Kentucky Gal edges stablemate Innovative by a nose to lead a D’Amato-trained exacta in the Possibly Perfect Stakes for fillies and mares going 1 ¼ miles on turf Friday at Santa Anita

KENTUCKY GAL EDGES STABLEMATE INNOVATIVE BY A NOSE TO LEAD A D’AMATO-TRAINED EXACTA IN THE POSSIBLY PERFECT STAKES FOR FILLIES AND MARES GOING 1 ¼ MILES ON TURF FRIDAY AT SANTA ANITA

ARCADIA, CA (June 12, 2026)—Kentucky Gal rallied down the center of the course under jockey Antonio Fresu and edged stablemate Innovative by a nose on the wire to lead a Phil D’Amato-trained exacta in the $100,000 Possibly Perfect Stakes for fillies and mares going 1 ¼ miles on turf Friday at Santa Anita.

Kentucky Gal (8-1), a 5-year-old Irish-bred mare by Churchill, was beaten just a half-length in last year’s Possibly Perfect. This year’s edition she was making her second start following a nearly seven-month layoff.

Kentucky Gal settled in mid-pack and off the rail while racing behind Innovative, who was saving ground along the inside while tracking in fourth under Ricky Gonzalez. Going to the lead was The Mizen Queen, the second longest shot on the board at 14-1 with Hector Berrios up for trainer Dan Blacker.

The Mizen Queen set solid fractions of 23.90, 47.06, 1:11.87 and 1:36.23 for the opening mile. When the field turned into the stretch, Innovative was angled off the rail and took aim at The Mizen Queen (14-1) while Kentucky Gal was circling horses and widest of all. The Mizen Queen battled on bravely in the final furlong but could not hold of the duo from the D’Amato barn, finishing a head back of Innovative in third.

Kentucky Gal won in a time of 2:00.14. In her comeback on April 30, a second-level allowance going one mile on turf, she tracked the pace in second before weakening in the stretch and finishing seventh.

“I was very disappointed last time that she ran coming off the layoff, but she probably really needed that race to get fit and ready for this race,” Fresu said. “That was a mile, so a little too short for her. It was pretty smooth today. At the three-eighths (pole), I put her in the clear and let her extend herself, because she has these big, long strides and she needs that momentum. She was very comfortable all the way around. Thanks to Phil, he had her top notch. She was in great form today.”

Kentucky Gal made four starts in Ireland in 2024 before being imported last year. This was her first stakes victory.

“It was a tight finish that could have gone either way. Just the head bob went to this filly,” D’Amato said. “But both of them ran great. It was a decision whether or not I was going to run her in that last (allowance), but I needed to get her fit enough to run this kind of race today.”

This was D’Amato’s sixth stakes win of the Hollywood Meet, moving him past Michael McCarthy for most by a trainer at the stand.

Kentucky Gal is owned by CYBT, Anthony Gemignani, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig and Ray Pagano. She improved to 15: 4-1-1 with more than $140,000 in earnings.

Kentucky Gal paid $18.60, $9.00 and $7.00. Innovative returned $5.60 and $4.40. The Mizen Queen paid $6.00.

Live racing resumes Saturday at Santa Anita with a big 12-race card starting at 1 p.m.

$100,000 POSSIBLY PERFECT STAKES QUOTES

JOCKEY QUOTES

ANTONIO FRESU, KENTUCKY GAL, WINNER: “I was very disappointed last time that she ran coming off the layoff, but she probably really needed that race to get fit and ready for this race. That was a mile, so a little too short for her. It was pretty smooth today, at the three-eighths, I put her in the clear and let her extend herself. Because she has these big, long strides and she needs that momentum. She was very comfortable all the way around. Thanks to Phil, he had her top notch. She was in great form today.”

TRAINER QUOTES

PHILIP D’AMATO, KENTUCKY GAL, WINNER: “It was a tight finish that could have gone either way. Just the head bob went to this filly, but both of them ran great. It was a decision whether or not I was going to run her in that last spot, but I needed to get her fit enough to run this kind of race today.

PHILIP D’AMATO, INNOVATIVE, SECOND: “Ran valiantly, she fought. I think she proved this is what she wants to do, run longer distances.”

OWNER QUOTES

RAY PAGANO, KENTUCKY GAL, WINNER: “The trip was absolutely perfect. We didn’t think there was going to be much speed but she likes to run covered up. They ended up going an okay quarter, but it was the second quarter when they went :23.1, Antonio backed her up just enough where she could just relax and she just got a perfect trip. She was much more fit than she was last time and she ran great. We are all happy.”

NOTES: The winning owners are CYBT, Anthony Gemignani, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig, and Ray Pagano.