After finishing second in a Grade 2 last out, Ken Ramsey’s homebred Dr. Kapur registered his first stakes victory when the MCKINZIE 3-year-old won the Perryville S. (G3) at Keeneland.
Returning to Keeneland for the first time since breaking his maiden here last fall over the same seven-furlong distance on the dirt, Dr. Kapur let most of the field race in front of him soon after the start.
Dr. Kapur was well off the lead down the backstretch over eight lengths behind the leader, but as they hit the far turn he started picking off horses. Tyler Gaffalione had to weave his mount around horses in the stretch but once he was clear Dr. Kapur made a huge move.
Dr. Kapur timed his run to the front perfectly with his nose in front just a few strides before the line to win by a neck.
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“It was a lot of fun,” said Gaffalione. “The horse was very willing. He didn’t hesitate at any spot I put him in and he finished great. I was very proud of his effort. So happy for [owner Ken Ramsey]. [The Ramseys have] been so incredible to me throughout my career, and it’s nice to get a nice win for them here.”
This is the third win in eight starts for Dr. Kapur, who has won at both Saratoga and Keeneland for Saffie Joseph Jr. and finished a big second in the Gallant Bob S. (G2) in September.
Dr. Kapur is the first stakes winner out of the stakes winning Ava’s Kitten, who has produced three winners from four to race. Ava’s Kitten is a full sister to the Grade 1 winning Real Solution and to Grade 2-placed Coastana with the trio three of five winners out of Reachfortheheavens.
This is also the family of Grade 2 winners Lattice, Vexed, and Sign with multiple other stakes winners on the page.
This is the fourth stakes winner of the year for MCKINZIE, who leads all third crop sires by Grade 1 performers in 2026 with three. Cumulatively, his four Grade 1 winners and six Grade 1 performers from his first three crops also lead the way in his generation.