Susie Raisher Photo

Kimchi Cat a professional winner of off-the-turf $150K Bolton Landing

by Christian Abdo

Joel Politi’s Kimchi Cat was professional in just her third lifetime start when capturing Sunday’s off-the-turf $150,000 Bolton Landing, a Listed stakes for juvenile fillies, at Saratoga Race Course.

The Bolton Landing was scheduled for 5 1/2 furlongs on the Mellon turf but moved to the main track due to rain. Trainer Tom Amoss entered Kimchi Cat for the main track-only and was rewarded handsomely when the race came off, emerging victorious despite scratching Lady Orient from the field's main body.

Amoss said he has observed much improvement from Kimchi Cat since losing handily to returning rival Viggiedal in her debut sprinting five furlongs in June at Churchill Downs.

"She got beat by Viggiedal in her first start, but if you go back and look at that race it was a great learning experience for our filly. She got held up behind horses, had to wait - she kicked home, but the other filly was just much quicker,” said Amoss. “Losing that battle helped us today.”

Piloted by Tyler Gaffalione, the Twirling Candy dark bay broke alertly from post 5 and settled into third position behind Me Governor, who tracked the sharp-starting favorite Viggiedal. Despite the runner-up finish to a pacesetting Viggiedal on debut, Kimchi Cat was content to stalk through an opening quarter-mile in 22.03 seconds over the good dirt.

Kimchi Cat traveled wide entering the turn but ranged up alongside Me Governor and was the main threat to Viggiedal as the rest of the seven-horse field was strung out traveling at least 2 1/2 lengths back.

After a half-mile in 45.53, the order up front remained unchanged but 29-1 longshot Icona Mama saved ground under Junior Alvarado and looked to cut the corner entering the stretch. The Jose Ortiz-piloted Viggiedal made sure that would not happen by shutting the door, but the rider was already asking his filly for more.

"She [Viggiedal] is a very quick filly herself and it seemed like approaching the quarter pole, he [Ortiz] started to let her out and she wasn't really going anywhere so I was feeling pretty confident at that point," said Gaffalione.

While Viggiedal temporarily defended her position from Icona Mama at the top of the lane, she could only watch as Kimchi Cat surged on the outside to win by 3 1/2 lengths in a final time of 1:04.06.

Icona Mama re-routed to the center of the course and got up for second, with 1 1/2 lengths back to Viggiedal. Me Governor rounded out the superfecta, with Fortuna Mia, Obliging, and Abientot completing the order of finish.

Mighty Eriu, Dreamgirl, Lady Orient, and Yesterday were scratched.

Amoss said it was an ideal trip engineered by Gaffalione and a nice response from Kimchi Cat.

“We were able to rate kindly today, we're not one-dimensional. We knew that going in and I think that really helped in a field that looked like it had a lot of speed, and someone had a chance to really punch at the end,” said Amoss. “I'm really proud of my filly, she did a great job of that."

Gaffalione credited fellow jockey Edgar Morales for his debut ride on Kimchi Cat. She subsequently graduated at second-asking under Gaffalione over Sunday’s course and distance on July 14 ahead of her Bolton Landing score.

"A lot of the credit goes to Edgar Morales who rode her in her first start. He gave her a great schooling that day, sat in behind horses - she had a really good schooling,” said Gaffalione. “Last time she was just much the best, she broke alertly, and I just didn't get in her way. Today, Tom said there was a lot of speed, so just let her get underneath herself. She was carrying me around the whole way and when I pushed the button she responded nicely.”

Alvarado said the Flint Stites-trained Icona Mama, a debut winner on July 22 at Presque Isle Downs, was game in the major step up in class.

“She ran great. She broke very well and everything was new for her – she was on the lead last time,” Alvarado said. “I was just glad that she never backed up when she got the kickback, and when we turned for home and I swing her to the outside, she had an extra gear and she kicked home nicely for me.”

Bred in Kentucky by Coffee Pot Stables, Kimchi Cat, out of the winning Sky Mesa mare Winter Dawn, was a $185,000 purchase at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

She banked $82,500 in victory while improving her record to 3-2-1-0 and returning $8 for a $2 win bet.

Live racing resumes Wednesday at Saratoga with a nine-race card featuring the $135,000 John’s Call in Race 3. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.

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

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Saratoga Race Course, and the best way to bet every race of the summer meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.