Kilwin rallies stoutly to win G1 Test presented by Ticketmaster

BBN Racing’s Kilwin rallied from well off the pace to overtake fellow closer Ragtime and capture Saturday’s 100th running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Test presented by Ticketmaster, a seven-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Rusty Arnold and patiently handled by Jose Ortiz after a stumbling start, the Twirling Candy bay entered from an impressive stalking score in the seven-furlong Leslie’s Lady while making her dirt debut on June 8 at Churchill Downs. The versatile filly had made five previous starts on turf, taking the Untapable in September at Kentucky Downs along with a closing second to the streaking Shisopicy in the Grade 3 Mamzelle in May at Churchill Downs.

Arnold, who was also represented by 3-2 race favorite Echo Sound, said he thought his chances were halved at the break.

“Well, I thought this filly [Kilwin] was out of the race when she stumbled at the gate,” Arnold said. “Even Jose said, 'I kind of picked her up, and she was running well enough, maybe I can get her Grade 1 placed and get third because she stumbled so badly.' It wasn't like the way you drew it up, but it went well.

“I was watching the other filly [Echo Sound] run,” Arnold added. “I was watching the TV and she [Kilwin] wasn't on the TV. Her spot was off the TV and I didn't even consider that she was still in the race, actually, so it went well. Jose didn't give up on her and he kept riding." 

Kilwin spotted the field seven lengths in last-of-8 after the troubled beginning as Me and Molly McGee won a pace battle to mark the opening quarter-mile in 22.52 seconds over the fast main track with Echo Sound tracking along with Artisma, Look Forward and Cash Call.

Me and Molly McGee took the field into the turn with Echo Sound looming large and Beauty Reigns making an outside rally to join the stalking pack with the half-mile elapsing in 46.12.

The Luis Saez-piloted Echo Sound, last-out winner of the local Grade 3 Victory Ride, cut the corner but was quickly joined by Beauty Reigns outside a game Artisma as the ground-saving Ragtime was tipped out by Junior Alvarado and found her best stride in the middle of the track. Kilwin followed Ragtime’s quickening strides, and the two foes quickly overtook the frontrunners, battling gamely to the wire before Kilwin asserted on the far outside to win by a neck in a final time of 1:23.10.

Ortiz said he was tracking the movement of Alvarado and the lightly-raced yet undefeated Ragtime.

“She was moving very well, and I thought I had a shot turning for home,” Ortiz said. “Honestly, I was following the right horse, and I knew Junior was traveling really nicely. I cut the corner and I was following him, then I came out and she gave me that extra kick that I needed inside the eighth-pole.” 

Alvarado said the Hall of Famer Bill Mott-trained Ragtime was game in her stakes debut.

“Both fillies ran their heart out,” Alvarado said. “The horse, the filly who won [Kilwin] stumbled really bad so I kind of counted her out once we left the gate. I thought she was done after that bad break, and I just rode my race. I could not believe that horse was running by me at the end - to be honest my filly was giving me all she got. Had a great trip all the way around, saved ground, tipped her out when I could; it was the right time to do it, and I mean we were just second best today.”

It was 3 3/4-lengths back to Beauty Reigns in third with Look Forward, Cash Call, Echo Sound, Artisma and Me and Molly McGee rounding out the order of finish. Me and Molly McGee was pulled up after the wire and transported from the course via equine ambulance to Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital to be treated for a laceration to her left hindleg.

Arnold indicated that Kilwin will return to turf next out in the Grade 2, $2 million [$1 million KTDF] Music City, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint on September 6 at Kentucky Downs.

“She is going to Kentucky Downs to run in the Music City. It is $2 million, and she's won there. It is a good problem [turf or dirt] to have,” Arnold said.

Bred in Kentucky by Gilder-Schwarz Farms, Kilwin banked $275,000 in victory while improving her record to 7-4-1-0. She returned $14.40 for a $2 win bet.

Kilwin is a half-sister to Grade 2-winning millionaire One Timer and Grade 1-placed Just Basking out of the Blame mare Spanish Star, a half-sister to 2019 Grade 1 Belmont Stakes-winner Sir Winston. Her second dam is Grade 1-placed La Gran Bailadora. 

Live racing resumes Sunday at Saratoga with a 10-race card, featuring the Grade 3, $175,000 Adirondack in Race 4 and the Grade 2, $300,000 Troy in Race 8. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.

Saratoga Live will present live coverage and analysis of the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule/.

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