Miss Kentucky Upsets in G3 Winning Colors

LOUISVILLE, KY – Miss Kentucky grabbed the lead on the far turn after putting away Golden Mischief, and had enough left in to the tank to hold off Treble to win Saturday’s running of the $100,000 G3 Winning Colors at Churchill Downs.

Miss Kentucky and Golden Mischief engaged in a brutal pace battle early in the race as they set an opening quarter mile fraction in 21.28, and a half mile in 44.46. Even after that brutal half mile Miss Kentucky was able to shake off the heavy favorite Golden Mischief at the top of the stretch. A late bid from Terble offered too little too late as the Rusty Arnold trained colt held on to win by three-quarters of a length.

“I have to give a lot of credit to (assistant trainer) Jack (Bohannon),” said Arnold, who won his eighth race from 19 starters at the Churchill Downs Spring Meet. “He worked with her a lot and she’s really improved. Jack worked her here Monday (four furlongs in :48) and told me we should keep her home to run in this race instead of shipping out of town. I’m glad it worked out well.”

The victory improved Miss Kentucky’s earnings to $213,522 with a record of 5-1-0 in 12 starts. This was her first stakes win of her career as she scratched out of a Thursday stakes race at Prairie Meadows to run in this spot.

“I wasn’t too worried about the horse on the lead early on,” Hernandez said. “We just ran our type of race. I let her get in a good rhythm on the backstretch and I think she’s really starting to get good. Once I asked her at the top of the lane she really kicked away nicely.”

Miss Kentucky returned $9.20 to win, $4.20 to place, and $2.80 to show. Treble brought back $4.60 to place and $3.40 to show, while Golden Domer paid $5.00 to show.