Lost in the shuffle of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival June 6-8, was Kilwin's victory in stakes record time in the $175,000 Leslie's Lady Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs June 8. The 3-year-old daughter of Twirling Candy beat a quality field in her first dirt attempt that included multiple graded stakes-placed and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) runner-up Vodka With a Twist.
Kilwin was bred in Kentucky by Gilder-Schwarz Farms, the operation of Wendy Schwarz Gilder and her brother Andrew Schwarz. She becomes the latest standout for the Kentucky breeders who also bred and own Kilwin's half sister Just Basking, who was third in last year's Alabama Stakes (G1) behind Power Squeeze.
Kilwin is out of the Blame mare Spanish Star, who is the dam of three winners, all black-type earners. In addition to Just Basking and Kilwin, she is also the dam of graded stakes winner and millionaire One Timer. The 6-year-old gelded son of Trappe Shot notched his most notable win in the 2022 Franklin Simpson Stakes (G2T) at Kentucky Downs.
Spanish Star is a half sister to 2019 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Sir Winston . The Schwarzes purchased her at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale for $275,000, carrying a foal by Arrogate, who grew up to be Just Basking.
Kilwin was purchased by BBN Racing at the 2023 Keeneland September Sale for $225,000. Following her win in the $1 million Untapable Stakes at Kentucky Downs, a 25% fractional interest in the filly was offered at Keeneland's Championship Sale last fall, failing to reach the reserve with a final bid of $575,000.
Kilwin followed up her first stakes victory by finishing fifth in the 2024 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T). After suffering a pair of defeats on turf to open her 2025 campaign, the decision to try a surface switch was made by owners BBN Racing and trainer Rusty Arnold and ended up showcasing her versatility when she rolled home to take the Leslie's Lady by 1 1/4 lengths. Her final time of 1:21.61 in the seven-furlong test bested the previous record of 1:22.46 set by last year's winner Emery while boosting her career bankroll to $812,968.
That Kilwin's form was able to translate on dirt was no surprise to her connections given how well she had been working on the main track at Keeneland. Now, the Arnold camp will have to ask themselves which surface to try next? They already have another up and coming star in the barn in Miss Preakness Stakes (G3) winner Echo Sound, who they will likely keep separated from Kilwin.
