News & Barn notes

Kodiak Katie Returns To Dirt And Dominating Ways In Winning Friday’s Feature Race At Monmouth Park

July 20, 2018

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– Kodiak Katie returned to the dirt and returned to dominating Jersey-breds as a result, drawing off to a 9¾-length victory in Friday’s featured $50,000 optional claimer at Monmouth Park. 

The 4-5 favorite in the field of seven, Kodiak Katie sat in fourth place until jockey Carlos Hernandez gave the 5-year-old mare her cue entering the final turn in the one mile race. She sped past the frontrunners and left them in her wake in the stretch, covering the distance in1:39.72. 

After winning by 9¼ lengths in similar company two starts back, Kodiak Kaie tried the grass for just the second time in her career in her last start – the Jersey Girl Stakes. She finished last in the field of eight that day. 

She responded to her return to dirt with a flourish, winning for the second time in four starts this year for Hoover Thoroughbred Racing LLC. 

“She likes her Jersey-bred competition and the dirt,” said trainer Skip Einhorn. “She never got hold of the turf in her last race. I don’t know if it was the turf or her. We were looking for a race for her and that was the only thing available so we took a shot. 

“But I’d say her turf days are over.” 

Now with a 3-4-2 line from 13 lifetime dirt starts (she is 0-for-2 on the grass), Kodiak Katie returned $3.60 to win.