Big Blue Kitten Wins Another Grade One in the Turf Classic

With a course record setting victory in the $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) at Belmont Park, Big Blue Kitten moved to the top of the American-based horses heading to the Breeders’ Cup Turf to be run at Keeneland Racecourse. The win was his second in a grade one event this year and his second in a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” qualifier.

The race unfolded, as expected, with the Ken and Sarah Ramsey owned pacesetter, Shining Copper, bouncing out of the gate and opening up a big lead. Red Rifle, the 8-5 betting favorite, was second and Twilight Eclipse sat in third, both were on the rail saving ground. After the first quarter went in 23.79, Shining Copper had a six length lead. The margin increased to 11 after the 47.18 half-mile. Six furlong went in 1:11.45 and the mile in 1:35.26 and the Shining Copper’s advantage had then diminished to seven lengths.

While his stablemate made the lead, Big Blue Kitten sat patiently way behind, by as much as 19 lengths after the half-mile. Heading around the clubhouse turn the closers had begun to make their move and as the horses straightened away, Joe Bravo made the first move with Big Blue Kitten and seized the lead early in the stretch.

Bravo was quickly in front by three lengths, but his other stable mate, Slumber, was making his move along with Twilight Eclipse. Big Blue Kitten has had a history of waiting for competition when he makes the lead, so trainer Chad Brown had reason to worry, “Maybe with 70 yards to go, I was a little concerned, but he had enough. Very impressive effort today."

“Jersey” Joe Bravo described the way the race unfolded, “You're watching the pace, but it's kind of nice to sit back and see the pace unfolding. The pace was sort of 'stop go, stop go' but at the top of the stretch, I said 'go' and he said 'okay.' I had my hands full with him but I thought. 'hey, let them catch us now.' When it comes down to it, he's an amazing horse and he deserves to hold a track record. He's done so good that he makes you look good."

In the end, the margin of victory was three-quarters of a length over Slumber who beat third place finisher, Twilight Eclipse, by a nose. The final time of 2:23.39 for the mile and a half set a new course record shattering the mark of 2:24-1 that was set in 2001 by Fantastic Light.

Big Blue Kitten duplicated the United Nations – Turf Classic double grade one and double “Win and You’re In” feat that propelled Main Sequence to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Turf in 2014.

Sent off as the 5-2 second choice, Big Blue Kitten paid $7.00, 3.00, and 2.30. The $360,000 winner’s share of the purse upped the seven-year-old’s career record to 29:14-8-4 with earnings of $2,736,830.