Kathynmarissa rallies to the front and takes the Modesty, Jenny Doyle/Past The Wire
Churchill Downs Press
LOUISVILLE, KY – Michael Caruso and Michael Dubb’s Kathynmarissa, rallying widest of all, ran down heavily favored stablemate Gezora (FR) by 1 ¼ lengths to win the 69th running of the $500,000 Modesty (GIII) presented by Veritas Prime for fillies and mares Friday afternoon at Churchill Downs.
Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Jose Ortiz, Kathynmarissa completed the mile and an eighth on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:48.13. It was the fourth victory of the afternoon for Ortiz and second in the race with the previous triumph coming in 2024 with Fast as Flight.
It also is Brown’s second win in the race to go with Bleeker Street in 2022.
Stylish Sue led the field of eight through fractions of :23.97 and :48.49 with Gezora, making her first start since winning the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (GI) last fall, racing in midpack and Kathynmarissa at the rear of the field.
Stylish Sue carried her lead to the top of the stretch with Proctor Street rallying on the inside and Gezora making a four-wide bid. Proctor Street took over passing the eighth pole, was overhauled by Gezora at the sixteenth pole with Kathynmarissa finishing fastest of all to hit the front in deep stretch.
It is the first graded stakes victory for Kathynmarissa, who improved her record to 12-5-2-2. She is a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of American Pharoah out of the Milt’s Overture mare La Dalila (CHI).
Kathynmarissa returned $8.58, $3.80 and $3.06, Gezora under Flavien Prat returned $2.72 and $2.30 and finished a neck in front of Proctor Street who paid $3.98 to show under Tyler Gaffalione.
It was 1 ½ lengths back to Whiskey Decision in fourth with Stylish Sue, Dona Clota (CHI), Queens Command (IRE) and Ramsey Pond following in order.
MODESTY QUOTES
Jose Ortiz (Jockey, Kathynmarissa, winner): “We wanted to be forward, right up there with the leader. But she broke bad and it couldn’t work. You can make plans, but you have to be ready for them to change. In the end, she ran well. It all worked out for the best.”
Chad Brown (Trainer, Kathynmarissa and Gezora, winner and second): “Anytime you can finish 1-2 in a race like this it’s very rewarding. (Kathrynmarissa) came into this start off the layoff but has been training very well over the winter and since she arrived here at Churchill Downs. This is a great start to her 5-year-old season.”
Flavien Prat (Jockey, Gezora, second): “I thought I had a good trip. I was traveling well, the pace was not fast and I was trying to get myself going (on the far turn). I thought turning for home, she was responding well but we just got outrun by the winner. We felt her (Kathynmarissa) coming but there was nothing we could do.”
Tyler Gafflione (Jockey, Proctor Street, third): “She is as honest as they come. She ran great but the horses on the outside just were too strong late.”
Irad Ortiz (Jockey, Whiskey Decision, fourth): “She ran well and we were happy with her performance. This was a tough group and happy for Chad (Brown).”
