Sunday, Belmont Park MATRON S.-GII, $196,000, BEL, 9-30, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:11 1/5, ft. 1–KAUAI KATIE, 121, f, 2, by Malibu Moon 1st Dam: More Than Pretty (SW, $210,412), by More Than Ready 2nd Dam: Pretty Livia, by Forest Wildcat 3rd Dam: Baby Jinx, by Crafty Prospector ($90,000 yrl ’11 KEESEP; $490,000 2yo ’12 FTFFEB). O-Stonestreet Stables LLC; B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY); T-Todd A Pletcher; J-Rosie Napravnik. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $288,000. *Full to Winding Way, GSW, $163,800. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. 2–Baby J, 117, f, 2, J Be K–Lavender Baby, by Rubiano. ($37,000 yrl ’11 FTKJUL; $65,000 RNA 2yo ’12 FTFFEB). O-Paul P Pompa Jr; B-Mrs O M Patrick (KY); T-Richard E Dutrow, Jr. $40,000. 3–Seasoned Warrior, 118, f, 2, Majestic Warrior– Saoirse, by Cure The Blues. O-Live Oak Plantation; B-Live Oak Stud (FL); T-William I Mott. $20,000. Margins: 7HF, 1HF, 1HF. Odds: 0.20, 9.40, 10.50. Also Ran: Unabashed, Doubled. Scratched: Sweet Shirley Mae. Click for the brisnet.com chart, the brisnet.com PPs or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Taylor Made Sales.

‘KATIE’ KEEPS ON GOING

Stonestreet Stables’s “TDN Rising Star” Kauai Katie (Malibu Moon) had no trouble protecting her

unbeaten streak in yesterday’s GII Matron S. at Belmont, romping home an effortless 7 1/2-length

victress as the prohibitive 1-5 choice. Earning a 100 Beyer Speed Figure for her 12-length debut graduation at Saratoga July 20, the $490,000 Fasig-Tipton Florida buy came into this off a comfortable 2 1/2-length tally in the GII Adirondack S. Aug. 12. Content to concede the early advantage to the fleetfooted Baby J (J Be K), Kauai Katie kept a close eye on that foe from the two path while under a snug hold from Rosie Napravnik. She was given her head after a half in :46.66, and the chalk overtook Baby J with ease and bounded away from her in a laugher. Seasoned Warrior (Majestic Warrior) took third in the field of five. “[Trainer Todd Pletcher] and I talked about [going to the lead] considering our post position gave us options,” Napravnik explained. “Katie’s always shown that she was ratable, so we figured we’d play the break and, if somebody else wanted it, they were free to have it, but she was so much the best I just couldn’t hold her behind them. We just ended up making the lead early and she skipped across the ground. She couldn’t have done that any easier.

“ It was the first time she’s been behind someone in the early part of the race,” Todd Pletcher explained.“Based on the way she’s trained, we felt like she would do that and she’s done that in the mornings without any issues, but it’s always nice to see them adapt to that scenario in the afternoon. She has a tremendous turn of foot. She just quickly put the race away and idled down the last part. We’ll see [about the Breeders Cup]. We’ll see how she comes out of it and talk with the connections.” Pletcher and Stonestreet also boast fellow “TDN Rising Star” Dreaming of Julia (A.P. Indy), who figures to go favored in next Saturday’s GI Frizette S. here. “It was worth the trip,” said owner Barbara Banke, who flew in for the race.

“We don’t know [whether Kauai Katie will go to the Breeders’ Cup]. We’re going to plot our strategy. We’ll hear from Todd maybe [Monday] and see how she’s doing. She did this easy. I hope she got something out of it; she was huffing a little bit. You never expect [it to be easy], and when you’re 1-9, at one point, you always worry. At least I do.” Just a day after Kauai Katie’s auspicious unveiling, her 3-year-old full-sister Winding Way joined the “TDN Rising Star” ranks with a 7 1/4-length allowance score for owner/breeder Spendthrift Farm and trainer Carla Gaines at Del Mar. She overcame a very bad start next out to take the GIII Rancho Bernardo H. Aug. 19. “TDN Rising Star”.