Derby Kitten Eyes Preakness

It’s clear from his name that his owners have always harbored high hopes for Derby Kitten. Unfortunately, despite his victory April 23 in the Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. III), Derby Kitten doesn’t have sufficient graded earnings to take his shot at living up to his name in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). However, he’s not out of the classic picture entirely, as he could now point to the Preakness Stakes (gr. I).

The Lexington—run on Keeneland’s Polytrack all-weather surface—was Derby Kitten’s second start on anything other than turf—he was unplaced in an October 2010 juvenile maiden race pulled off the Belmont turf because of weather—and marked a significant step forward in his form. It actually took him six starts to break his maiden, a feat that he achieved in a 7½-furlong claiming event (for a $75,000 tag). January 5 at Gulfstream Park. He was then second in a handicap over a mile at Tampa, and a fast-closing second, beaten a length, in the one mile Alligator Alley Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Derby Kitten was bred by Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey, who also bred and campaigned his sire, Kitten's Joy  . By El Prado out of a Lear Fan mare, Kitten’s Joy was bred for the turf, and that is where he excelled. He won twice in four starts at 2, but really came good at 3, earning honors as champion turf horse. He captured six of his eight starts that year, all graded stakes events, including the Secretariat Stakes and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes (both gr. IT), and was second in the John Deere Breeders’ Cup Turf (gr. IT). Kitten’s Joy remained in training at 4, but started just twice, winning the Firecracker Breeders’ Cup Handicap (gr. IIT) and taking second in the Arlington Million Stakes (gr. I).