| Listed race | |
| Location | Gulfstream Park Hallandale Beach, Florida, United States |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 2012 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing – Turf |
| Website | Gulfstream Park |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1+1⁄16 miles |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds |
| Weight | 124 lbs with allowances |
| Purse | US$175,000 (2023) |
The Kitten's Joy Stakes is a Listed American Thoroughbred horse race for horses three years old at the distance of one and one-sixteenths mile on the turf held annually in late January or early February at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florida. The event currently carries a purse of $175,000.
The race was inaugurated in 2012 over the distance of 1+1⁄16 miles [1] after Kitten's Joy [2] who was a multiple graded stakes winner and the 2004 American Champion Turf Horse. Kitten's Joy also won the Grade III Palm Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park where this race is held.
The event was shortened in one mile in 2015 and once again in 2018 to the current distance of about 7+1⁄2 furlongs. [3]
In 2020 the event was upgraded to a Grade III. [1]
In 2021 the distance of the event was increased to 1 mile. [1]
The 2013 winner Charming Kitten and the 2017 winner Kitten's Cat were both sired by Kitten's Joy. [3] Also both winners were owned Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey who also owned Kitten's Joy. [2]
In 2022 the distance of the event was increased again to 1+1⁄16 miles. [1]
In 2025 the event was downgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Listed status. [4]
Speed record:
Margins:
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | First World War | Tyler Gaffalione | Brendan P. Walsh | Qatar Racing & Hunter Valley Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:39.78 | $175,000 | III | [5] |
| 2023 | Major Dude | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Todd A. Pletcher | Spendthrift Farm | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.22 | $175,000 | III | [6] |
| 2022 | Grand Sonata | Tyler Gaffalione | Todd A. Pletcher | Whisper Hill Farm | abt. 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.53 | $100,000 | III | [7] |
| 2021 | Chess's Dream | Tyler Gaffalione | Michael J. Maker | Michael Dubb, Steven Bouchey, Bethlehem Stables & Chester A. Bishop | 1 mile | 1:35.18 | $100,000 | III | [8] |
| 2020 | Island Commish | Paco Lopez | Saffie A. Joseph Jr. | Matthew Schera | abt. 7+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:28.25 | $100,000 | III | [9] |
| 2019 | Casa Creed | John R. Velazquez | William I. Mott | LRE Racing & JEH Racing Stable | abt. 7+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:30.64 | $100,000 | Listed | [10] |
| 2018 | Flameaway | Julien R. Leparoux | Mark E. Casse | John C. Oxley | abt. 7+1⁄2 furlongs | 1:29.78 | $100,000 | Listed | [11] |
| 2017 | Kitten's Cat | Luis Saez | Joe Sharp | Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey | 1 mile | 1:36.41 | $100,000 | Listed | [12] |
| 2016 | J R 's Holiday | Emisael Jaramillo | Jose Garoffalo | J.R. Racing | 1 mile | 1:35.20 | $100,000 | Listed | [13] |
| 2015 | Dubai Sky | John R. Velazquez | William I. Mott | Three Chimneys Farm and Besilu Stable | 1 mile | 1:36.05 | $100,000 | Listed | [14] |
| 2014 | Storming Inti | Alan Garcia | Chad C. Brown | Santa Rosa Racing Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.34 | $100,000 | Listed | [15] |
| 2013 | Charming Kitten | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.43 | $100,000 | Listed | [16] |
| 2012 | Howe Great | Edgar S. Prado | H. Graham Motion | Team Valor International | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.42 | $100,000 | Listed | [17] |
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