Gigante drew away with authority in the stretch to win the $125,000 Kitten’s Joy S. at Colonial Downs by a widening 6 ¾-lengths for his first stakes victory (WATCH RACE).

The 2-year-old Not This Time colt is the ninth stakes winner this year for his sire, who leads the 2022 Third-Crop Sire list in nearly every category. Not This Time’s $9.6 million in progeny earnings is double his closest pursuer.

Gigante, who was coming off a three-length maiden win on the Colonial Downs dirt course, got away cleanly from his inside post in Tuesday’s 1 1/16-mile turf affair to lead the field into the first turn. A headstrong Determined Crush came along side Gigante entering the backstretch, and those two raced side-by-side down the backstretch and into the final bend.

Gigante shook clear of Determined Crush coming into the stretch and ran away from the field, leaving the heavy favorite Rarified Flair a distant second.

The final time on the firm turf was 1:44.08.

Gigante has now won two of three starts and earned $130,000. He is owned by Iapetus Racing and Diamond T Racing and sold for $120,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling sale.

Gigante was bred by Ann Mudge Backer and Smitten Farm.