Kat bided her time throughout the mile, allowing favourite Blue Ivy to do all the dirty work on her way to victory in the $18,500 Filly and Mare Open on Saturday (Feb. 25) at MGM Northfield Park.
Leaving from post three, Kat (Hunter Myers) left matching strides with Blue Ivy into the first turn. Merriman guided his mare to the front entering the backstretch, opening by 1-1/4 lengths at the quarter in :26.3
There wasn't much movement through the second quarter, allowing Merriman to get a :29 breather. The action finally started heating into the backstretch as Smothastenesewisky and Mystical Virgin were guided outside. While Mystical Virgin never got to the leaders, Smothastenesewisky took dead aim at the champion mare at three-quarters in 1:23.2.
Turning for home, Merriman went to work on Blue Ivy, but the taxing trip proved too much as Kat came up the passing lane holding off a closing Smothastenesewisky by a length in 1:51.4.
For Kat, it is the second win in three starts for the daughter of world champion Hes Watching. She earned her 12th victory in 100 starts and has made $288,547 in her career. She is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, and trained by Ron Burke.
Live racing continues on Sunday at MGM Northfield Park. First post is 6 p.m. (EST).
(Northfield Park)