Although she missed drawing into Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) from the also-eligible list, Kitten’s Roar kicked off the day a winner when taking the $202,105 Goldikova (G2) at Del Mar.
The 3-1 favorite against 13 rivals in the one-mile grass test, Kitten’s Roar was within striking distance throughout, caught long-time leader Malibu Stacy approaching the furlong pole and drew off to win by 2 1/4 lengths under John Velazquez.
“Perfect trip; couldn’t have been better,” Velazquez said. “She ran well at the mile today, but I think she could readily go on. She could run a mile and an eighth and win too. When you win one like this, it’s a very good consolation prize, though. Winning is always good.”
Owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey and trained by Mike Maker, Kitten’s Roar returned $8.20. Thundering Sky, a 22-1 chance, nosed out second choice On Leave for second. The order of finish was rounded out by Malibu Stacy, Laseen, Majestic Heat, Aljazzi, Corps de Ballet, Mrs McDougal, Hillhouse High, Madame Stripes, Sassy Little Lila, Laur Net, and Goldy Espony.
This was the first graded stakes win for Kitten’s Roar, who had placed previously in the E.P. Taylor (G1), New York (G2), and Cardinal H. (G3) at the graded level. Her two previous stakes victories occurred in the $72,000 Marie Krantz Memorial at Fair Grounds in January and in the $330,000 Ramsey Farm at Kentucky Downs in mid-September.
A five-year-old daughter of Kitten’s Joy, Kitten’s Roar is out Bambolina, a War Chant half-sister to Grade 2 winner Scherzinger. This is the family of Grade 1 winner Furiously. She was bred in Kentucky by Runnymede Farm, and has now earned $835,268 from a line of 19-7-7-2.
Arles wires the field in Long Island
Showing no signs of rust following an eight-month layoff, even-money favorite Arles led wire-to-wire in the $200,000 Long Island (G3) at Aqueduct on Saturday.
Under Nik Juarez, the five-year-old French-bred daughter of Monsun set comfortable fractions of :24.85, :49.85, 1:14.86, 1:40.39 and 2:05.22. She passed the wire 1 3/4 lengths to the good of second choice Galileo’s Song, completing 12 furlongs on the firm inner turf in 2:28.65
Trained by Graham Motion for owners Team Valor International and Green Lantern Stables, Arles returned $4. Galileo’s Song finished one length ahead of Texting, who was followed by Summersault, Achnaha, and Playful Sound.
“I was very confident with her through the whole trip,” Juarez said. “I talked to Graham this morning and he was saying she was fresh off a layoff and hopefully she would show her class. Today, she did just that. It was a perfect trip. It felt like she was going kind of quick that last half, but I got her to settle back in my hands pretty easily. When it came to the stretch, she was real game.”
Group 2-placed and a minor stakes winner in Germany prior to her importation, Arles ran second in her first three U.S. starts in the Glens Falls (G3), Red Carpet H. (G3), and La Prevoyante H. (G3), all by margins of a length or less. Her record now stands at 13-3-7-2, $279,640.
Arles is consigned to the Fasig-Tipton November Sale on Monday as Hip No. 146. Her third dam was the legendary French filly Allez France.
Farrell back to top form in Chilukki
Farrell, who had swept Fair Grounds’ series of Kentucky Oaks (G1) preps before throwing duds in both the Oaks and $100,000 Locust Grove in September, regained her best form Saturday night with a one-length tally over Money’soncharlotte in the $200,000 Chilukki (G2).
Owned by Coffeepot Stables, trained by Wayne Catalano, and ridden by the latter’s son-in-law, Channing Hill, Farrell paid $10.40 after completing the one-turn mile on a fast track in 1:35.90. Motown Lady edged Show Stealer by a neck for third.
A triple Grade 2 winner of the Golden Rod, Rachel Alexandra, and Fair Grounds Oaks, Farrell was eased in the May 5 Oaks over a sloppy track, and simply failed to fire in the seven-furlong Locust Grove on September 22 as the 2-1 choice.
“She’s a hyper filly so when we brought her back off the layoff we knew she may get worked up,” Catalano said. “That’s exactly what happened. She did us so well today and ran great. The real Farrell is back.”
