Stephanie's Kitten Goes out a Winner in BC F & M Turf

Stephanie’s Kitten closed out a storybook career with a late running victory in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. Trailing for the first six furlongs of the 1 3/16 miles journey, the six-year-old daughter of Kitten’s Joy saved ground along the final turn, split horses at the furlong pole and finished with a flourish to win by 1 1/4 lengths. “I broke from the outside, so I was trying to save some ground. I found a hole to go through around the quarter pole and then when I asked her she just took off,” said jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.

The victory was Stephanie’s Kitten’s fifth grade 1 victory and her second in the Breeders’ Cup. In 2011 she captured the Juvenile Fillies Turf for owners Ken & Sarah Ramsay.  Starting the 2014 season, Stephanie’s Kitten was transferred to current trainer Chad Brown.  “This victory means so much to me. Mr. Ramsay chose to give me this filly after she already won a Breeders’ Cup race which is a risky thing to do,” Brown said.

At the end of last year Stephanie’s Kitten was to be auctioned off, but the reserve was not met, so another season was in the cards. “They [the Ramseys] had a chance to sell her last year and they bought her back and raced her as a six-year-old, which isn’t a popular thing to do. They were rewarded today,” Brown added.

Race favorite, Legatissimo, saved ground throughout and also closed late, but could not match strides with the winner. Her trainer, David Wachman said, “She ran a good race, but she’s had a long season. I was pleased with her run. She met a good horse today".

French import, Queen’s Jewel, encountered trouble at that start and going into the first turn. Once settled near the back of the pack, she was forced to swing very wide on the home turn and closed well to be a non-threatening third 3 1/2 lengths behind the winner. “She needs a bit more time to keep up with pace and find her stride. She struggled a bit on the turns, but made up a lot of ground on the straight,” jockey Maxime Guyon said.

Owners Ken & Sarah Ramsey have been a staple of Kentucky racing for decades, and bred the winner from their fabulous stallion, Kitten’s Joy. “She won here today just six miles from where she born and raised and I am so happy for them, and this is her last race. What a story!” Brown said proudly.

Stephanie’s Kitten covered the 1 3/16 miles over good ground in 1:56.22. She returned $17.60 to her backers and $1,100,000 to the Ramseys.