Grade I Winner Precious Kitten Retired

Precious Kitten, who ran second in the Nov. 30 Matriarch Stakes (gr. IT) at Hollywood Park, is off to the breeding shed.

"That was her last race,” said trainer Bobby Frankel.

The Jacksons plan to have Precious Kitten bred to Street Cry in 2009. She is scheduled to be sent to Mill Ridge Farm near Lexington.

Five-year-old Precious Kitten won eight races and ran second in 10 others from 25 races and earned $1,912,543. She captured the 2007 Matriarch in what was her last start for former owners Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey. Bred by the Ramseys, Precious Kitten was purchased by the Jacksons prior to her 2008 campaign and campaigned in the name of their Lael Stables.

Precious Kitten also won last year’s John C. Mabee (gr. IT), Palomar (gr. IIT), and Gallorette (gr. IIIT) Handicaps, the last named in course-record time. She finished third in Eclipse Award balloting in the female turf category. This year, she captured the Gamely Stakes (gr. IT).

In her penultimate race, Precious Kitten ran fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. IT).

By the Ramseys’ stallion Catienus  , Precious Kitten is out of the Lear Fan mare Kitten’s First. Two of her half-sisters are stakes producers, including  Justenuffheart, a stakes winner herself and dam of champion Dreaming of Anna and grade II winner Lewis Michael  .