HORSE RACING
Kitten’s Dumplings stages rally
Kitten’s Dumplings rallied from last place and edged favorite
Alterite by a neck Saturday in the $400,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky. With Julien Leparoux aboard, the Kentucky-bred daughter of Kitten’s Joy ran 1 1/8 miles on the turf course in 1:48.43 for her sixth victory in 12 starts and paid $11.80, $4.60 and $3.60. Ninth at the first pass, she was seventh in the backstretch before Leparoux swung her outside on the far turn and followed Alterite as they chased leader Leigh
Court, who finished fourth. Kitten’s Dumplings rush down the stretch earned trainer Mike Maker and Leparoux their first victories in the Grade I race for 3-year-old fillies. Alterite paid $3.20 and $2.60 with jockey John Velazquez, who missed a chance to pass Pat Day as the career leader in earnings in the U.S. and Canada. Jockey Rosie Napravnik rallied Caroline Thomas for third to return $5.20.
Za Approval and Pianist won the $200,000 grass stakes Saturday at Belmont Park in New York. Za Approval, a gray 5-year-old gelding, rallied to beat the pacesetting Plainview by 1 1/4 lengths in the Knickerbocker as trainer Christophe Clement captured the 1 1/8- mile race for a fifth time. The 8-5 favorite, Za Approval paid $5.50 to win with Joel Rosario aboard. The time was 1:46.51 on the firm course. Pianist beat Abaco by two lengths in the Athenia for fillies and mares. Jose Ortiz guided the 4-year-old to her sixth victory in 13 starts, paying $7.90 to win. The time for 1 1/16 miles was 1:39.94. Samitar, the even-money favorite, ran third, giving trainer Chad Brown a 1-3 finish in the stakes.
Qiaona rallied from last with a half-mile remaining to win the $100,000 California Distaff Handicap by a half-length at Santa Anita. Ridden by Corey Nakatani, Qiaona ran 6 1/2 furlongs on the downhill turf course in 1:11.66 and paid $19.60, $6.60 and $4. Ismene returned $4.40 and $3, while 4-5 favorite Bella Viaggia was another three-quarters of a length back in third and paid $2.10 to show. The victory, worth $60,000, increased Qiaona’s career earnings to $439,994, with four wins in 15 starts.