Kathynmarissa, expertly guided by jockey Jose Ortiz, surged from sixth place to surpass a determined Sunlit Uplands in the final sixteenth of a mile to claim victory in the Grade 2, $500,000 Flower Bowl on Thursday at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.
The Flower Bowl, a 1 1/4-mile turf race for fillies and mares aged three and older, serves as a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, set to take place October 31 at Keeneland.
Entering the race as the 6-5 favorite after winning the Grade 1 Dunkin’ Diana on July 18 at Saratoga Race Course, Kathynmarissa was kept close under a tight hold by Ortiz as she raced three wide around the first turn, covering the opening quarter-mile in :23.64 seconds on firm turf.
She moved smoothly through an opening half-mile in :48.29, began closing in on Sunlit Uplands down the backstretch after three-quarters of a mile in 1:12.15, and was angled outside her rival entering the stretch. Kathynmarissa responded to Ortiz’s urging, overtaking Sunlit Uplands with just 50 yards to go to win by three-quarters of a length. Sunlit Uplands finished second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Evershed, who narrowly held off Favorite Memory for fourth place.
The winning time for the 10-furlong race was 2:00.58. This victory marked Jose Ortiz’s third graded stakes win of the day, adding to his triumphs in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom with R Disaster and the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic aboard Minaret Station.
Ortiz noted, “Today we had better pace, which allowed her to settle and finish strongly. I didn’t have the best position on the first turn, but I found a spot behind Sunlit Uplands and settled in well. After the half-mile, I asked her to quicken and put her in clear running, and she responded beautifully. I only wish the Flower Bowl was a Grade 1 race.”
Kathynmarissa delivered trainer Chad Brown his record-extending ninth Flower Bowl win, joining past winners such as Stacelita (2011), Stephanie’s Kitten (2014-15), Lady Eli (2016), and Sistercharlie (2019). Brown also secured the Grade 3 Winter Memories earlier in the day with Shelzawa.
Brown praised Kathynmarissa’s determination, saying, “She has been incredibly consistent and full of heart. The pace today wasn’t in her favor, and the runner-up got an early lead, but the last 70 yards showed her true spirit. She’s a solid competitor who always wants to do her best. I’m very proud of her.”
Kathynmarissa began her career with trainer Rick Dutrow Jr., winning the 2024 Listed Dueling Grounds Oaks at Kentucky Downs and placing second in the Grade 1 American Oaks at Santa Anita Park the same year. After moving to Brown’s stable midway through 2025, she has won four of five starts, including an optional claiming race at Saratoga, the Grade 3 Modesty Stakes at Churchill Downs in May, plus the Dunkin’ Diana and Flower Bowl. Her only defeat under Brown was a third-place finish in the Grade 1 New York during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival in June.
With a career record of seven wins, two seconds, and three thirds from 15 starts, Kathynmarissa earned $275,000 for her Flower Bowl win. She paid $4.68 on a $2 win bet. The bay filly, sired by American Pharoah, is owned by Michael J. Caruso and Michael Dubb and was bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corporation.
Brown confirmed Kathynmarissa will now aim for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
“I’m very grateful to Mike Dubb for entrusting us with this horse a couple of years ago,” Brown said. “Although last season was limited, Mike was always patient. We’ve had a long relationship, and his wife Lee and friends were here today. It’s wonderful to start the first Flower Bowl back at the new Belmont with a win for them, especially since Mike played a key role in the track’s redevelopment as a board member.”
Rider Rossa Ryan, on the Stuart Williams-trained Sunlit Uplands, felt the 10-furlong distance was slightly beyond his horse’s ideal, noting she also finished second in her North American debut, the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 Ballston Spa at Saratoga on August 22.
“She ran well,” Ryan said. “Her best distance is probably a mile and a sixteenth. It was a solid effort, just beaten by a very good filly.”
Ryan added, “She kept going, but stamina caught up to her late. I had a comfortable ride. She’s a tough, honest filly who was unlucky not to win. I’m confident she’ll capture a graded race in the future.”
The rest of the order included Fionn in fifth, followed by 2025 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Gezora, Storm Miami, Kathynmarissa’s stablemate Cathedral, the slow-starting Esna, Silvology, and the early leader Opulent Restraint.
Racing continues at Belmont Park on Friday with a nine-race card highlighted by the Listed $175,000 Artie Schiller in Race 8, alongside the $175,000 Bertram F. Bongard in Race 2 and the rescheduled $175,000 Joseph A. Gimma in Race 3. The first post is at 1:10 p.m. Eastern.
General admission tickets go for $7 when bought in advance, granting access to grandstand seats, the first-floor grandstand areas, and the backyard. For tickets and information, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/tickets/.
Daily coverage of Belmont’s fall meet is available on FOX Sports through America’s Day at the Races. The full broadcast schedule is accessible at https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule/.
NYRA Bets, Belmont Park’s official wagering platform, is available nationwide via the NYRA Bets app, downloadable on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.
This story was first published by Paulick Report on October 1, 2026, in the News section.
Fan Take: Kathynmarissa’s thrilling comeback win in the Flower Bowl not only cements her status as a top turf filly but also injects excitement into the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf picture. Performances like this highlight the depth of talent and fierce competition in turf racing, promising an electrifying season ahead for horse racing enthusiasts.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
