Augustin Stable’s Kitten’s Point found plenty of room along the rail in the stretch to rally past a determinedCeisteach and win the $125,000 Rood & Riddle Dowager Stakes (gr. IIIT) Oct. 18 at Keeneland. Watch Replay
With Edgar Prado riding for trainer Graham Motion, Kitten’s Point won her fourth stakes of the year. The 5-year-old mare by Kitten’s Joy out of the Kingmambo mare Rendezvous Point earlier captured the Bewitch Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Keeneland, the Astra Stakes at Santa Anita Park, and most recently the state-bred Mrs. Penny Stakes at Parx Racing.
The pace was honest in the Dowager, at 1 1/2 miles on the turf for fillies and mares, as Naples Gold and Honey Lake took turns on the lead through fractions of :24.69 for the opening quarter-mile, :49.81 for a half-mile, and 1:14.82 for six furlongs with Ceisteach not far behind in third and Trophee in fourth. Naples Gold attempted to open up after one mile in 1:39.93 but was quickly challenged by Ceisteach to her outside.
Ceisteach had the lead briefly after 1 1/4 miles in 2:05.99 but couldn’t contain Kitten’s Point, who had entered contention on the last of three turns and only needed some racing room in the stretch. Kitten’s Point finished 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Ceisteach, who had a half-lenght on late-running Modernstone in third. Trophee hung in fourth.
The final time on turf rated firm was 2:30.37. Kitten’s Point, the favorite, returned $5 to win.
Kitten’s Point was bred in Pennsylvania by George Strawbridge Jr. of Augustin Stables. The Dowager was her seventh victory in 19 career starts.
Jane Buchanan, racing manager for the Motion stable, filled in for the trainer, who was at Woodbine Oct. 18. Augustin and Motion also won the Sycamore Stakes (gr. IIIT) Oct. 15 at Keeneland with Holiday Star.
“He loves winning here at Keeneland,” Buchanan said. “She’s a lovely filly to train, and a she’s a lovely filly to ride as well.”
Prado was aboard when Kitten’s Point took the Bewitch in April.