To view the Prioress Stakes, click here.

by Myra Lewyn

Edward P. Evans’s homebred Cat Moves capitalized on sizzling early fractions and closed from off the pace to win the $300,000 Prioress Stakes (G1) in her stakes debut on Saturday at Belmont Park.

Ridden by Ramon Dominguez for trainer Tony Dutrow, Cat Moves uncoiled her winning bid at the quarter pole and closed determinedly on the outside. She collared entrymate Light Green in midstretch and edged away to score by three-quarters of a length.

Cat Moves covered six furlongs in 1:08.65 on a track rated as fast. Evans's homebred Green Light, trained by Todd Pletcher, held on for second to give the Virginia-based owner-breeder the top two finishers in the race. The fillies were sent off as a coupled entry as the 11-to-10 favorites in the nine-horse field.

A three-year-old Tale of the Cat filly, Cat Moves is perfect in three lifetime starts. She impressively opened her career on April 16, posting a front-running 8¼-length romp in a six-furlong maiden special weight race at Aqueduct. In her subsequent start, she raced from off the pace for a convincing 4¾-length triumph in an allowance race at the same distance on June 2 at Delaware Park.

“She’s getting better and it’s amazing—it’s only her third start,” Dominguez said after the Prioress. “She’s extremely professional. Obviously, there was a lot of speed, but Tony told me before the race, ‘Ramon, don’t worry about the speed, just put her where she’s comfortable and she’ll come running for you.’ ”

Cat Moves broke in the air before Dominguez settled her in fifth as Light Green, ridden by John Velazquez, pressed pacesetter Heart Ashley through swift opening fractions of :21.56 for a quarter-mile and :44.01 for a half-mile.

Cat Moves advanced into contention on the outside on the far turn and swung four wide entering the lane. Light Green seized the lead from a tiring Heart Ashley and opened a one-length lead in early stretch. She grudgingly yielded to Cat Moves in the final 100 yards.

“When I came to [Light Green] she seemed like she had a little extra, but my filly just kept on battling and she got up, but she showed a lot of determination,” Dominguez said.

Light Green, an eight-length winner of the Fall Aspen Stakes on May 15 at Belmont, held on for second, 2¼ lengths in front of Reforestation.

Acorn Stakes (G1) winner Gabby’s Golden Gal, the 2.45-to-1 second betting choice, stumbled at the start and finished last. 

The Test Stakes (G1) on August 8 at Saratoga Race Course is under consideration for Cat Moves, who is out of the Capote mare Dance Move.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times TODY editor