From a Maryland Jockey Club release
After five furlongs of battle, PTK LLC’s Knit One Purr Too edged clear of Hot Squeeze and won the $100,000 Stormy Blues Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, the first of four stakes on Saturday’s 11-race card at Pimlico Race Course.
The Dane Kobiskie trained filly, who carried Grant Whitacre, won by a neck and covered the distance in 59.65 on the firm turf course. Hot Squeeze was second and Miss Behaviour finished third.
“I knew I had a ton of horse,” Whitacre said. “She broke real well. I didn’t have any trouble in the race. I love speed horses and I knew that she could run. The one horse (Hot Squeeze) went out very fast so I just stayed with her. I had plenty of horse left and I was able to just let her run her race.”
The winner paid $13.60. The daughter of Tale of the Cat has never been worse than second in five career starts. She made her turf debut with a second place finish against older horses last Friday at Old Hilltop.
“I wouldn’t have come back this quick normally but when I saw her show all that speed last week against those good older fillies and mares I thought this was a great spot for straight 3-year olds,” Kobiskie said. “She’s bred for nothing but turf and you’re so limited with straight three-year old filly sprint turf stakes that I really couldn’t let this opportunity get by. This filly’s very talented. I knew at the top of the lane she was going to give me 110%. This was a very impressive race today.”
The victory improves Knot One Purr Too’s career earnings to $125,010.
Tizgale, the morning line favorite, was scratched. Sweet Emma Rose, the betting choice, finished next to last.
(Featured image of Knit One Purr Too by Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club.)
