Bloodhorse By Sean Collins

It was also a grand return to the winner’s circle for Kilwin in the $175,000 Leslie’s Lady Overnight Stakes, her first start on dirt.

Winless since September’s Untapable Stakes at Kentucky Downs, the Leslie’s Lady provided a perfect opportunity at seven furlongs for owner BBN Racing and trainer Rusty Arnold to try the dirt with the bay filly. The pedigree suggested a versatility in surface as she is a half-sister to grade 2 turf winner One Timer  (Trappe Shot), and a half to grade 1 dirt-placed Just Basking  (Arrogate).

“She trained really good on the dirt, but we ended up on the turf because of Kentucky Downs,” said Arnold. “We knew she was talented, she won her first start. After she won that, it’s hard to change. After she got beat a couple of times, we seemed like a run or two short. This just fell in the right spot. We decided—it was the owners—they said we’d like to try the dirt once. I said if we’re going to do it, this is the place to do it. We still have plenty of time to get ready for the turf races in the fall.”

Their risk was rewarded as jockey Edgar Morales kept the Twirling Candy filly, out of the unraced Blame mare Spanish Star, relaxed in mid-pack behind Vodka With a Twist ‘s fractions of :22.86 and :45.58. The pacesetter hung tough in the stretch, but Kilwin finally asserted command inside the 16th-pole for a 1 1/4-length score in 1:21.61 while paying $18.08 to win. Evanescence  was third.

Victory on the dirt now opens a lot of options for Kilwin, but Arnold’s eyes are set back on the large purses of Kentucky Downs in the Music City Stakes (G2T) Sept. 6.

“It’s $2 million, 6 1/2 (furlongs), she’s won on the course,” Arnold said. “She loved it down there, so that’d be the plan.”