Heavily favored Kauai Katie remained unbeaten sprinting when she romped to a spectacular victory in the $100,000 Old Hat Stakes (gr. III) on New Year's Day at Gulfstream Park, winning the six-furlong race under a hand ride from jockey John Velazquez.
Trained by Todd Pletcher, the two-time graded stakes-winning filly was sent off as the 1-5 favorite against four rivals and ran to her odds. After a clean start, she settled into second as the speedy Cor Cor led the way through fractions of :22.22 and :44.99. Then, as the homestretch neared, Kauai Katie roared past Cor Cor to seize command of the lead. From there, the race was over. Under little urging from Velazquez, Kauai Katie drew off powerfully through five-eighths in :56.96 before finishing the race in the exceptional time of 1:09.66 seconds, 1.73 seconds quicker than Merit Man ran in winning the Spectacular Bid Stakes two races earlier.
Cor Cor, although no match for the winner, did hold second over Power Lady. Cupids Messenger and She's All Scat completed the order of finish.
Kauai Katie is a daughter of Malibu Moon out of the More Than Ready mare More Than Pretty. She is owned by Stonestreet Stables and was bred by Spendthirft Farm. She has now compiled a record of 4-0-0 from 5 starts, with earnings of $468,000.
-Keelerman
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