Nassau Stakes (Grade 2)- $175.000 Purse
WO- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile on the Turf
May 26, 2019

Illustrious Cat came into the Nassau Stakes off a good allowance win which may have served as a confidence booster for her. Overall, she has shown the ability to string consecutive wins together, so the fact that she has done so with a victory here may mean a lot more then a win in the Nassau Stakes, and actually be about the ability to become a major player in this division. Chili King Stables has always had a knack for getting results on the turf, so we should not be surprised to see him at it again. This is his first win in the stake, and that is also true for jockey Alan Garcia. Congratulations to them! It is the fourth year in a row that the race has been won by a three year old. The time of the win was 1:32.99, the second quickest in the history of the race. Here’s a look at it!

(1/4 Mile- :23.24)- The longshot Princess Street gets out to the early lead for First Street Stables, and initially exciting those who bet on her. Windian, from Team 7 Illusions, jumped out with her, but was restrained just a bit to run even with the eventual winner, Illustrious Cat, out of Chili King Stables, and they are just a length and a half from the lead. Edna Everage, who I incorrectly called Ednas Revenge (sorry!) in the preview, is nearby on the rail for Childs Play. Low Key Desires (Aer Stables) and Diluted (Mb Stables) each trail, but are less then three lengths from the lead themselves.

(½ Mile- :46.53)- Princess Street continues to pace the field and leads by a length and a half going into the turn. Windian and Edna Everage are side by side for second. They lost their companion, though, as Illustrious Cat dropped back a bit in the backstretch and is now fifth, and over three lengths from the lead. Diluted had poked a head in front of her for the time being. Low Key Desires also lost ground in the backstretch, and is now about five lengths from the front.

(Top Of Stretch, 2F To Go)- Princess Street leads into the exit of the turn, but moving into the stretch, she’s about to see several blow by her. Each of Windian and Edna Everage, who had been stalking her, moved to her outside, and they would be joined again by Illustrious Cat, who regained the ground she conceded in the second quarter of the race, and was looking pretty good at this point. Diluted had a clear lane to move to outside of Princess Street, and Low Key Desires quickly made up the ground that she, too, conceded.

(Finish- 1:32.99)- In the stretch, Illustrious Cat was much the best. It looked like she might have more challengers for the stretch, but she quickly put them away by a length, and with a little more then a furlong to go, she was clear with the other five all lined up together across the track. Low Key Desires gets second, also running well in the stretch, but could never make up the advantage that Illustrious Cat had on her early. Diluted runs a solid third. The others never made their presence felt in the stretch. Edna Everage and Princess Street dead heat for fourth, over the last place Windian.

About The Winner- Illustrious Cat, trained by Chili King Stables, and ridden to victory by Alan Garcia, is a three year old filly by Spotted Cat, and is out of Illustrious Miss. She was bred in New York as a second quarter two year old by Chili King Stables, and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her fifth in 10 starts, and her second stake win, each graded. Her career earnings are now $317.520.

Track: Firm
Time: :23¹  :46²  1:09⁴  1:32⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 5 – 3 Paid 18.10
$1 Trifecta: 5 – 3 – 2 Paid 24.50

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES