Kitten's Joy
| Kitten's Joy | |
|---|---|
| Sire | El Prado |
| Grandsire | Sadler's Wells |
| Dam | Kitten's First |
| Damsire | Lear Fan |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 2001 |
| Country | United States |
| Colour | Chestnut |
| Breeder | Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey |
| Owner | Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey |
| Trainer | Dale L. Romans |
| Record | 14: 9-4-0 |
| Earnings | $2,075,791 |
| Major wins | |
|
Palm Beach Stakes (2004) Tropical Park Derby (2004) American Turf Stakes (2004) Virginia Derby (2004) Secretariat Stakes (2004) Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Handicap (2004) Firecracker Breeders' Cup Handicap (2005) | |
| Awards | |
| U.S. Champion Male Turf Horse (2004) | |
| Honours | |
| Kitten's Joy Stakes held at Gulfstream Park | |
| Last updated on July 15, 2007 | |
Kitten's Joy (foaled May 8, 2001 in Kentucky) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse and sire.
Kitten's Joy is owned and bred by Ken and Sarah Ramsey (who is nicknamed Kitten). He was trained by Dale Romans and was regularly ridden by Jerry Bailey.
Background
Kitten's Joy is a chestnut stallion sired by the Irish-bred Sadler's Wells son, El Prado. El Prado was co-champion as a two-year-old in Ireland with St. Jovite, and the first son of Sadler's Wells to retire to stud in North America. Kitten's Joy is out of Kitten's First by Lear Fan. Kitten's First has proved herself a "Blue Hen" mare for the Ramseys.[1] Aside from Kitten's Joy, her foals include Precious Kitten (Grade I winner, earned over $1.1 million) and Justenuffheart (stakes winner, earned over $370,000). Kitten's First broke a hip during her racing career, resulting in narrowing of her pelvis and the stillbirth of her first three foals. Kitten's Joy, Precious Kitten and Justenuffheart were born via Cesarean section before the mare was euthanized in 2006 due to laminitis.[2]
Racing career
Kitten's Joy won the 2004 Secretariat Stakes (setting a record time of 1:59.65) and the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Handicap as his two Grade I wins. He also ran second in the 2004 Breeders' Cup Turf. He was voted the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Male Turf Horse.
Kitten's Joy started twice as a four-year-old, finishing first in the Firecracker. He finished second to Powerscourt in the Arlington Million, considered by some to be the turf race equivalent of the Kentucky Derby. He was retired after the Million due to damaged cartilage in his left knee and now stands at Ramsey Farm in Nicholasville, Kentucky.
Stud career
As of 2013, Kitten's Joy has produced 38 stakes winners, 36 of which were bred by the Ramseys. These include Stephanie's Kitten (winner of the 2011 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf), Holiday for Kitten, Big Blue Kitten, Queensplatekitten, Kitten's Dumplings, Suntracer, Real Solution, and Admiral Kitten.
Each year since his progeny began running, Kitten's Joy has had at least one starter in the Breeders' Cup.[3]
Three of Kitten's Joy's progeny won Grade I races on the same day, August 17, 2013 : Big Blue Kitten (Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap), Real Solution (Arlington Million), and Admiral Kitten (Secretariat Stakes).
References
- ↑ http://www.ramseyfarm.com/kittens-joy-family.shtml
- ↑ Wincze-Hughes, Alicia (October 27, 2013). "Nicholasville's Ramsey Farm reveling in franchise stallion's brilliance heading into Breeders' Cup". Lexington-Herald Leader (Kentucky.com). Retrieved October 7, 2014.
- ↑ Kitten's Joy now rates first in general stallion standings