Balmoral Park (11/8/12)
Contact: Tom Kelley
(708) 672-1414
ALWAYS ABOUT KATEY LOOKS TO CONTINUE DREAM SEASON
After dominating the state of Indiana to the tune of nine wins and one third place finish in 11 starts, William C. & William P. De Long and Katey McClymont’s Always About Katey retuns to the local scene looking to continue an impressive start to her career when she faces five rivals in Saturday’s $113,000 American National Stake for 2yo pacing fillies.
The connections of Always About Katey have been high on the the daughter of Always A Virgin-Topville Cyberwave from the time they purchased her at the 2011 Hoosier Sale.
“From the moment we broke her, the first time we hitched her we knew she was something special,” said Pat De Long. “Her biggest asset is she takes care of herself. She still looks as good going into this race as the day we sent her down to Roger Welch to train her and that’s a tough thing for a two-year-old filly to be able to do.”
The filly, who was sold under the name of Topville Classical as a $17,000 yearling, also underwent a name change thanks to Beau De Long said Welch.
“The De Longs have an employee (Katey McClymont) who works at their food company and the filly’s name was changed on her behalf. She owns a 10 percent stake in the horse and it’s her first horse. That’s not a bad way to get into the game.”
The filly rewarded her owners’ faith in her by winning her career debut at Hoosier Park in easy fashion. One week later she stepped up to face “open” company in the $53,900 Hanover Stake here at Balmoral Park where she cruised to another easy victory with Todd Warren at the controls.
It was back to the Hoosier state after that. Following a third place finish in an Indiana Sire Stake, Always About Katey rattled off three more wins including a $200,000 ISS Gold Final giving her a pair of $200,000 finals in her first season. That victory really seemed to impress her conditioner.
“She’s just so tough, just so tough,” said Welch. “She was parked to the quarter in 27 and change with a half in 55.1 and still just paced away from the rest of the field in the stretch. She had every right in the world to pack it in but she didn’t. She just dug in and showed her class. She’s really a tough filly.”
The filly then went up against top class company in her latest start, going wire to wire in a 3 ¾ length triumph in which she stopped the clock in 1:53.4.
American National 2yo Filly Pace winners
| Year |
Horse |
(Driver) |
Time |
| 1985 |
Walkin On Air |
(Ron Marsh) |
1:58
|
| 1986 |
Pacific |
(Tom Harmer) |
1:58.1
|
| 1987 |
Dancer |
(Sam “Chip” Noble III) |
1:58.1
|
| |
Glider |
(Mark O’Mara) |
1:58
|
| 1988 |
Frilly One |
(Walter Paisley) |
1:58
|
| 1989 |
Excited |
(Bill Fahy) |
1:57.3
|
| 1990 |
Start Dialing |
(Dave Rankin) |
1:59.3
|
| 1991 |
Tax’N Tip |
(Tom Harmer) |
1:59.1
|
| |
Brilliant Colors |
(D.R. Ackerman) |
1:58.1
|
| 1992 |
Orillia Sexy |
(Dave Magee) |
1:56.1
|
| |
Galveston |
(Dave Magee) |
1:57.4
|
| 1993 |
Electric Slide |
(Dave Magee) |
1:55.2
|
| 1994 |
Athena Blue Chip |
(Brian Pinske) |
1:54.2
|
| |
Glendale Kim |
(Dave Magee) |
1:56.3
|
| 1995 |
Faded Glory |
(Dean Magee) |
1:55.2
|
| 1996 |
Ice Chaser |
(Lavern Hostetler) |
1:55.2
|
| 1997 |
Genuine Woman |
(Dave Magee) |
1:54.3
|
| 1998 |
Juxtaposition |
(Sam Widger) |
1:55.1
|
| 1999 |
Bootsy |
(Lance Scurlock) |
1:54
|
| 2000 |
Raging Heart |
(Andy Miller) |
1:53.2
|
| 2001 |
Roaring Good Time |
(Dean Magee) |
1:54.1
|
| 2002 |
Loyal Opposition |
(Andy Miller) |
1:53.1
|
| 2003 |
KiKiKatie |
(Dale Hiteman) |
1:54.2
|
| 2004 |
Restive Hanover |
(Andy Miller) |
1:53.2
|
| 2005 |
CC Stacy |
(Tony Morgan) |
1:52.4
|
| 2006 |
Cabana Fever |
(Ryan Anderson) |
R 1:52.2
|
| 2007 |
Kelly’s Keepsake |
(David Miller) |
1:53
|
| 2008 |
Notjustaprettyface |
(Tim Tetrick) |
1:53
|
| 2009 |
Gigglicious |
(Tim Tetrick) |
1:55.1
|
| 2010 |
Pardon |
(Dave Magee) |
1:54.4
|
| 2011 |
Princess Cruiser |
(Yannick Gingras) |
1:56.1 |
R=Designates Stakes Record Time
*Raced at Sportsman’s Park, 1959 through 1997; and at Balmoral Park 1998 to present.
For more information visit www.balmoralpark.com or call (708) 672-1414.
About Balmoral Park: Located in Crete, IL just 12 miles south of 80/94; Balmoral Park has been one of the nation's premier horse racing facilities since 1926. Balmoral Park features live racing every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Admission and parking is always free.
