Kathynmarissa found her way to victory and gave Chad Brown another major triumph
The daughter of American Pharoah edged South African champion Gimme a Nother by 3/4 of a length in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1). José Ortiz executed trainer Chad Brown's race plan to perfection, while heavy favorite Blue Bolt disappointed with an eleventh-place finish
By Diego H. Mitagstein (Special correspondent for Turf Diario in Lexington, Kentucky)
LEXINGTON, Kentucky (From a special correspondent).— Kathynmarissa needed patience, tactical racing room, and a masterful ride to claim the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1), one of the most compelling events on Saturday's card at Keeneland. The Chad Brown trainee found clear running room in the stretch, uncoiling a powerful rally to score by 3/4 of a length over South African champion Gimme a Nother (Gimmethegreenlight), who for several strides seemed well on her way to victory.
With José Ortiz in the irons, the daughter of American Pharoah confirmed her stellar form, stringing together her third consecutive graded stakes victory following triumphs in the Diana Stakes (G1) and the Flower Bowl Stakes (G2).
The winner completed the roughly 1,900 meters on firm turf in 1:53.75, while Jancis (Tamayuz) rounded out the trifecta. Expensive Queen (Lope de Vega) finished fourth, and Bless the Broken (Laoban) crossed the wire in fifth.
Race tactics proved decisive. Kathynmarissa broke smoothly, and Ortiz managed to settle her into a mid-pack stalking position behind early fractions of 23.90 for the opening quarter-mile and 47.75 for the half-mile.
For much of the journey, she traveled in traffic without much room to operate, but her jockey knew precisely how she needed to be ridden.
“I spoke with Chad about saving ground on the first turn and then angling out. She likes to run free, without horses bothering her,” Ortiz explained.
The plan was not without its anxious moments. Rounding the far turn, Kathynmarissa appeared to be flat-footed and losing momentum just as Gimme a Nother found a picturesque seam to launch her bid.
“With about 600 meters to go, I was really working to keep her in the race. But once we finally found open racetrack,she responded with that kick she always shows,” acknowledged the rider.
The South African mare, trained by Graham Motion and ridden by John Velazquez, had taken command with authority. However, Kathynmarissa emerged on the outside, steadily whittling down the margin before taking control in the final strides.
“I thought I had the race won,” admitted Velazquez. “We had a perfect trip, but the winner surged back and got past us.”
Motion echoed that sentiment: “She hit the front almost too easily. I was worried someone would come running late.Either way, she ran a fantastic race.”
For Chad Brown, the victory marked his second triumph of the afternoon—following Ways and Means (Practical Joke) in the Filly & Mare Sprint (G1)—and the 21st Breeders' Cup title of his career. It was also his fifth win in the Filly & Mare Turf, a specialty where his expertise once again proved paramount.
“I know this race at Keeneland very well. I've learned that this distance demands more stamina than it looks on paper.That's why I had confidence in Kathynmarissa, who was coming off a 2,000-meter effort,” he explained.
Brown offered high praise for Ortiz: “José knows this mare inside and out. He knows when to wait and when to ask her. I'm thrilled they've built such a great partnership.”
Bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corporation, the 5-year-old mare returned $13.24 to win as the third choice in the wagering.
The afternoon's major disappointment was Blue Bolt (Blue Point), who went off as the heavy favorite after a nearly flawless European campaign. The Andrew Balding pupil never looked comfortable on the firm course, finishing a lackluster eleventh in the 12-horse field.
“She was dull. She didn't accelerate the way she usually does. She's had a long season, and we can forgive her this performance,” Balding stated.
Jockey Colin Keane was equally blunt: “She never felt right under me. She didn't care for the ground and was beaten long before the stretch.”
Third-place finisher Jancis also left a positive impression. Trainer Willie McCreery praised her closing effort after she was left with far too much to do from off the pace.
Ultimately, the day belonged to Kathynmarissa, who leveraged all of her class to prevail in an immensely demanding contest.
Brown drew up the blueprint, Ortiz found the seam, and Kathynmarissa delivered the late brilliance to transform a trip fraught with traffic into an unforgettable triumph.
