Kitten's Point Surges to Victory in Mrs. Penny

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Keith Jones
kjones@parxracing.com

For Immediate Release: Saturday, September 5, 2015

KITTEN’S POINT SURGES TO VICTORY IN MRS. PENNY Duff Upsets in Roanoke

The 15th edition of Pennsylvania’s Day at the Races turned into an exciting afternoon for local racing fans as they enjoyed a number of tight finishes and some truly outstanding performances. The twelve race program featured five stakes with purses totaling $500,000 and some of the Commonwealth’s best horses were at the top of their game.

An overflow of entries forced the $100,000 Mrs. Penny Stakes, a one mile and one-sixteenth turf test for fillies and mares three and up, into two divisions. The first division was won in a heart stopper by Sajor Stable’s R Frosty One as she barely held off the tremendous late surge of Al’s Gal to win by a diminishing nose. Sent out to an easy lead by winning jockey Pablo Morales, R Frosty One had just enough left at the end to hold on for the win, the three year-old Southern Success filly’s second straight stakes victory. Al’s Gal made up a ton of ground in the last furlong, was flying at the end, but ran out of real estate. Trained by Eduardo Rojas, R Frosty One went off at 5-1 and returned $13.80 to win. The final time on a turf labeled firm was 1:43.91

The second division was won impressively by Augustin Stable’s Kitten’s Point. The five year-old Kitten’s Joy mare had a nice inside run around the first turn and into the backstretch but got caught in behind horses as several rivals on her outside made moves heading toward the far turn. Winning jockey Alex Cintron showed great patience however as he neatly threaded his way through traffic and finally had his horse in the clear coming off the final turn. Her main rival, Emotional Kitten had gotten first run and had a nearly two length lead with only a furlong to go, but Kitten’s Point was now just hitting her best stride. She blew past inside the sixteenth pole and went on to win going away. Trained by Graham Motion, she was the 4-5 favorite at post time and paid $3.60 to win. She stopped the timer in 1:43.34.

The $100,000 Roanoke Stakes produced another thriller as long shot Duff won a three horse, head-bobbing blanket finish. The three year-old Candy Ride colt sat a perfect ground saving trip in behind front running Grasshoppin and never left the rail. Coming off the final turn, room opened up on the inside and winning jockey Huber Villa-Gomez put his horse to a long, hard drive. On the outside of Grasshoppin, the 2-5 favorite Page McKenney was also closing in and the three horses raced as a team through the final furlong. The issue was not decided until the final jump when Duff had his head down at the crucial moment and posted a 21-1 upset victory. Owned by the Elkstone Group and trained by Ron Potts, he paid $44.80 to win and covered the one mile and one-sixteenth on the fast main track in 1:45.09.

The $100,000 Marshall Jenney Handicap, a five furlong turf sprint, was won in dominant fashion by Matthew Schera’s This Ain’t No Bull. The 8 year-old gelded son of Holy Bull was claimed by trainer Mike Pino in July for $20,000 and paid immediate dividends. He jumped out of the gate on top, turned away an early pace challenge after a furlong and a half and was well clear the rest of the way. Geared down at the end, he cruised home officially two and a quarter lengths in front. Off at a great price of 5-1, he paid $13.00 to win and covered the distance in 56.58.

Discreet Senorita rallied to win the $100,000 Dr. Teresa Garofalo Memorial Stakes for three year-old fillies. The daughter of Discreet Cat was close up and in the clear throughout and made her winning move as they turned for home. Third most of the way under winning jockey Frankie Pennington, Discreet Senorita started to edge closer to leader Black Mission Fig as they rounded the far turn. Edging into second approaching the quarter pole, she then cut loose a strong run, sailed past the weakening front runner and was three in front by the time they hit the eighth pole. She held safe through the final furlong and went on to win by a comfortable length and three quarters. Owned by Dun Roamin Farms, Inc. & Rosemore Farms, Inc. and trained by Ed Lehman, she won her first stake as a 4-5 favorite, returning $3.60 to win. The final time was 1:25.39.