Kittens Dumplings closes late to win the QE II at Keeneland
It isn’t a rare sight these days that a son or daughter of Kitten’s Joy wins a stakes race on the grass. And Kitten’s Dumplings made her papa proud on Saturday when she closed from the back of the field to get up late and win the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland. Sent off at odds of 9/2, Kitten’s Dumplings (BetPTC.com Top Selection) was seventh early on under Julien Leparoux as the expected pacesetter Leigh Court went blasting out to the front early on. Leigh Court led to mid-stretch, but was quickly under siege as race favorite Alterite (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) and Kitten’s Dumplings came charging with wide moves. Kitten’s Dumplings went to the lead, but Alterite proved a stubborn foe, and those two battled all the way to the wire, with Kitten’s Dumplings winning by a hard fought neck at the wire. Alterite was second while long shot Caroline Thomas finished up in third.
Best Plan Yet takes home the In Reality Stakes at Calder
My Brown Eyed Guy (BetPTC.com Top Selection) had been the dominant two year old at Calder so far this season, but Saturday’s $300,000 In Reality Stakes was all about Best Plan Yet who drew off to win. Sent off as the 9/5 second choice, Best Plan Yet (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) sat a perfect stalking trip early on as My Brown Eyed Guy pressed the pace of Copa Del Rey. Best Plan Yet pounced on them going to the quarter pole and took the lead as My Brown Eyed Guy retreated straight through the pack. Best Plan Yet won by almost six lengths over Purchango who was second with We’re All Set third.
The My Dear Girl went as many bettors expected when Scandalous Act drew off to win by five and three quarters lengths. Scandalous Act (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) went right to the front and it looked for a second like Holiday Magic (BetPTC.com Top Selection) and Quinnkat (BetPTC.com 3rd Selection) might make a race of it at the top of the stretch, but Scandalous Act rebroke and drew off to win with ease. Amen Kitten rode the hedge to victory in the Tropical Park Derby to get up for an exciting win. Sent off as the favorite, Amen Kitten (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) was still eighth at the quarter pole, while Midnight Cello (BetPTC.com Top Selection) was closing on the outside. Early leader Padilla gave way late as Amen Kitten and Midnight Cello blew by to finish one/two. In the Francis Genter it was EB Ryder (BetPTC.com Longshot) who rallied past the heavy favorite Dreaming of Sophie (BetPTC.com 2nd Selection) to get the upset win.
Phil’s Dream draws off late to win the Nearctic Stakes
Phil’s Dream came rolling from off the pace to get up and score the biggest win of his career as he took home the Grade 1 Nearctic Stakes at Woodbine. Fatal Bullet went blasting out to the front and set a moderate pace for the six furlong event, going a quarter in 22.80 and a half in 46.47. Longhunter was sitting just in behind Fatal Bullet and pounced on that rival at the top of the lane to grab the lead in mid-stretch. But Justin Stein and Phil’s Dream came roaring from out of the pack and blew on by, drawing off late to win by two lengths.