Courtsey of the TDN

Kauai Katie boasts a near perfect record, having won her debut at Saratoga July 20, the GII Adirondack S. there Aug. 12 and Belmont’s GII Matron S. Sept. 30. Her only blemish was a fourth place finish in the GI Breeders’Cup Juvenile Fillies Nov. 2. She returned to her winning ways in Gulfstream’s GII Old Hat S. to begin her sophomore season Jan. 1 and added the GII Forward Gal S. Jan. 26 last time out. The well deserved favorite took the lead from the gate and led through early fractions of :24.08 and :47.76. Momentarily pressed by Kelli Got Frosty on the turn, the bay responded by drawing away down the stretch to an effortless victory.

“I’d say that was pretty much textbook right there,” trainer Todd Pletcher’s assistant Michael McCarthy said of the race. “The plan was to go ahead and let her run away from there and finish up nicely. It seemed she controlled the race from the start, set some nice fractions, didn’t overdo it, and got the job done. I’d have to think this will [set her up for the GI Acorn S. May 27],” he said. “That’s been the plan all along.”