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2016 Pennine Ridge Stakes

Camelot Kitten heads to the winner's circle after the Pennine Ridge.

Date: 06/04/2016

On Saturday at Belmont Park, a field of 10 three-year-olds went to post in the $200,000 Pennine Ridge Stakes (G3) over 1 1/8 miles of the inner turf course. Conditions were excellent with partly cloudy skies, temperatures in the mid 70's, and firm going. Camelot Kitten was sent off as the 9-5 favorite, winner of the American Turf (G2) after finishing 12th in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). In to challenge him included 11-4 second choice Highland Sky, winner of the Woodhaven after finishing second in the Cutler Bay, and 13-2 third choice Azar, 5th in the American Turf after finishing a close second in the Spiral (G3).

Down the stretch in the Pennine Ridge

Jockey Dylan Davis sent 101-1 outsider Toughest 'Ombre to the lead first time by and he set fractions of 23.02, 47.30, and 1:13.10 while pressed by 13-1 Hammers Vision and stalked by 12-1 Dressed in Hermes. Toughest 'Ombre led to the 1/8 pole through 1 mile in 1:37.15, but the race set up for the closers. Camelot Kitten 6th early and 8 lengths off the pace down the backstretch, came out 5 wide into the lane and outfinished Highland Sky by a neck to win in 1:49.25. It was just a nose back to 7-1 fourth choice Call Provision third, and a neck more to pacesetting longshot Toughest 'Ombre fourth. Just 1/2 a length separated the first four finishers. Note that due to a malfunction in the Teletimer this race was hand-timed.

Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 2 Camelot Kitten Ortiz Jr. 5.80 3.00 2.50 5 Highland Sky Saez 3.50 2.60 7 Call Provision Ortiz 4.40 Winning Time: 1:49.25 $2 Exacta 2-5 24.80 $2 Trifecta 2-5-7 103.50 $2 Superfecta 2-5-7-9 2,352.00

Results Chart from Equibase

Left: Camelot Kitten in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Chad Brown (far left) said, "Camelot Kitten ran great. He got a terrific trip on the inside saving all the ground. Irad worked out a beautiful trip with the horse. He's now 2-for-2 with blinkers and he's a horse that's starting to figure it all out. This is a horse we always felt had a lot of talent. He always trained really well, lacked some focus as a 2-year-old. After a great debut he lost his way a little bit last fall. The addition of blinkers and some more experience and a couple of great trips on the fence by Irad, he’s now a multiple graded stakes winner and headed to the (Belmont Derby on July 9)."

Right: Camelot Kitten heads back to the barn after the race.

Left: Camelot Kitten heads out of the paddock before the race.

Right: Camelot Kitten on the turf course behind the starting gate. Winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. said, "I got a perfect trip, I can't complain. I broke out of there and saved some ground. He kicked from the 3/8 pole, he was there when I asked. He's a nice horse, he does everything you ask. It's easier when you ride those kind of horses."

Left: Second place finisher Highland Sky warms up before the race. Trainer Barclay Tagg said, “You cannot not be satisfied with him. He ran a hell of a race. I think 1 1/4 miles will be even better for him. He’s just starting to really develop now and get stronger, which is what 3-year-olds do at this time of year. He came into this race really, really good and I thought he ran a winning race.”

Right: Third place finisher Call Provision heads to the starting gate. Trainer Chad Brown said, "He showed a lot of inexperience today. That he has the ability to be barely beaten in the race but the fact that he was more or less on and off the bit from the 3/8 pole shows inexperience but that he has a bright future."

On to the Belmont Stakes morning workouts from earlier in the day.

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