By J.N. Campbell
After finishing as the runner-up on debut at Churchill Downs last summer, Kimchi Cat (Twirling Candy) graduated with a 3 1/2-length score at the Spa in mid-July. The dark bay took home the off-the-turf Bolton Landing Stakes trophy Aug. 18, but was well-beaten in the GIII Pocahontas Stakes under the Twin Spires Sept. 14.
Turned out since the fall and then back on the tab in January, the 3-year-old went off as the 8-5 second choice here. Kimchi Cat sat just to the outside of pacesetter Battleshipper (Midshipman) up the backstretch. Given her cue entering the far turn, the Tom Amoss trainee rolled into the lane, gunned her engine and cruised all the way to the Larry Snyder enclosure. Kentucky Smokeshow (Volatile) was the runner-up.
The winner's dam foaled a filly by McKinzie last year and was entered in Maxfield's book for this term. Winter Dawn is the half-sister of MSW Summer Cruise (Vicar), who produced GSW Sandbar (War Pass).
PURPLE MARTIN S., $175,000, Oaklawn, 3-22, 3yo, f, 6f, 1:11.91, ft.
1–KIMCHI CAT, 121, f, 3, by Twirling Candy
1st Dam: Winter Dawn, by Sky Mesa
2nd Dam: Reboot, by Rubiano
3rd Dam: Launch Light Tek, by Relaunch
($185,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Joel Politi; B-Coffee Pot Stables (KY); T-Thomas M. Amoss; J-Rafael Bejarano. $99,750. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-0, $263,665.
2–Kentucky Smokeshow, 117, f, 3, Volatile–Dying to Dance, by Street Cry (Ire). ($80,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $20,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Joey Keith Davis, JD Thoroughbreds, LLC, Larry J. Romero and Pravin A. Patel; B-Rose Hill Farm (KY); T-Chris A. Hartman. $33,250.
3–Eskenforaraise, 117, f, 3, Constitution–Eskenformoney, by Eskendereya. ($27,000 Ylg '23 FTKOCT). 1ST BLACK TYPE.O-Travis Swan Murphy and Matt Trent; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Travis Swan Murphy. $16,625.
Margins: 4, NK, 1 3/4. Odds: 1.60, 7.80, 36.20.
Also Ran: Battleshipper, Glee, Gunite Max, Accelerating.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
“…has plenty for the final furlong!” – @3coltshandicap
🐱 The $175,000 Purple Martin Stakes at @OaklawnPark went to #4 KIMCHI CAT ($5.20) under @sambitoperu for trainer @TomAmossRacing. She is a daughter of @LanesEndFarms Twirling Candy. pic.twitter.com/JlUG5JFizg
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) March 22, 2025
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