The comeback start of Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Gezora was spoiled in Friday’s Grade 3 Modesty Stakes, her debut start for trainer of Chad Brown, but the conditioner still found his way to the winner’s circle with Kathynmarissa, who closed down the middle of the track to secure a Brown exacta at Churchill Downs.
Kathynmarissa, a 5-year-old daughter, was unhurried out of the gate by jockey Jose Ortiz, and she was settled into last in the 1 1/8-mile turf race, while longshot Stylish Sue set the pace ahead of follow high-odds runners Dona Clota and Ramsey Pond. Stylish Sue clocked the opening quarter in :23.97, then she clicked off a half-mile in :48.49, chased on the outside by Dona Clota across the backstretch.
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Meanwhile, Mathynmarissa remained tucked on the rail in last, and heavy favorite Gezora was not far ahead of her, about three paths off the rail.
Stylish Sue continued to lead turning into the stretch, going three-quarters in 1:13.47, while Gezora swung wide under jockey Flavien Prat to stage her move. The leader was swallowed up by the cavalry charge in the final furlong, with Proctor Street slipping through from the rail to take the lead in the stretch. Gezora appeared poised to take command, but she never took over first place, instead getting swept by from Kathynmarissa, who emerged from her ground-saving trip to swing widest of all and loop around the field.
Ortiz rode the mare out through the deep stretch to cross the wire 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Gezora, while Proctor Street continued on for third.
Kathynmarissa stopped the clock in 1:48.13 over a firm turf course. She paid $8.58 to win.
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While Gezora’s comeback from her Breeders’ Cup win was the headline going into the Modesty, Kathynmarissa was also coming off the bench after a long layoff, making her first start on Friday since winning a Saratoga allowance optional claiming race on Aug. 28. The Modesty was Kathynmarissa’s fifth win in 12 career starts, and her first graded stakes victory. It was her second overall stakes victory after winning last year’s listed Dueling Grounds Oaks Invitational Stakes at Kentucky Downs.
Brown saddled the winner for owners Michael Caruso and Michael Dubb. After the race, Dubb told an NBC reporter that the filly was named after two bankers that work for him.
“They’re two of the nicest people you’ll ever meet,” Dubb said. “They’re fans of the game.”
Kathynmarissa was bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corp., out of the Chilean Group 1-winning Milt’s Overture mare La Dalila. The winning mare sold to HR Bloodstock for $200,000 from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
This story was originally published by Paulick Report on May 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.