Faraway Kitten scores first graded win in American Derby

Faraway Kitten grinded his way to a victory in the Grade 3, $150,000 American Derby at Arlington International Racecourse on Saturday, a prep race for the Secretariat (G1) on Arlington Million Day on Aug. 10.

A field of 11 was sent to post for the 1 1/16-mile journey over the Arlington turf course.

A Ken and Sarah Ramsey homebred, Faraway Kitten sat mid pack in the early stages of the race as the first flight went a first quarter in:23.59, and a half-mile in: 47.46.

Around the turn, Faraway Kitten snuck up the rail before swinging out to take on the leader.

At the sixteenth pole, Faraway Kitten kicked away and scored a half-length victory in a final time of 1:41.72.

“It was a good trouble-free trip,” said jockey Adam Beschizza, who won two of the four stakes races on the day. “This horse has a good engine and feels like he can run for days. I’m just glad all the openings came at the right time and this horse did it in good fashion.”

Faraway Kitten now has a lifetime record of 9-5-0-2, with the American Derby becoming his first graded stakes victory.

Four of his five victories have come on the turf course, with one of his wins being on the Woodbine synthetic main track.

The Mike Maker-trained Faraway Kitten is a 3-year-old son of Kittens Joy, and has now won three of his last four.

Faraway Kitten paid $32. There was a dead heat for second between Crafty Daddy and The Last Zip.