Northfield, OH — Kat bided her time throughout the mile, allowing favorite Blue Ivy to do all the dirty work on her way to victory in the $18,500 Filly and Mare Open on Saturday (February 25) at MGM Northfield Park.

Patience proved to pay off for Kat who took home the $18,500 Filly and Mare Open Pace on Saturday night. Casalinova Photo.

Leaving from post three Kat (Hunter Myers) left matching strides with Blue Ivy (Aaron Merriman) into the first turn. Merriman guided his mare to the front entering the backstretch, opening up by 1-1/4 lengths at the quarter in :26.3

There wasn’t much movement through the second quarter, allowing Merriman to get a :29 breather. The action finally started heating up into the backstretch as Smothastenesewisky (Tyler Smith), and Mystical Virgin (Kurt Sugg) was guided outside. While Mystical Virgin never got to the leaders, Smothastenesewisky took dead aim at the champion mare at three-quarters in 1:23.2.

Turning for home, Merriman went to work on Blue Ivy, but the taxing trip proved too much as Kat came up the passing lane holding off a closing Smothastenesewisky by a length in 1:51.4. 

For Kat it is the second win in three starts for the daughter of world champion He’s Watching. She earned her twelfth victory in 100 starts and has made $238,835 in her career. She is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC and trained by Ron Burke.

Live racing continues on Sunday at MGM Northfield Park, first post is 6:00 p.m.

MGM Northfield Park currently races on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. For more information on live racing and promotions, visit www.northfieldpark.com.