Stephanie's Kitten

Last updated
Stephanie's Kitten
Stephanie's Kitten.jpg
Stephanie's Kitten at the 2011 Breeders' Cup.
Sire Kitten's Joy
Grandsire El Prado
DamUnfold the Rose
DamsireCatienus
SexMare
FoaledMarch 26, 2009 [1]
CountryUnited States
Colour Bay
Breeder Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey
OwnerKenneth and Sarah Ramsey
Trainer Wayne Catalano
Chad Brown
Record26:11–4–4
Earnings$4,292,904
Major wins
Alcibiades Stakes (2011)
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (2011)
Edgewood Stakes (2012)
Lake Placid Stakes (2012)
Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes (2013)
Just A Game Stakes (2013)
Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes (2014, 2015)
Hillsborough Stakes (2015)
Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (2015)
Last updated on 17 October 2015

Stephanie's Kitten (foaled March 26, 2009) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning two Breeders' Cup races. As a two-year-old in 2011 she won the Grade I Alcibiades Stakes and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. She won the Edgewood Stakes and the Lake Placid Stakes in 2012 and went on to win the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes and the Just A Game Stakes in 2013. As a five-year-old in 2014 she won the Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes and finished second in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf. In 2015 she won the Hillsborough Stakes and a second Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes before ending her career with victory in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

Contents

Background

Stephanie's Kitten is a bay mare with a white blaze bred and owned by Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey. She was sired by the Ramsey stallion Kitten's Joy the U.S. Champion Male Turf Horse of 2004. Her dam Unfold The Rose, also bred and owned by the Ramseys, was an unraced daughter of Catienus and the Del Mar Oaks winner Bail Out Becky. She was a descendant of the influential broodmare La Troienne. [2] Stephanie's Kitten is named after the Ramseys' granddaughter. [3]

The Ramseys sent their filly into training with Wayne Catalano before moving her to Chad Brown's stable in 2014.

Racing career

2011: two-year-old season

Stephanie's Kitten began her racing career at Arlington Park in the summer of 2011, finishing third on her debut and then winning a maiden race over one mile on the turf course on August 5. In September she was sent to Canada and stepped up in class to contest the Grade III Natalma Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack. Starting a 17/1 outsider she finished third behind Northern Passion and Dayatthespa. She returned to the United States to contest the Grade I Alcibiades Stakes on the synthetic Polytrack surface at Keeneland on October 7. Ridden by John Velazquez she started at odds of 9.8/1 and won by one and a half lengths after taking the lead inside the final furlong. [4]

On her final appearance of the season Stephanie's Kitten was one of fourteen fillies to contest the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Churchill Downs on November 4. The British filly Elusive Kate started favorite ahead of Somali Lemonade (winner of the Jessamine Stakes) with Stephanie's Kitten third choice at odds of 8/1. The other contenders included Dayatthespa, Stopshoppingmaria (runner-up in the Frizette Stakes)and Pure Gossip (Miss Grillo Stakes) as well as Up from Ireland and Dear Lavinia from France. Velazquez tracked the leader Stopshoppingmaria before moving out to make a challenge in the straight. Stephanie's Kitten caught Stopshoppingmaria 25 yards from the finish and won by three quarters of a length. After the race, Velazquez said "She was amazing. As soon as I asked her to go in between those other two horses, she responded right away. It's nice when you can ride horses like that. It makes it easy for us. She's game for anything I ask her to do". [5]

Stephanie's Kitten (#5) battles Stopshoppingmaria (#4) to win the 2011 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. 2011 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.jpg
Stephanie's Kitten (#5) battles Stopshoppingmaria (#4) to win the 2011 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

2012: three-year-old season

Stephanie's Kitten began her second season in the Grade I Ashland Stakes over eight and a half furlongs on the Polytrack at Keeneland on April 7. Ridden by Julien Leparoux she started favorite but finished third behind Karlovy Vary and Hard Not To Like. She returned to the turf at Churchill Downs on May 4 and won the Edgewood Stakes by two lengths from Firehouse Red, setting a race record time of 1:40.94. [6]

After a two-month break she returned for two appearances at the summer meeting at Saratoga Race Course, starting with a fourth place behind Centre Court, Better Lucky and the British-trained Samitar in the Lake George Stakes on July 25. On August 19, Stephanie's Kitten faced Centre Court, Better Lucky and Somali Lemonade in the Grade II Lake Placid Stakes and was made the 11/10 favorite. After struggling to obtain a clear run in the straight she was switched out in the final furlong and finished strongly to win by half a length from Centre Court. Velazquez commented "I was on the rail the whole way... When I asked, she responded right away. It was a great effort by her and an incredible last eighth. I know she has it in her, and as soon as I pulled her out and hit her with the whip she responded right away, so I was very impressed at the way she did it". [7]

On 13 October the filly started favorite for the Grade I Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes on the turf at Keeneland but finished sixth of the eight runners behind Dayatthespa, Centre Court, Better Lucky, Samitar and Somali Lemonade.

2013: four-year-old season

On her debut as a four-year-old, Stephanie's Kitten contested the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 4. She started third favorite behind Hungry Island (winner of the race in 2012) and Daisy Devine (Jenny Wiley Stakes) in a field which also included Karlovy Vary and Stopshoppingmaria. After racing in last place until the final turn, she was switched to the outside by Leparoux and produced a strong late run to catch Hungry Island inside the final furlong and win by a neck. [8] On June 8 at Belmont Park the filly was stepped back up to Grade I level for the Just A Game Stakes over one mile. Her old rivals Centre Court, Hungry Island and Better Lucky were again in opposition as well as the outstanding sprinter Mizdirection and the French filly Laugh Out Loud (Prix de Sandringham). After being held up by Velazquez in the early stages, Stephanie's Kitten accelerated in the straight and got the better of a "sustained battle" with Better Lucky to win by half a length. [9] Velazquez commented "It was do-or-die; you stay there or you die in there. She handled the ground great, that was the most important thing. When I asked her, she was there for me... I know she's a fighter, definitely". [10] At Saratoga on July 27, started second favorite for the Grade I Diana Stakes but finished third of the five runners behind Laughing and Dream Peace.

2014: five-year-old season

In 2014 Chad Brown took over from Catalano as Stephanie's Kitten's trainer. The mare made little impact on her first two starts, finishing eighth behind Hard Not To Like in the Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland in April and fifth to Coffee Cliue when attempting to repeat her 2013 success in the Just A Game Stakes. In the Diana Stakes in July she finished strongly but was beaten neck into second place by Somali Lemonade. She faced Somali Lemonade again in the Beverly D. Stakes at Arlington in August, a race which also attracted the leading British fillies Just The Judge (Irish 1,000 Guineas) and Euro Charline. After being last of the eleven runners two furlongs out she finished very well but was beaten three quarters of a length into second place by Euro Charline. [11]

The Grade I Flower Bowl Stakes at Belmont on September 27, saw Stephanie's Kitten, ridden by Velazquez, start 6/5 favorite against seven opponents. Her rivals included Abaco (Ballston Spa Handicap), the Brazilian mare Viva Rafaela, Alterite (Garden City Stakes) and Strathnaver (Bewitch Stakes). Velazquez positioned the favorite in mid-division as Viva Rafaela set the pace before making a challenge approaching the final furlong. Stephanie's Kitten took the lead and won by one and a quarter lengths and a neck from Abaco and Viva Rafaela. Velazquez commented "We broke well enough, and I wanted to make sure I got a nice position going into the first turn. Once we got that, I was pretty pleased with where I was and kind of bided my time. When I asked her, she responded right away, and made me look really good". [12]

Stephanie's Kitten made her second appearance in the Breeder's Cup when she contested the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita Park on November 1. She started the 4/1 second favorite behind Dank in a field which also included Dayatthespa, Secret Gesture (runner-up in The Oaks), Just The Judge and Fiesolana (Matron Stakes). After racing in mid-division, the mare finished strongly to take second place, one and a quarter lengths behind Dayatthespa.

Stephanie's Kitten was put up for auction at the Fasig-Tipton sale on November 3 but was bought back by Ken Ramsey when the bidding stopped at $3.95 million. Ramsey explained that he refused to sell her for less than $4 million saying that the mare was "kind of like one of the family". [13]

2015: six-year-old season

Stephanie's Kitten began her fifth season in the Grade III Hillsborough Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on March 7 and won by one and a half lengths from Ball Dancing (also trained by Brown). [14] After a three-month break she appeared in the New York Stakes at Belmont in June and finished fourth behind the Irish-trained filly Waltzing Matilda. In August she made her third attempt to win the Diana Stakes at Saratoga and started the 2.3/1 favorite. Ridden for the first time by Irad Ortiz she never looked likely to win and finished fifth behind Hard Not To Like, Tepin, Kitten's Queen and My Miss Sophia. [15]

On August 15 at Arlington, Stephanie's Kitten started second favorite behind Euro Charline in what proved to be a highly controversial race for the Beverly D Stakes. After racing towards the rear of the field she made rapid progress in the straight and moved into second place behind Secret Gesture. In the last 100 yards she was impeded as the leader drifted right and finished third behind Secret Gesture and Watsdachances. After an inquiry she was promoted to second after Secret Gesture was disqualified. [16] On October 3 Stephanie's Kitten attempted to repeat her 2014 success in the Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes and started second favorite behind the Irish-trained three-year-old Curvy, the winner of the Ribblesdale Stakes. Ortiz tracked the leaders before producing the mare with her customary late run: she took the lead inside the final furlong and won by one and a half lengths from Danza Cavallo. Mutatis Mutandis took third ahead of Watsdachances and Curvy. [17] [18]

Stephanie's Kitten ended her racing career in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Keeneland on 31 October. The Irish filly Legatissimo was made the odds-on favorite ahead of the Chilean champion Dacita with Stephanie's Kitten third in the betting on 7.8/1. The other runners were Miss France, Queen's Jewel (Prix Saint-Alary), Secret Gesture, Watsdachances, Sentiero Italia (Sands Point Stakes), Photo Call (Rodeo Drive Stakes) and Sharla Rae (Del Mar Oaks). Stephanie's Kitten was restrained by Ortiz at the rear of the field as Secret Gesture set the pace. She began to make progress on the inside approaching the final turn and continued her charge in the straight, taking the lead inside the final furlong and winning by one and a quarter lengths from Legatissimo.

Breeding career

Stephanie's Kitten was entered in the 2015 Fasig-Tipton November sale but was bought back by the Ramseys for $2.95 million after she failed to meet her $3 million reserve price. She was sold privately on November 2 for $2.8 million to Katsumi Yoshida's Northern Farm and exported to Japan. Ken Ramsey said of the sale, "I saw the sale was down last night and that only one horse in the sale brought $3 million, so I thought that was where the market is now and accepted the offer." [19]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Stephanie's Kitten (USA), bay mare, 2009 [1]
Sire
Kitten's Joy (USA)
2001
El Prado (IRE)
1989
Sadler's Wells Northern Dancer
Fairy Bridge
Lady Capulet Sir Ivor
Cap and Bells
Kitten's First (USA)
1991
Lear Fan Roberto
Wac
That's My Hon L'Enjoleur
One Lane
Dam
Unfold the Rose (USA)
2004
Catienus (USA)
1994
Storm Cat Storm Bird
Terlingua
Diamond City Mr. Prospector
Honey's Flag
Bail Out Becky (USA)
1992
Red RansomRoberto
Arabia
Becky Be GoodNaskra
Good Landing (Family: 1-x) [2]

Related Research Articles

Kitten's Joy was a Thoroughbred racehorse who was a multiple graded stakes winner and the American Champion Turf Horse of 2004. Since retiring to stud, he became one of the leading sires in North America and has had great success with his runners in Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chad Brown (horse trainer)</span> American horse trainer

Chad C. Brown is an American Thoroughbred horse racing trainer known for his expertise with turf horses and with fillies and mares. He has trained ten Eclipse Award winners including Stacelita, Big Blue Kitten, Lady Eli, Flintshire, and Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar. After receiving the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer of 2016, he won his first Triple Crown race with Cloud Computing in the 2017 Preakness Stakes. He also won the Eclipse Award in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Perfect Shirl is a Thoroughbred racemare who won the 2011 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf in a 27-1 upset. She was foaled in the United States but her connections were Canadian.

Dank is a British Thoroughbred racehorse. She showed useful form in Europe as a three and four-year-old, winning the Atalanta Stakes, Dahlia Stakes and Kilboy Estate Stakes. The filly showed improved form when campaigned in the United States in the second half of 2013, winning the Beverly D. Stakes and the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and being voted American Champion Female Turf Horse.

Mizdirection is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. A specialist sprinter, she is best known for winning the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint in 2012 and 2013.

Groupie Doll is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. A specialist sprinter, she is best known for winning the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint in 2012 and 2013. Unraced as a two-year-old she showed good form as a three-year-old in 2011, winning three races including the Gardenia Stakes. In 2012, she emerged as a world-class sprinter, winning the Madison Stakes, Humana Distaff Handicap, Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes, and Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes before taking the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. In 2013 she repeated in the Masters Stakes and won a second Breeders' Cup. She was then sold as a prospective broodmare for $3.1 million. Her new owner chose to keep her in training into early 2014, running her against males in the Cigar Mile, and then in the Hurricane Bertie Stakes, where she won the final race of her career, to be retired and become a broodmare.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Miss Aurelia</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

My Miss Aurelia is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old in 2011, she was unbeaten in four races including the Adirondack Stakes, Frizette Stakes and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and was voted American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly at the Eclipse Award. After missing the early part of the following season through injury she took her winning run to six with two more victories including a win over Questing in the Cotillion Stakes. She sustained her first defeat when second to Royal Delta in the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic and was beaten in her only subsequent race that year. She finished third on her only appearance as a four-year-old and was retired in September 2014 to Stonestreet Farm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Untapable</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Untapable is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. She showed promise as a two-year-old in 2013 when she won two of her four races including the Pocahontas Stakes and was placed in the Starlet Stakes. In 2014 she emerged as a top-class racehorse, winning the Rachel Alexandra Stakes, Fair Grounds Oaks, Kentucky Oaks, Mother Goose Stakes, Cotillion Handicap and Breeders' Cup Distaff and was named American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly.

Dayatthespa is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. As a three-year-old in 2012 she won her first five races including the Herecomesthebride Stakes, Appalachian Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup. After winning two races in an abbreviated 2013 season she reached her peak as a five-year-old in 2014, winning the Yaddo Stakes, the First Lady Stakes and the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Take Charge Lady is an American Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She was one of the leading fillies of her generation in the United States, winning 11 of her 22 races between April 2001 and November 2003, earning over $2 million. She recorded Grade I victories in the Ashland Stakes and consecutive editions of the Spinster Stakes, and also won the Alcibiades Stakes, Silverbulletday Stakes, Fair Grounds Oaks, Dogwood Stakes and Arlington Matron Stakes.

Countess Diana was an American Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a two-year-old in 1997, she dominated the juvenile fillies division in North America, winning five of her six races including the Schuylerville Stakes, Spinaway Stakes, Alcibiades Stakes and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. At the end of the year she was voted American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly and rated the best American two-year-old filly for more than fifty years. Her subsequent racing career was relatively disappointing: she failed to win in four starts in 1998 before winning two minor races in 1999. After her retirement from racing she had limited success as a broodmare and died in 2006.

Wait A While is an American Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. Although she showed some good form on dirt she had her greatest success on turf and won twelve of her twenty-four races in a track career which lasted from August 2005 until October 2008. As a two-year-old she won two of her four races including the Miss Grillo Stakes. In the following year she won the Davona Dale Stakes, Sands Point Stakes, American Oaks, Lake Placid Stakes and Yellow Ribbon Stakes in a campaign which saw her being voted that season's American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly. Her third season was disrupted by illness and injury but she did win the Honey Fox Stakes and the Ballston Spa Handicap. In her final season Wait A While won the San Gorgonio Handicap and recorded repeat victories in the Ballston Spa Handicap and the Yellow Ribbon Stakes. Her racing career ended controversially when she was disqualified for failing a drug test after finishing third in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Judy the Beauty is a Canadian-bred, American-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred by Adena Springs in Ontario, she has been owned and trained throughout her racing career by Wesley Ward who bought her for $20,000 as a yearling. As a juvenile, she won her first three races before finishing second in the Spinaway Stakes. In a brief three-year-old season she finished second in all three of her races. In 2013 she established herself as one of the best female sprinters in North America, winning the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes and finishing second to Groupie Doll in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. She was even better at five, winning the Las Flores Handicap, Madison Stakes and Rancho Bernardo Handicap before ending her season with a win in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. After her retirement, Judy the Beauty was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Found (horse)</span> Irish Thoroughbred racehorse

Found is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. Sired by Galileo out of the mare Red Evie, she represents the Coolmore Stud organisation and is trained by Aidan O'Brien. In 2014 she won a strong maiden race on her debut and then finished third in the Moyglare Stud Stakes before winning the Prix Marcel Boussac. She was rated the equal-best two-year-old filly to race in Europe in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Legatissimo</span> British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Legatissimo is a British-bred Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. After showing some promise as a juvenile, she showed marked improvement in the spring of 2015 and recorded her first major success in the 1000 Guineas. On her next appearance she was narrowly beaten when favourite for The Oaks. After another narrow defeat in the Pretty Polly Stakes she returned to top form to win the Nassau Stakes and the Matron Stakes

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tepin (horse)</span> American Thoroughbred racehorse

Tepin is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse who was named the American Champion Female Turf Horse of 2015 and 2016. She showed very promising form as a two-year-old in 2013 when she won the Delta Princess Stakes on the dirt. After a disappointing three-year-old season when she failed to win in four starts, she emerged as a top-class turf performer in 2015. Her wins as a four-year-old included the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes, Just A Game Stakes and First Lady Stakes before recording her biggest success when defeating male opposition in the Breeders' Cup Mile. In 2016, she won her first four starts and was then sent to England, where she defeated a field of leading European milers to win the Queen Anne Stakes. On returning to North America, she extended her winning streak to eight in the Woodbine Mile. The streak included three Grade/Group 1 wins against male horses in three different countries. Although Tepin finished second in her next two starts including an effort to defend her title in the Breeders Cup Mile, she was still named the Champion Female Turf Horse for the second year in a row. Tepin was inducted to the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2020 and the US National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2022.

Big Blue Kitten is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who specialises in turf races. Unraced as a juvenile, he finished third on his debut in 2011 and then went on a five race winning streak, culminating in a victory in the Grade II National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes. After winning one minor race as a four-year-old he emerged as a top-class turf performer in 2013 when his wins included the United Nations Stakes and the Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes. His only win of consequence in 2014 came in the Lure Stakes but he returned to his best as a seven-year-old in 2015 winning the Fort Marcy Handicap, a second United Nations Stakes and the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes. Apart from his victories he finished second in the Arlington Million and third in the Breeders' Cup Turf. His performances earned him the title of American Champion Male Turf Horse for 2015.

Samitar is a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare who raced in four countries and won major races in England, Ireland and the United States. She showed good form as a juvenile in 2011, winning the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot and a valuable sales race at Newmarket Racecourse as well as being placed in the May Hill Stakes and the Fillies' Mile. In the following year she recorded an upset win in the Irish 1,000 Guineas before being sent to race in North America where she won the Garden City Stakes. She remained in training as a four-year-old and won stakes races at Belmont Park and Saratoga.

Malathaat is a Champion American Thoroughbred racehorse. She was named the American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly of 2021 after winning the Ashland Stakes, Kentucky Oaks and Alabama Stakes. In 2022, she was named American Champion Older Dirt Female Horse after winning the Personal Ensign, Spinster Stakes and Breeders' Cup Distaff. She also won the Tempted and Demoiselle Stakes at age two.

War Like Goddess is an American multiple Graded Stakes winning Thoroughbred racehorse. Her graded wins include the Grade I Flower Bowl Stakes in 2021 the Grade II Glens Falls Stakes twice at Saratoga Race Course all of which are long-distance turf events.

References

  1. 1 2 "Stephanie's Kitten pedigree". Equineline. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
  2. 1 2 "La Troienne – Family 1-x". Thoroughbred Bloodlines.
  3. [ dead link ]
  4. "Alcibiades Stakes result". Racing Post. 7 October 2011.
  5. [ dead link ]
  6. [ dead link ]
  7. [ dead link ]
  8. [ dead link ]
  9. "Just A Game Stakes result". Racing Post . 8 June 2013.
  10. [ dead link ]
  11. "Beverly D Stakes result". Racing Post. 16 August 2014.
  12. [ dead link ]
  13. [ dead link ]
  14. "Hillsborough Stakes result". Racing Post. 7 March 2015.
  15. "Diana Stakes result". Racing Post. 25 July 2015.
  16. "Beverly D Stakes result". Racing Post. 15 August 2015.
  17. [ dead link ]
  18. "Flower Bowl Stakes result 2015". Racing Post. 3 October 2015.
  19. Mitchell, Eric (November 2, 2015). "Northern Farm Buys Stephanie's Kitten". Blood-Horse. Retrieved 15 November 2015.