The Cardiac Kid, Camelot Kitten, wins the Hall of Fame
Camelot Kitten sure does know how to add suspense to his victories. Just three months ago, he was let go as an 18-1 dark horse in the Grade 2 American Turf at Churchill Downs. He won that one by a head. Then he came back and notched the Grade 3 Pennine Ridge at Belmont Park by a neck. After a solid, but losing effort in the rich Belmont Derby, the Ken & Sarah Ramsey homebred was at it again today. Completing his trilogy of heart pounding victories, racing’s new Cardiac Kid prevailed by a nose in the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga.
With Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the irons, the son of Kitten’s Joy found a comfortable stalking position in fourth behind a slow early pace set by Giant Run. With the recent winner of the Manila Stakes leading the field of six through opening splits of 25.08, 49.17 and 1:12.88, the 9-5 favorite was never far behind, nor was the graded stakes winner, Airoforce, who was in search of his first stakes victory of the year.
As the field came spinning out of Saratoga Race Course's inner turf, Giant Run appeared to have something left for the stretch drive, but his pursuers quickly proved to have more powerful acceleration. Camelot Kitten on the outside, and Airoforce between horses, went by the early leader, and battled it out in a head-bobbing sprint to the wire. It was only a nose decision in the $200,000 affair, but you could tell on the wire that it was the familiar red and white silks of Ramsey getting there first.
Winning trainer, Chad Brown remarked about his horse’s improvement since adding a key piece of equipment. "This horse has always shown a lot of talent but he just wasn't finishing off his races the way he should," said Brown. "Since we put the blinkers on I think it's his fourth great race in a row. It was the final piece of the puzzle for this particular horse." Brown has now won the Hall of Fame two straight years, having trained Takeover Target to win it last year.
The unlucky loser was Airofoce, who ran the best race of his three-year-old season. Remember, last year the Mark Casse trained grey narrowly missed taking home first-money in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. Strike Midnight was a rallying three-quarters of a length farther back in third, while the pacesetter, Giant Run, completed the superfecta.
Camelot Kitten is a dark horse no more having won three of his last four. He completed the 1 1/16-miles over the firm turf in a solid time of 1:41.76. His third graded stakes victory this year, all coming at different tracks, raised his lifetime record to 8-4-2-0, and improved his career earnings to $603,520.
"He's the kind of horse that after watching his replays you can tell he has gotten much better over time," said Ortiz, who did Brown one better by visiting the Hall of Fame winner’s circle for the third straight year. "He waits a little bit on horses so we couldn't make the lead too early, so I waited and eased him into the race little by little. The last part I hit a few times coming into the turn and he was ready. He was jumping. I think he might be better at this distance but he's a nice horse."
It wasn’t easy, but then again it never is for Camelot Kitten. If you sweated today’s feature out with the favorite, the return was $5.80, $3.50, and $2.40 across the board, while the $2 exacta over the second choice, Airoforce was good for $21.40. Strike Midnight in third, completed an $89.00 trifecta.