BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Bumped at the start of a six-furlong Oaklawn Park allowance in her first race for trainer Steve Manley and owner John E. Cox, Florida-bred R Pretty Kitty looks to improve under the same conditions there on Friday. Nine fillies and mares will go six furlongs in the first level allowance — again set for six furlongs — with a purse of $125,000.
A victory by R Pretty Kitty would also garner a $3,000 FTBOA Export Incentive for Florida breeder Mustang Farms Inc., of Fort Lauderdale.
Claimed by Manley for $20,000 out of a seven-and-three-quarters lengths victory at Churchill Downs on November 26, the usually fast R Pretty Kitty got off to an unusually slow start in her first race from the new barn, on February 8. However, jockey Abel Cedillo had to prematurely urge her early to get within striking distance heading into the turn. She finished up well in the stretch to finish fourth, indicating potential for advancement in Friday’s contest.
R Pretty Kitty is by Instilled Regard out of Starship Kitty, by Tale of the Cat and has won two of seven career starts with earnings of $67,683.
Cedillo gets the return mount on R Pretty Kitty, who is 5-1 on the morning line and will depart from post one.
Shanett enters with a perfect two-for-two career record as she makes her second start for trainer S. J. Cunningham.
A length winner of a six-furlong, $35,000 maiden claiming in her debut at Oaklawn in January of last year, Shanett did not return for her second race until December 28, also at Oaklawn. She was just as sharp however, winning a $75,000 claiming for non-winners of two races, again going six furlongs at Oaklawn.
Shanett is owned by Randy Finegan, Joseph Ametrano, Mitchell Veal and Robert Thorne, and has earned $63,000 in her two races. The 4-year-old daughter of McKinzie is out of the Tapit mare Gold Beach and will be ridden from outside post nine by Luis Saez.
Shanett is the 2-1 program favorite.
Rounding out the field are Up the Creek with Ramon Vazquez aboard, Coaster and jockey Joel Rosario, Assael Espinoza has the assignment on Just Be You, Gin’s Beach Road will have Cristian Torres up, Tyler Bacon rides Well Aware, Miss Elle will have Francisco Arrieta in the saddle and Erik Asmussen will have the reins on Gun Twirl.
Return to the February 19 issue of Wire to Wire
