Frank Vespe
September 23, 2023
Heading into Friday’s Rachel’s Turn Stakes for two-year-old West Virginia-bred fillies, it was maybe honest to be on the fence about Direct the Cat. Her last-out maiden-breaking rating – by 11 lengths — was spectacular, however after two just-OK races, it appeared to return a bit out of nowhere.
After one other dominant win, although, the time for fence-sitting is over. Direct the Cat is one speedy filly.
Under jockey Reshawn Latchman, Direct the Cat made each step a profitable one within the Rachel’s Turn, working away to a 6 ¾-length victory in 51.89 seconds for 4 ½ furlongs on a quick essential observe.
Bred by the late John McKee, Direct the Cat is a daughter of Redirect out of the Fiber Sonde mare Cat Thats Grey. She is now 2-for-4 in her young profession with earnings of over $70,000.
Direct the Cat paid $3.60 because the odds-on favourite, with Ran Out of Trainer a distant second and effectively forward of Navy Band in third.
Direct the Cat is owned and educated by John McKee’s spouse Cynthia. The win right here was maybe significantly poignant, since Rachel’s Turn was one among John McKee’s high trainees.
Saturday’s Henry Mercer Memorial Stakes, the boys’ model of the Rachel’s Turn, seems to be a extra wide-open affair. The Tim Grams-trained Powered by Love is the 7-2 morning line favourite off a nine-length maiden rating final day trip.
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Other fascinating contenders embody Jubawithatwist (9-2), a flashy debut winner who has been second and third in two subsequent stakes tries for coach Kristy Petty, and King Kontie (4-1), who impressed in a debut rating on the Colonial turf after which was a reputable third within the Hickory Tree on the primary observe there.
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