Kathynmarissa outkicks Gezora in Modesty

The “other” Chad Brown angle was in play in Friday’s $478,670 Modesty (G3), as Kathynmarissa outkicked odds-on stablemate Gezora to win going away at Churchill Downs.

Campaigned by Michael J. Caruso and Michael Dubb, Kathynmarissa was coming off a longer layoff than Gezora. But the key to her success was the 1 1/8-mile distance, 

Gezora was turning back in trip from her Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) victory going 1 3/8 miles at Del Mar. Kathynmarissa was last seen demolishing a 1 1/8-mile allowance at Saratoga Aug. 28, her first start for Brown. She prevailed in the Modesty by summoning the sharpest turn of foot late, despite getting off to a sluggish start and finding herself at the rear of the field early. 

Ironically, both of the principals had form with last year’s Modesty winner, course record-setting champion She Feels Pretty. Gezora outstayed her in the Breeders’ Cup. Kathynmarissa crossed swords with She Feels Pretty in their sophomore days, when runner-up in the 2024 American Oaks (G1) at Santa Anita. 

On Friday, Stylish Sue controlled affairs for much of the way, carving out steady splits of :23.97, :48.49, and 1:13.47 on the firm course. Gezora was settled in sixth, but jockey Flavien Prat sensed the pace scenario.

Prat asked the 0.87-1 favorite to deploy early, and Gezora responded. The French import launched an eye-catching move out wide turning into the lane, but she flattened out a bit.

Then Jose Ortiz produced Kathynmarissa, and the daughter of American Pharoah surged down the outside to score by 1 1/4 lengths. The 3.29-1 second choice clocked 1:48.13 and returned $8.58.

“We wanted to be forward, right up there with the leader,” said Ortiz, who was racking up his fourth win on the card. “But she broke bad and it couldn’t work. You can make plans, but you have to be ready for them to change. In the end, she ran well. It all worked out for the best.”

Gezora, who was spotting five pounds as the 123-pound highweight, stayed on again to take runner-up honors by a neck from Proctor Street. 

“I thought I had a good trip,” Prat recapped. “I was traveling well, the pace was not fast, and I was trying to get myself going (on the far turn). I thought turning for home, she was responding well, but we just got outrun by the winner. We felt her (Kathynmarissa) coming, but there was nothing we could do.”

“She is as honest as they come,” jockey Tyler Gaffalione said of third-placer Proctor Street. “She ran great, but the horses on the outside just were too strong late.”

Next came Brown’s other runner, Whiskey Decision, in a fairly even fourth, followed by Stylish Sue, Dona Clota, Ramsey Pond, and Queens Command. Pin Up Betty was withdrawn in favor of Saturday’s Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2), while Adrasteia was a regulatory vet scratch.

Kathynmarissa’s scorecard now stands at 12-5-2-2, $1,575,745. Previously trained by Rick Dutrow, the bay was among the notable sophomore turf fillies of 2024. She captured the Dueling Grounds Oaks at Kentucky Downs while playing second fiddle to the likes of Cinderella’s Dream in the Saratoga Oaks (G2) and She Feels Pretty in the American Oaks. 

Bred by Don Alberto Corp. in Kentucky, Kathynmarissa is a half-sister to Chilean champion La Poetisa. Their dam, the Milt’s Overture mare La Dalila, won the Las Oaks (G1) in 2012, and La Poetisa emulated her by taking the same classic in 2020. 

Imaginationthelady sets stakes record in Edgewood (G2)

It was nearly a case of the “other” Brendan Walsh filly in the $589,500 Edgewood (G2), but the 2.44-1 favorite Imaginationthelady ultimately headed her stablemate Lion Lake and longtime leader Tam Tam at the wire.

Lion Lake, a 5.30-1 chance, appeared to be in a better position as she attended the 20-1 Tam Tam through fractions of :23.17, :47.78, and 1:11.92. Accosting the stubborn Tam Tam in the stretch, Lion Lake began to get the slight upper hand.

Meanwhile, Imaginationthelady was finally maneuvering into the clear with Tyler Gaffalione, and Just Aloof flanked her into contention. The final yards turned into a cavalry charge, with all four fillies reaching for the line.

Imaginationthelady just got the nod in 1:40.92 for 1 1/16 miles, shaving .02 off the former stakes record set by Stephanie’s Kitten in the 2012 running. 

Tam Tam battled back bravely on the inside to regain second by a head from Lion Lake, and Just Aloof was the same margin adrift in fourth. Storm’s Wake flew from last to snatch fifth. Next came Indigo Woods, Time to Dream, Dandona, Connect the Stars, Bohemian, To a Flame, Lorelei Lee, and Taken by the Wind. Lovely Grey was scratched once she drew into the Kentucky Oaks (G1) but the switch to dirt didn’t suit, and she wound up 12th of 13.

Mark Dobbin’s Imaginationthelady was improving from her near-miss in the one-mile Appalachian (G2) in her Keeneland reappearance. Walsh believed that she would appreciate the added ground in the Edgewood. Her other stakes victory in last fall’s Jessamine (G2) also came at this 1 1/16-mile trip. Imaginationthelady sports a mark of 5-3-0-1, $830,270, including a fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).

Bred by Ashview Farm and Colts Neck Stables in the Bluegrass, Imaginationthelady commanded $300,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. The bay is by Not This Time and out of Romanticism, a daughter of War Front and seven-time Grade 1 star Sightseek. 

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