By Patrycja Szpyra
The early pace may've been modest, but that closing kick commanded the headlines.
All eyes were on her French stablemate, but Kathynmarissa (American Pharoah) made it known that the lady of the lawn on Kentucky Oaks day was her as she rolled by them all to win the GIII Modesty Stakes.
After a fruitful 3-year-old season in 2024 where she was off the board only once in eight starts, and where she collected elite black-type when second in the GI American Oaks to eventual Eclipse champion She Feel Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}), her '25 campaign was notably protracted. She made one start last March in the GIII Santa Ana Stakes, running fifth, and then went on the shelf until late August. Moved from the Richard Dutrow barn to Chad Brown, she made a successful trip against optional claimers at Saratoga to post a career-high Beyer of 95, but once again went onto the sidelines afterwards.
Back here as a 5-year-old, and shining like new money as whatever seemed to ail her has since been resolved, the betting public had three Brown runners to choose from, and understandably many of them landed on Gezora (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr})–the Breeders' Cup champion was making her seasonal bow. Kathynmarissa was given 3-1 odds and GSW Whiskey Decision (Into Mischief) left the gates carrying a 4-1 chance.
Setting up in the back as the frontrunners ambled through modest early splits of :23.97 and a half :48.49, the American Pharoah mare was in no rush heading for the final bend after six panels in 1:13.47. Building up a full head of steam as the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf victress made her move coming into the lane, Kathynmarissa had to come widest of all to uncork her rally, but closing the gap she was. Inhaling the inside scramble for placings as Proctor Street (Street Sense) rode the fence into contention, the eventual winner left them in her wake to win by a clear margin. Gezora managed to get up for second while Proctor Street closed the trifecta. The final time was 1:48.13.
The Modesty was Jose Ortiz's fourth win on the afternoon. He returned in the nightcap aboard Always a Runner (Gun Runner) to win the GI Kentucky Oaks.
KATHYNMARRISA comes over the top to take the G3 Modesty Stakes at Churchill Downs on KY Oaks Day.@jose93_ortiz piloted the daughter of American Pharoah for trainer Chad Brown.#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/N6DT1HvYwC
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) May 1, 2026
“We wanted to be forward, right up there with the leader,” said Ortiz. “But she broke bad and it couldn't work. You can make plans, but you have to be ready for them to change. In the end, she ran well. It all worked out for the best.”
“Anytime you can finish 1-2 in a race like this, it's very rewarding,” said Brown of his exacta. “[Kathrynmarissa] came into this start off the layoff but has been training very well over the winter and since she arrived here at Churchill Downs. This is a great start to her 5-year-old season.”
Aboard Gezora, rider Flavien Prat said, “I thought I had a good trip. I was traveling well, the pace was not fast and I was trying to get myself going [on the far turn]. I thought turning for home, she was responding well but we just got outrun by the winner. We felt [Kathynmarissa] coming but there was nothing we could do.”
Pedigree Note:
Kathynmarissa is a half-sister to Chilean champion 3-year-old filly La Poetisa (Empire Maker), who won the G1 Las Oaks in her adoptive country before eventually being returned to the States for a breeding career. Their dam, fellow Las Oaks victress La Dalila (Chi) (Milt's Overture), has produced four winners to the track thus far and her most recent to come of age is a juvenile colt by Mandaloun. She was not bred in 2025 but does have a 2026 full-brother to this victress at foot.
American Pharoah has elite winners on both hemispheres and in several countries. Of his nine Group/Grade I winners, six are on the grass in the States, France, and Australia. Kathynmarissa is the stallion's 35th worldwide graded winner.
Friday, Churchill Downs
MODESTY S. PRESENTED BY VERITAS PRIME-GIII, $478,670, Churchill Downs, 5-1, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8mT, 1:48.13, fm.
1–KATHYNMARISSA, 118, m, 5, by American Pharoah
1st Dam: La Dalila (Chi) (G1SW-Chi), by Milt's Overture
2nd Dam: Top Diplomat (Chi), by Edgy Diplomat
3rd Dam: Top Shape, by Fit to Fight
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($200,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Michael J Caruso & Michael Dubb; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Chad C Brown; J-Jose L Ortiz. $300,560. Lifetime Record: 12-5-2-2, $1,575,745. *1/2 to La Poetisa (Empire Maker), Ch. 3yo Filly-Chi, G1SW-Chi. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Gezora (Fr), 123, f, 4, Almanzor (Fr)–Germance, by Silver Hawk. O-Peter M Brant; B-Haras d'Etreham (FR); T-Chad C Brown. $77,600.
3–Proctor Street, 118, m, 5, Street Sense–Proctor's Ledge, by Ghostzapper. O/B-Patricia L Moseley (KY); T-Brendan P Walsh. $48,800.
Margins: 1 1/4, NK, 1HF. Odds: 3.29, 0.87, 9.76.
Also Ran: Whiskey Decision, Stylish Sue, Dona Clota (Chi), Ramsey Pond, Queens Command (Ire). Scratched: Adrasteia, Pin Up Betty. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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