-1 third choice, 1 ¾ lengths better than the late-running Bronson in third at 12-1. Next came 3-2 favorite Some in Tieme, Cartoon, Roman Approval, Cooptado and Designed for War.
Vettori Kin was bred in Brazil by Haras Old Friends LTDA. A winner on dirt and turf, he recorded an unplaced finish when making his U.S. debut last November and opened 2018 with three consecutive setbacks, finishing third most recently in a May 13 allowance/optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles on turf. Vettori Kin recorded his first win since taking the 2016 Gran Prix Derby Paulista (G1) and has now earned $119,368 from a 12-4-0-2 record.
In the $100,000 Arlington Matron (G3) at Arlington Park, Princess La Quinta closed determinedly to nail pacesetter Daddy’s Boo in deep stretch and post a one-length decision. The 4-year-old filly notched her first stakes win under Carlos Marquez Jr. and is campaigned by Al Moorhouse and trainer James Gulick.
Princess La Quinta left the starting gate as the 3-1 third choice among seven distaffers and was never far back stalking the pace in fourth before launching her rally off the far turn. She completed 1 1/8 miles on Polytrack in 1:49.69.
Daddy’s Boo tried to steal it on the front end but had to settle for second at 2-1, 2 ¾ lengths better than Con Te Partiro, who got on track belatedly for third as the 6-5 favorite. Felt in Pocket, Babybluesbdancing, Kyllachy Queen and Moonlit Garden rounded out the order of finish.
Bred in Kentucky by John and Martha Mulholland and Pegasus Stud, Princess La Quinta is by Quality Road and hails from Tabasoc Cat mare Social Scene.
The $100,000 Soaring Softly at Belmont Park lost its Grade 3 status, pending a review from the North American Graded Stakes Committee, when being switched to the main track and Nootka Sound took advantage of the sloppy conditions, leading wire-to-wire at Belmont Park.
Owned by Hat Creek Racing and conditioned by Wesley Ward, the daughter of Lonhro left the starting gate as the 4-1 third choice among five 3-year-old fillies and after showing the way on a short lead, she drew off in the stretch to win by four lengths under Dylan Davis and completed the 7-furlong distance in 1:24.59.
Elevenses, the even-money favorite, held second throughout and was followed by Strategic Dreams, March X Press and Brattata under the wire.
Nootka Sound was bred in Kentucky by KatieRich Farms and sold for $100,000 as a yearling at the 2016 Keeneland September sale. She captured her debut by 5 ¼ lengths at Keeneland in April 2017 but made only one more start as a juvenile, recording an unplaced finish in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot. The dark bay returned this season at Gulfstream Park in late January, recording a two-length score over turf allowance foes, and was exiting a half-length second in the grassy Bridgetown at Aqueduct on April 14.
She’s now earned $148,400 from a 5-3-1-0 ledger.
