Pure Clan arrives in time in Pocahontas

Despite a rough start and a 10-wide trip into the lane, Lewis G. Lakin's

homebred PURE CLAN (Pure Prize) launched a powerful late run to wear down

Authenticat (D'Wildcat) in Sunday's $185,700

Pocahontas S. (G3), the second of two stakes events on the "Stars of

Tomorrow I" card on opening day at Churchill Downs. Now unbeaten in three

starts, the chestnut filly stamped herself as a smart prospect while finishing

the fast-track, one-turn mile in 1:38 1/5 beneath Julien Leparoux. Leaving the

gate at 10-1, the winner furnished mutuels of $22.60, $11.20 and $6.80.

"It was kind of the same race as the other one (the Iroquois S. [G3])," said

Leparoux, who swept both of the day's stakes events, comparing his trips aboard

Court Vision (Gulch) in the Iroquois and Pure Clan in the Pocahontas. "Except

this one I came outside, and the other one, I came on the rail. It was the same

kind of race. It feels good to win. When you win one stakes race it's nice, but

two is great."

Pure Clan was emulating her half-brother, Greater Good (Intidab), who also

had success at this historic oval as a juvenile in 2004, capturing the Kentucky

Jockey Club S. (G2) and finishing third in the Iroquois S. (G3). Also like

Greater Good, Pure Clan is trained by Bob Holthus.

Authenticat rallied into contention at the top of the stretch and kicked

clear, but she began to tire inside the final sixteenth before succumbing to

Pure Clan by 1 1/4 lengths. The 8-1 runner-up paid $9.40 and $5.60 and ended the

$150.40 exacta. Sky Mom (Maria's Mon) crossed the wire another length back in

third after being caught in traffic, returning $4.60 and concluding the $592.40

trifecta at 5-1. With the 5-1 Six Pack Sammy (Yonaguska) in fourth, the 9-11-6-2

superfecta was good for $3,216.

Next came Mims Eppi (Cactus Ridge); Anachini

(Forest Camp); Kadira (Kafwain), who was embroiled in a speed duel through

fractions of :22 2/5 and :45 4/5; Tequilas Dayjur (Dayjur); Bamboo (Menifee);

Bee's Wax (Quiet American); Bound To (Boundary); Valentine Fever (Stormin

Fever); Cape Discovery (Cape Town); and Steamy Ridge (Snow Ridge), who argued

the early pace with Kadira.

Pure Clan had captured her first two starts on the turf, an Ellis Park maiden

by 7 3/4 lengths and a Keeneland allowance by 1 3/4 lengths. She has now earned

$149,921.

Bred in the Bluegrass State, Pure Clan is out of Grade 3 heroine Gather the

Clan (Ire) (General Assembly), and she has an unnamed yearling half-sister by

Cherokee Run. Her second dam is What a Summer (What Luck), champion sprinter of

1977.

Holthus indicated that Pure Clan would probably reappear in the November 24

Golden Rod S. (G2) on the closing day "Stars of Tomorrow II" program.