Like Smarty Jones, Kitten’s Joy is a 3-year-old colt with a cute nickname.
Unlike Smarty Jones, Kitten’s Joy still is racing and, if he continues at his present clip, he conceivably could be remembered not only as the finest 3-year-old to race in the United States this year but also as the best grass horse and, most importantly, as America’s Horse of the Year.
A winner of six of his seven starts this year and second by a head in his lone loss, Kitten’s Joy will run in the biggest race of his career Saturday, the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Lone Star Park.
For him to become Horse of the Year it would appear he has to win the Turf and three horses have to be losers in the $4 million Classic–Pleasantly Perfect, winner of the $6 million Dubai World Cup and $1 million Pacific Classic; Birdstone, who stung Smarty Jones for his lone loss in the Belmont; and Azeri, a Hall of Fame mare in waiting.
It’s rare for a grass horse to be voted Horse of the Year. The last to earn the award was Kotashaan, a French import who won the Turf as a 5-year-old in 1993.
But the 2004 resume of Kitten’s Joy makes a powerful case for the chestnut son of the esteemed stallion El Prado and the broodmare Kitten’s First.
He has won at six tracks, scoring three of his victories at the expense of Prince Arch, the colt who beat him by a head. He decisively won Arlington Park’s 1 1/4-mile Secretariat Stakes in 1:59 3/5, which was two-fifths of a second faster than the time recorded that day by Powerscourt, the disqualified first-place finisher in the Arlington Million. He then made his debut against older horses by scoring a 2 1/2-length triumph in Belmont Park’s prestigious 1 1/2-mile Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational.
This is only the second time that Ken Ramsey and his wife, Sarah, have been represented in the Breeders’ Cup and it’s a far cry from the first time, when their 86-1 long shot Catienus was 13th in the 1999 Classic. This year they not only have Kitten’s Joy in the Turf, they also have 5-0 Roses In May running in the Classic and Nothing To Lose, who’s coming off a compelling Grade I conquest at Keeneland, in the Mile.
“We feel we have three prime-time contenders coming out of their last races very nicely,” Ramsey said. “Roses In May is probably the best-looking physical specimen I’ve ever owned, but I think my best shot Saturday is with Kitten’s Joy.”
After serving in the Navy, the Kentucky native was an executive for trucking firms. Then he got into real estate and made a fortune in Lexington. But Ramsey’s life took an abrupt turn the Saturday morning a friend called and asked him to come along to Keeneland. After winning $40 that afternoon and $60 when he went back the next Saturday, Ramsey became obsessed with playing the horses. He became a student of betting, then bought some cheap horses and took out his trainer’s license.
He got out of real estate, hocked his farm and borrowed to win a lottery–for a franchise to build a cellular phone network.
After 10 years he finally won the lottery; in 1992, he went to Gainesville, Ga., and built his cell phone franchise. By 1994 he had sold that franchise for $39 million, bought a horse farm outside Lexington and began acquiring other cellular systems.
Kitten’s Joy lost his first two races on the dirt, but when trainer Dale Romans switched him to the grass last October he immediately began winning. When the colt extended his winning streak to three races on New Year’s Day in the Tropical Park Derby on the turf, there were thoughts of putting him on the dirt road to the Kentucky Derby.
“With a 3-year-old it’s hard to resist the temptation,” Romans said. “We had Jerry Bailey work him on dirt at Palm Meadows.”
Bailey’s expert opinion was “keep him on the grass.”
“It has paid off,” Romans said. “The only Grade I races for 3-year-olds on the turf are the Secretariat and the Hollywood Derby and the Secretariat is not until late summer so he’s peaking [now] instead of the spring.”
Neil Milbert previews the Breeders’ Cup races
$2 million Distaff
3-yo & up fillies & mares, 1 1/8 miles
The defection of 2002 Horse of the Year Azeri to the Classic has made 3-year-old Ashado the horse to beat, but Azeri’s trainer, D. Wayne Lukas, says his 3-year-old Stellar Jayne can get the job done. Society Selection, who’s also 3, has an impressive resume as does Storm Flag Flying, winner of the 2002 Juvenile Fillies at Arlington Park.
Milbert’s picks: 1. Ashado, 2. Storm Flag Flying, 3. Stellar Jayne.
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PP, HORSE JOCKEY ODDS
1. Ashado Velazquez 7-2
2. Elloluv Nakatani 10-1
3. Tamweel Douglas 15-1
4. Society Selection Velasquez 4-1
5. Nebraska Tornado Prado 15-1
6. Hollywood Story Baze 20-1
7. Storm Flag Flying Bailey 9-2
8. Indy Groove Guidry 20-1
9. Bare Necessities Valdivia 30-1
10. Island Fashion John 5-1
11. Stellar Jayne Albarado 6-1
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$1 million Juvenile Fillies
2-year-old fillies, 1 1/8 miles
Morning-line favorite Sweet Catomine, the best junior miss in the West, will meet Sense of Style and Balletto, the top two in the East. Culinary, the undefeated Arlington-Washington Lassie winner, could be a factor, while Canadian long-shot Higher World might be dangerous if he gets loose on the lead.
Milbert’s picks: 1. Sweet Catomine, 2. Sense of Style, 3. Balletto.
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PP, HORSE JOCKEY ODDS
1. Balletto Bailey 5-1
2. Higher World Husbands 30-1
3. In the Gold Castellano 10-1
4. Runway Model Bejarano 12-1
5. Culinary Marquez 12-1
6. Dance Away Capote Dominguez 20-1
7. Sis City Velazquez 10-1
8. Mona Lisa Spencer 15-1
9. Sense of Style Prado 7-2
10. Sweet Catomine Nakatani 5-2
11. Culture Clash John 50-1
12. Sharp Lisa Dettori 15-1
13. Play With Fire Day 15-1
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$1.5 million Mile
3-year-olds and up, 1 mile (turf)
The French filly Six Perfections figures to have a hard time trying to defend her title. Based on her performances at the highest level, another filly, Musical Chimes, could be trouble. Nothing to Lose has won his last two starts at Saratoga and Keeneland. Blackdoun took three straight at Del Mar. Soaring Free brings a five-race winning streak from Canada.
Milbert’s picks: 1. Musical Chimes, 2. Blackdoun, 3. Nothing to Lose.
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PP, HORSE JOCKEY ODDS
1. Whipper Soumillon 8-1
2. Silver Tree Prado 12-1
3. Special Ring Espinoza 9-2
4. Soaring Free Kabel 20-1
5. Domestic Dispute John 30-1
6. Artie Schiller Migliore 12-1
7. Antonius Pius Spencer 30-1
8. Diamond Green Dettori 20-1
9. Musical Chimes Desormeaux 15-1
10. Singletary Flores 15-1
11. Six Perfections Bailey 5-1
12. Nothing to Lose Velazquez 7-2
13. Blackdoun Nakatani 20-1
14. Mr O’Brien Coa 8-1
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$1 million Sprint
3-year-olds and up, 6 furlongs
Cajun Beat has won only one of his four starts since winning last year’s Sprint as a 22-1 long shot. Stablemate Midas Eyes took his last two at Saratoga and Speightstown won his first four starts of the year before finishing third last time out. Clock Stopper, Kela, Champali and Our New Recruit also have impressive credentials.
Milbert’s picks: 1. Speightstown, 2. Midas Eyes, 3. Kela.
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PP, HORSE JOCKEY ODDS
1. Bwana Charlie Migliore 20-1
2. Speightstown Velazquez 3-1
3. Champali Bejarano 12-1
4. Our New Recruit Baze 10-1
5. Kela Bailey 8-1
6. Abbondanza Coa 50-1
7. Clock Stopper Day 9-2
8. Pt’s Grey Eagle Nakatani 20-1
9. Gold Storm Taylor 15-1
10. Cuvee Albarado 30-1
11. Cajun Beat Velasquez 8-1
12. My Cousin Matt Dominguez 50-1
13. Midas Eyes Prado 7-2
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$1 million Filly & Mare Turf
3-year-olds and up, 1 1/4 miles
After winning classics for 3-year-old fillies in England and Ireland, Ouija Board traveled to France to meet males in Europe’s premier race, the Arc de Triomphe, and finished a strong third in a field of 19. Light Jig, an import trained by Bobby Frankel and ridden by perennial Arlington Park champion Rene Douglas, has won four of six starts since moving to California.
Milbert’s picks: 1. Ouija Board, 2. Light Jig, 3. Megahurtz.
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PP, HORSE JOCKEY ODDS
1. Super Brand Day 30-1
2. Katdogawn Desormeaux 30-1
3. Film Maker Velazquez 20-1
4. Moscow Burning Valdivia 15-1
5. Ouija Board Fallon 8-5
6. Shaconage Bejarano 50-1
7. Light Jig Douglas 7-2
8. Aubonne Bailey 20-1
9. Riskaverse Velasquez 12-1
10. Megahertz Nakatani 10-1
11. Yesterday Spencer 6-1
12. Wonder Again Prado 8-1
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$1.5 million Juvenile
2-year-old colts and geldings, 1 1/8 miles
Bob Baffert, D. Wayne Lukas and Nick Zito have trained an aggregate total of nine Kentucky Derby winners and all are trying to win this race. Baffert’s Roman Ruler is the 8-5 favorite, while Lukas’ Consolidator and Baffert’s Sun King are pegged at 8-1. Proud Accolade (5-2) has won three straight and fellow New Yorker Afleet Alex (7-2) is coming off his first loss in five races.
Milbert’s picks: 1. Roman Ruler, 2. Proud Accolade, 3. Sun King.
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PP., HORSE JOCKEY ODDS
1. Sun King Prado 8-1
2. Roman Ruler Nakatani 8-5
3. Afleet Alex Rose 7-2
4. Consolidator Bejarano 8-1
5. Scandinavia Spencer 15-1
6. Proud Accolade Velazquez 5-2
7. Twice Unbridled Espinoza 50-1
8. Wilko Dettori 20-1
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$2 million Turf
3-year-olds and up, 1 1/2 miles
Although American grass horses don’t get nearly as much media attention as those who run on the dirt, a case can be made that 3-year-old turf specialist Kitten’s Joy is the nation’s best horse. In winning Arlington Park’s Secretariat Stakes, he ran faster than the winner of the Arlington Million. In the Turf he’ll meet Powerscourt, disqualified first-place finisher in the Million.
Milbert’s picks: 1. Kitten’s Joy, 2. Powerscourt, 3. Magistretti.
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PP, HORSE JOCKEY ODDS
1. Powerscourt Spencer 3-1
2. Request for Parole Day 20-1
3. Strut the Stage Nakatani 20-1
4. Kitten’s Joy Velazquez 1-1
5. Better Talk Now Dominguez 15-1
6. Magistretti Prado 4-1
7. Star Over the Bay Baze 10-1
8. Mustanfar Santos 20-1
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$4 million Classic
3-year-olds and up, 1 1/4 miles
Defending champion Pleasantly Perfect is expected to earn Horse of the Year honors if he repeats. If Birdstone pulls off an upset, the Belmont and Travers winner might be able to sway the electorate into making him Horse of the Year. Other notables are Azeri, the mare who was 2002 Horse of the Year; 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide; Ghostzapper, who is 7-for-9 lifetime; and Roses In May, 5-for-5 this year.
Milbert’s picks: 1. Pleasantly Perfect, 2. Funny Cide, 3. Birdstone.
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PP, HORSE JOCKEY ODDS
1. Ghostzapper Castellano 3-1
2. Freefourinternet Kuntzweiler 50-1
3. Azeri Day 15-1
4. Perfect Drift Desormeaux 15-1
5. Fanatsticat Melancon 50-1
6. Roses in May Velazquez 5-1
7. Birdstone Prado 6-1
8. Personal Rush Dettori 50-1
9. Funny Cide Santos 6-1
10. Newfoundland Coa 20-1
11. Bowman’s Band Velasquez 50-1
12. Pleasantly Perfect Bailey 5-2
13. Dynever Nakatani 15-1
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