HUMANA DISTAFF S. (gr. I ), Churchill Downs , May 04, 2013 , $300,000 Added , value of race $345,600 , 4 yo's & up , 7 furlongs , 1:22.93 Dirt SY .

Aubby K kicked off a special day for homebreds when she splashed home over a sloppy track to take the Humana Distaff Stakes (gr. I), the first grade I on the Kentucky Derby Day card at Churchill Downs May 4. Some five hours later, homebred Orb won the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Aubby K received late money that made her the 7-2 co-favorite in the $345,600 Humana Distaff, and ran to the betting. Jamaican Smoke, held at the same 7-2, exploded from the inside gate and opened a 21/2-length lead through an opening quarter-mile in :22.40. However, Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado had Aubby K stalking in second position and always looming a threat.

After a half-mile in a jaunty :45.31 through the slop, Jamaican Smoke still held the lead, but in the bend for home Aubby K came calling on the outside and was clearly going best. Burban, who also tracked the pace under Jose Lezcano, made a bid down the lane but was never going to get the winner, who hit the wire in 1:22.93 for the seven furlongs. Holiday Soiree finished third.

Aubby K, trained by Ralph Nicks, races for her breeder, James C. Spence. Spence and his charge picked up the $205,701 winner’s share, driving Aubby K’s lifetime earnings to $419,164. She has won half her eight starts, including the Inside Information Stakes (gr. II) in her previous start March 17 at Gulfstream Park.

Spence also campaigned Lilly Capote, the dam of Aubby K. Lilly Capote won the 1994 Golden Rod Stakes (gr. III) under the Twin Spires as well as two other added-money events. She produced Flying Pegasus, second in the 2008 Futurity Stakes (gr. II) and Mythical Pegasus, third in the same race the previous year, both by Fusaichi Pegasus. She is also the dam of stakes-placed America’s Storm, by Storm Cat.

Aubby K’s second dam is London Lil, a Florida-bred who won the 1983 La Prevoyante Handicap (gr. IIIT) and three other stakes events. London Lil is the dam of Bubba Dulyah, a J. O. Tobin filly who was a five-time stakes winner.

Street Sense is the sire of Aubby K and eight other stakes winners. The 2007 Kentucky Derby winner stands at Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley Japan Stallion Complex.—L.S.

INSIDE INFORMATION S. (gr. II ), Gulfstream Park , March 17, 2013 , $150,000 Guaranteed , value of race $150,000 , 4 yo's & up , 7 furlongs , 1:23.85 Dirt FT .

Aubby K proved some time off can make a difference. The 4-year-old Street Sense filly won the Inside Information Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park March 17 in her first start since August for owner/breeder James C. Spence, scoring by three lengths.

Aubby K, who had run eighth that August afternoon in the Test Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga, improved her record to 3-0-1 from seven starts. She has earned $213,463.

“She was outstanding as a 2-year-old,” said Spence about Aubby K, who began her career with a 151/2-length score at Belmont Park.

Aubby K opened her 3-year-old season with a 93/4-length victory at Gulfstream Park. She then ran third in the TVG Acorn Stakes (gr. I) and fourth in the Delaware Oaks (gr. II).

Spence, who lives in Terre Haute, Ind., raced Aubby K’s graded stakes-winning dam, Lilly Capote. At 2 Lilly Capote won the Golden Rod Stakes (gr. III) and the Indian Summer Stakes (by 10 lengths) and ran fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I). As a 3-year-old, she was victorious in the Magnolia Stakes and the Miss Preakness Stakes and was second in the Honeybee Stakes (gr. III).

Lilly Capote produced three stakes-placed runners before Aubby K. Her first, America’s Storm (by Storm Cat), sold at the 2000 Keeneland September yearling sale for $3.6 million. American Storm placed in two stakes.

Lilly Capote’s two other stakes-placed runners, the full brothers Mythical Pegasus and Flying Pegasus (by Fusaichi Pegasus), each placed in a running of the Futurity Stakes (gr. II).

Lilly Capote, who is out of grade III winner London Lil, is a half sister to five-time stakes winner Bubba Dulyah and to multiple stakes producer Lil’s Gate. By Gate Dancer, Lil’s Gate is the dam of stakes winners Dream Lady and Zeta. By Old Trieste, Dream Lady produced two stakes winners including grade III winner Major Gain.

Lilly Capote died shortly after delivering a Northern Afleet colt for Spence in April 2012.

Street Sense has sired eight stakes winners including 2013 added-money winners Unlimited Budget (gr. III) and Vitameta. Street Sense stands at Darley Japan Stallion Complex. He stood at Darley near Lexington when Aubby K was conceived.—D.S.