Kilwin wins the Test with a last-to-first move under Jose Ortiz (Angelo Lieto)
The other Rusty Arnold
Past The Wire Staff
Kilwin delivered a stunning performance in the Grade 1 Test at Saratoga, overcoming a rough start to capture the prestigious sprint for three-year-old fillies. Breaking poorly with a significant stumble out of the gate, the filly lost crucial early positioning, but jockey Jose Ortiz remained composed. Rather than panicking, Ortiz allowed Kilwin to gather herself and gradually ease back into the race with confidence and poise.
The Saratoga track had been playing kindly to closers throughout the day, and Kilwin took full advantage. Once she found her rhythm down the backstretch, she unleashed a powerful rally, charging past the leaders in deep stretch to seal a memorable victory.
The win didn’t surprise all sharp-eyed observers. On Past the Wire TV, respected handicapper John Stettin highlighted Kilwin as a likely improver based on her Thorograph figures, suggesting she had the potential to move forward and run a winning number. His analysis proved spot-on, as Kilwin surged past a tiring field, including the heavily favored Echo Sound who failed to fire and finished off the board—likely a bounce after a big effort last out. John Stettin also talked about this on the Past the Wire Thorograph race of the week show.
Kilwin’s gutsy comeback and visually impressive win underscored her rising status in the division and rewarded those who looked beyond the favorites to spot a filly coming into her own at the right time. She is now also two for two on the dirt after starting her career on the grass.
