Kauai Katie strong in the Matron Stakes at Belmont Park
Stonestreet Stables’ 2-year-old filly, Kauai Katie, kept her winning streak intact by winning the Grade 2 Matron Stakes at Belmont Park on 30 September, 2012. Sent as the favourite, the Todd Pletcher trained lived up to expectations, and romped to another big victory, just like she has done in her previous races.
The daughter of Malibu Moon made a strong case of winning the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies after the Matron Stakes, which was run over a distance of six furlongs.
Out of More Than Ready mare More Than Pretty, Kauai Katie started off her juvenile campaign from Saratoga, and announced her arrival with a massive victory in her maiden race at about 5 ½ furlongs, and won it by 12 lengths.
Stayed at Saratoga, Kauai Katie was exceptional in her first graded stakes race by landing the Grade 2 Adirondack Stakes. Todd Pletcher stepped her up in distance, and the 6 ½ furlong sprint yielded a 2 ¾ length victory over, Salamera.
The trend continued, as the Kentucky bred filly downed the Matron Stakes by a staggering margin of 7 ½ lengths.
Kauai Katie made a run for it right from the outset, and posted a gate-to-wire victory over 4 other juvenile fillies. The triumphant 2-year-old carved out impressive fractions of 22.88 seconds for the opening quarter mile, and 46.67 seconds for the half-mile.
"Based on the way she's trained, we felt like she would do that and she's done that in the mornings without any issues, but it's always nice to see them adapt to that scenario in the afternoon," Pletcher added. "She has a tremendous turn of foot. She just quickly put the race away and idled down the last part. We'll see (about the Breeders' Cup). We'll see how she comes out of it and talk with the connections."
Baby J, didn’t have an ideal start and stumbled at the beginning, but straightaway went for the lead. Kauai Katie was vigilant, and held the rival filly in second, adrift by 1 1/2 lengths.
Kauai Katie covered 6 furlongs in 1 minute and 11.26 seconds, as Seasoned Warrior finished third on the day.
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