BBN Racing and Rick Howard's grade 1 winner Kilwin returned from a 10-month layoff in dominant fashion July 19 when she captured the $175,000 Twin Bridges Stakes at Ellis Park.
Ridden by Edgar Morales for trainer Rusty Arnold, Kilwin covered 6 furlongs in 1:09.12 over the listed good main track.
Kilwin rated in sixth as Asternia, Benedetta, 9-5 favorite Cash Call, and Jersey Pearl engaged in a spirited four-way battle for the lead through an opening quarter-mile in :22.23 and a half-mile in :44.95. Morales tipped Kilwin four wide entering the stretch, and she powered past the tiring pacesetters to draw off for a convincing 2 1/4-length victory.
Cash Call held second, followed by Evanescence, Benedetta, Jersey Pearl, and Asternia.
Sent off at odds of 3-1, Kilwin rewarded her backers by returning $8.36 to win.
Kilwin is a 4-year-old daughter of Twirling Candy out of the Blame mare Spanish Star, and was bred in Kentucky by Gilder-Schwarz Farms.
The Twin Bridges victory was worth $106,208 and increased Kilwin's career earnings to $551,576. A stakes winner on turf at 2, Kilwin remains perfect in three career starts on dirt. Last summer, she made the switch with success winning the Leslie's Lady Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs before taking the Test Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course in August. Both races were over 7 furlongs.
