BALTIMORE, 04-20-13---J & J Stables & GSP Stable’s Jewel of a Cat flashed another gear and pulled away from six rival three-year old fillies in the $75,000 Stormy Blues Stakes, the first of three stakes races at Pimlico Race Course this afternoon.

Chris DeCarlo rode the Benny Perkins trained daughter of Wildcat Heir to a 2-3/4 length victory in 59.09 for the five-furlong distance on the main track. The race had been scheduled for the turf and lost three runners to scratches when it was moved to the main track.

“Benny really had her ready,” said DeCarlo. “I had a handful of horse the whole way. She actually was kind of waiting on the horse outside a little bit. I thought she might get a little tired because the track is deep and she hadn’t run in a little while. She is a lot stronger physically and is a joy to ride. She is a stone runner.”

Jewel of a Cat is now three-of-five lifetime and has never been worse than second. In her previous start, she rallied to finish second in the Selima Stakes in October at Laurel Park.

“She has been a real nice filly for us,” said Perkins. “We bought her at this time last year because my dad told me to buy her because she looked exactly like Wildcat Heir. She looked a lot like him coming down the lane.”

Jewel of a Cat paid $3.60 as the 4-5 favorite. Ek Haseena ran a game second, her third runner-up finish in a stakes race.

Perkins indicated Jewel of the Cat could run next in $100,000 The Very One Stakes on Black-Eyed Susan day, Friday, May 17.

About Pimlico Race Course

Historic Pimlico Race Course, home of the Preakness® Stakes, the middle jewel in horse racing's famed Triple Crown, first opened its doors on October 25, 1870, and is the second oldest racetrack in the United States. Pimlico has played host to racing icons and Baltimoreans have seen the likes of legendary horses such as Man o’ War, Seabiscuit, Secretariat, Affirmed and Cigar thunder down the stretch in thrilling and memorable competition. For more information on Pimlico, visit www.pimlico.com.

Pimlico Race Course is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida and is one of North America's top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world's largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a major producer of televised horse racing programming through its HRTV cable and satellite network and is North America's premier supplier of virtual online horse racing games, as well as a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.