Admiral Kitten Heads Hawthorne Derby Noms

Grade 1 winner Admiral Kitten is one of six sons of Kitten’s Joy nominated to the 49th running of the Grade 3 Hawthorne Derby.  The $200,000 guaranteed event will be the highlight of a special evening card on Saturday, October 5 which begins with a first post of 5:00 PM.

To be contested at one mile and one eighth on the Hawthorne turf course, the Hawthorne Derby closed with 39 total nominations.  Of the 39 nominated for the race, nine are Graded stakes winners with another 12 that are Graded stakes placed.  Trainer Mike Maker has nominated four to the Hawthorne Derby headed by Admiral Kitten.  Admiral Kitten’s most recent start was a victorious one in the Grade 1 Secretariat stakes at Arlington Park on August 17.  The other three Maker nominees are Fear the Kitten, Moro Tap, and Wings of Fortune.

Trainer Todd Pletcher also has four nominated to the Hawthorne Derby.  Those four are led by multiple stakes winners Notacatbutallama and Winning Cause.  Pletcher also has Graded stakes placed Charming Kitten and Graded stakes winner Jack Milton nominated.

The complete list of nominees, along with past performances, for the Hawthorne Derby are posted online at www.HawthorneRaceCourse.com in the Horsemen’s section.

The Hawthorne Derby will be the highlight of a big opening weekend of racing for the fall Hawthorne meet.  Hawthorne’s Rocktoberfest will take place all weekend long with food and drink specials, multiple beer vendors on hand, live music, and great racing action.  First post on opening day, Friday, October 4 is 3:10 PM.  Hawthorne Derby Day has a 5:00 PM post and opening weekend finishes off with a 2:10 PM post on Sunday, October 6.