Kathynmarissa helped put an exclamation point on a solid first meet at Kentucky Downs for Frankie Dettori. The internationally-acclaimed jockey piloted the filly to a 2 1/2-length victory in the richest race on closing day at the Franklin, Ky. track. The duo's victory in Wednesday's $1.6 million Dueling Grounds Oaks for 3-year-old fillies gave Dettori a sweep of the closing-day stakes, as one race prior, he won the $500,000 Nashville Gold Cup with Limited Liability.
Dettori, who had never ridden the short but lucrative Kentucky Downs meet before this year, rode four stakes winners at the meet, with his pair on Wednesday preceded by the Grade 3 Nashville Derby with Bellum Justum, and the Juvenile Fillies with May Day Ready. He will finish third by wins at this meet.
Kathynmarissa, an American Pharoah filly owned by Michael Caruso and Michael Dubb, was the first career winner at Kentucky Downs for trainer Rick Dutrow. He had made five prior starts at the track this meet as he raced here for the first time. Kentucky Downs rose to prominence among the nation's tracks during Dutrow's 10-year suspension which he returned from last year.
"Oh, I am coming back," Dutrow told track publicity.
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Kathynmarissa ($7.90) has been knocking at the door since stepping up to stakes company this summer. She was third, beaten less than a length by Dancing N Dixie and Mo Fox Givin, in the Tepin Stakes on June 29 at Churchill Downs. She then was a solid second in the Grade 2 Saratoga Oaks on Aug. 2, beaten 1 1/2 lengths by European import Cinderella's Dream, who had previously won the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks. Dancing N Dixie was third in the Saratoga Oaks. The pair of strong efforts resulted in Kathynmarissa being sent off favored on Wednesday, despite facing some of her familiar foes who had already won stakes.
"Ever since we put her on the grass and every time she’s run, she just kept getting better," Dutrow said. "Her last race, we were absolutely thrilled with. And we were thrilled training her up to this race, and we were thrilled coming in here because every time she’s run on the grass she’s run huge."
Kathynmarissa bumped with Siege of Troy at the start, but had plenty of time to recover on the 1 5/16-mile journey. Dettori had found her a sweet spot in sixth, rating in the three path and clear, after the opening six furlongs, with Charlene's Dream pressed by Shiloh's Mistress and Pin Up Betty through the first three furlongs in an honest 1:12.02 on the firm turf.
"I always liked her, going long even better," Dettori said. "She played up a little bit in the gate. I had a good spot. She relaxes halfway into the race, which is good. Then when I asked her to get closer at the quarter pole, I know she stays well."
Kathynmarissa angled out a bit wider, to the four path, as she made her bid, and had plenty in the tank, surging by a dogged Shiloh's Mistress to open the lead into the stretch. She continued to pour it on to the wire, finishing the trip in 2:06.40.
Waves of Mischief edged Siege of Troy by a head for second. Three-quarters of a length back came Shiloh's Mistress, followed by Yatta, Pin Up Betty, Charlene's Dream, Dancing N Dixie, Sakura Blossom, Sanctify, Kalispera, and Mo Fox Givin.
Dutrow indicated Kathynmarissa will be considered for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf, this year at 1 3/8 miles at Del Mar.
“Two-month break," Dutrow said. "She just ran a huge, huge race. I think it’s only proper that we just prepare her for a huge race again.”
Limited Liability turns tables on The Grey Wizard in Nashville Gold Cup
Earlier on the card, Limited Liability, coming off a pair of defeats at the hands of The Grey Wizard, gave that one the slip cornering for home and turned the tables with a front-running 8 1/4-length win in the Nashville Gold Cup, for older horses going 2 1/16 miles.
The Grey Wizard was favored as he came in off victories in the Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup at two miles at Saratoga, and the Cape Henlopen Stakes at 1 1/2 miles at Delaware. Limited Liability ($6.06), a Stuart Janney III homebred trained by Shug McGaughey, had never won a stakes prior to Wednesday, but was third and second, respectively, to The Grey Wizard in his most recent outings to establish himself as the second choice.
Limited Liability wound up leading nearly every step of the way in this marathon. Six Minus jumped out to lead through the first yards, but when that one was throttled back, Limited Liability assumed command, and at the first point of call, was leading by two lengths through the opening half in 50.26 seconds, with his ears pricked and bounding along well off the rail.
"He ran really well at Saratoga going two miles, [but] we thought maybe he just hung on the horse in front of him," Reeve McGaughey, assistant to his father, said. "I think today, giving him the lead and letting him go his pace, he liked it. When they came around the first turn, and he looked like he was just in Frankie’s hands, I was pretty confident it would take a good horse to come catch him."
The Grey Wizard was unhurried early, as is his custom. John Velazquez did not allow him to lose touch with the field, nudging him a bit the first time past the wire to move up and come inside of horses.
As the field made its way down the backstretch a second time – with Limited Liability ticking off 1 1/2 miles in 2:30.89, and 1 3/4 miles in 2:54.15 while unchallenged – and toward the sweeping far turn, the favorite was getting a beautiful trip, picking off horses while saving ground, and just waiting for an opportunity to get out of the pocket.
The pocket opened when Dettori set Limited Liability down, but the point was moot in an instant as he bounded clear and was gone. Dettori gave the gelding a few brisk right-handed reminders in midstretch, and, in front by five, wrapped up as Limited Liability continued to widen while coasting to the wire.
"He was going nicely with the fractions, in his own rhythm," Dettori said. "And then I let him free and stretched him and he found a little bit more, and I knew he would be hard to catch."
Very hard, as it turned out. The final time was 3:23.86 – a course record for the marathon.
The Grey Wizard was a clear second, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of the others, as Cyber Ninja edged Six Minus by a head for third. Duvet Day, Conglomerate, and Familiar Dreams rounded out the order of finish.
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