Lady Kate Seeks Graded Victory in Distaff

Anderson Stables' grade 1-placed Lady Kate  will make her seasonal debut in the $150,000 Distaff Handicap (G3), a seven-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares, April 2 at Aqueduct Racetrack, as she aims to break through the graded ranks. 

Trained by Eddie Kenneally, Lady Kate was second to now dual champion Monomoy Girl  after setting the pace in the La Troienne Stakes Presented by Oak Grove Racing & Gaming (G1) last September at Churchill Downs. She followed that effort with a fourth in the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1) at Keeneland and finsihed off the board in the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), also won by Monomoy Girl.

The now 5-year-old Bernardini   mare won four of nine races last year, including a score in the one-mile Groupie Doll Stakes last August at Ellis Park.

"She had a very strong campaign last year," said Kenneally. "She won four races and traveled around a little bit. She had a busy year."

Lady Kate enjoyed a freshening before returning to the work tab in February at Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida.

"She wintered really well," said Kenneally. "We sent her to Eddie Woods in Ocala and turned her out for a couple of months and brought her back in January at Palm Meadows. She hasn't missed a beat since she came back in. She's benefitted from her vacation time and I think she's come back really good."

Lady Kate battled with Monomoy Girl on three occasions last year and Kenneally said the La Troienne was the highlight of a strong campaign.

"That was a deep field and she beat some quality horses that day," said Kenneally. "She didn't get beat too far by Monomoy Girl, so I think that was probably her best race."

Kenneally said Lady Kate's natural speed allows her success over a variety of trips.

"She's versatile. She's won at 6 1/2 furlongs, a one-turn mile, the Groupie Doll was a mile around two turns, and the La Troienne was a mile and a sixteenth around two turns," said Kenneally. "I think seven-eighths on the comeback is a good distance to start back at, but we'll be planning on stretching her out after that."

Lady Kate, who was supplemented to the Distaff after an allowance race at Gulfstream Park did not fill, will exit post 2 under Trevor McCarthy.

WinStar Stablemates Racing's Paris Lights  returns off the layoff from a head victory in the nine-furlong Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) last July at Saratoga Race Course. The 4-year-old Curlin   filly trained by Bill Mott has prepared for her seasonal debut at Payson Park in Florida, breezing three-eighths in :38 2/5 March 21. She'll depart from post 4 under Junior Alvarado.

Ten Strike Racing's Portal Creek  has enjoyed a productive winter at the Big A despite not having her picture taken. The 5-year-old Shanghai Bobby  mare trained by Juan Guerrero finished second beaten a neck in the Dec. 5 Go for Wand Handicap (G3), was fourth in the Jan. 28 Interborough Stakes, and last out second in the March 6 Heavenly Prize Invitational. Kendrick Carmouche has the call from post 5.

Saul Kupferberg's Honor Way  enters from wins in the Nov. 1 Pumpkin Pie Stakes at Belmont Park and Dec. 6 Garland of Roses Stakes at Aqueduct. Jose Ortiz will pilot the Charlton Baker trainee from the rail.

Perrine Time Thoroughbreds' Kansas Kis , third in the March 13 Correction Stakes, completes the field. Pablo Morales will ride for trainer Ray Handal from post 3.

Entries: Distaff H. (G3)

Aqueduct Racetrack, Friday, April 02, 2021, Race 7

• Grade III
• 7f
• Dirt
• $150,000
• 4 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 4:34 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Honor Way (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	124	Charlton Baker	8/5
2	2Lady Kate (KY)	Trevor McCarthy	121	Eddie Kenneally	9/5
3	3Kansas Kis (KY)	Pablo Morales	118	Raymond Handal	8/1
4	4Paris Lights (KY)	Junior Alvarado	121	William I. Mott	5/2
5	5Portal Creek (KY)	Kendrick Carmouche	120	Juan Carlos Guerrero	6/1