BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News

Stephanie's Kitten Comes Back a Winner

Stephanie's Kitten came back of the layup and got the job done May 4 in the Distaff Turf Mile (gr. IIT) at Churchill Downs. Hungry Island, winner of the same race in 2012, was second by a neck.

Kitten's Dumplings Rallies Late in Edgewood

Ken and Sarah Ramsey's 3-year-old homebred filly Kitten's Dumplings overcame a poor effort in her last start and notched the first victory of her sophomore season in grand fashion in the May 3 Edgewood Stakes.

Marketing Mix Returns in Distaff Turf Mile

Marketing Mix was made the 5-2 morning-line favorite for her 2013 debut, the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (presented by Longines) (gr. IIT) on the Derby Day undercard. Hungry Island, last year's winner, returns.

Fear the Kitten Could Land Final Derby Slot

Although he only has six points on the road to the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), the connections of Fear the Kitten said April 29 they're pointing the son of Kitten's Joy to the 1 1/4-mile Classic.

Ramsey Savors Every Winner's Circle Trip

While Ken Ramsey has reached racing's heights, the Thoroughbred owner says he will never abandon claiming races.

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Juvenile Behavior: Ward Eyes Royal Ascot

After winning five of the six juvenile races he entered this spring at Keeneland, trainer Wesley Ward is considering all of those winners for Royal Ascot.

Royal Ascot Entries Include Animal Kingdom

Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Animal Kingdom and Java's War, who is being pointed to this year's Louisville classic, are among the U.S.-trained horses being considered for Royal Ascot.

Rosario Chasing Keeneland Record

On the final Sunday morning of the 2013 Keeneland spring meet, there was still plenty of activity on the Keeneland backstretch.

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Wide-Open Madison Should Be Good Betting Race

This year's edition of the $300,000 Madison Stakes (gr. I) may not feature a superstar such as 2012 winner Groupie Doll, but 10 older fillies and mares will provide a good wagering event at Keeneland April 13.

Charming Kitten Wins Kitten's Joy for Ramsey

Odds-on choice Charming Kitten, a son of Kitten's Joy, won the $100,000 Kitten's Joy Stakes for 3-year-olds on the turf at Gulfstream Park Jan. 20.

Talent Search to Stand at Ramsey Farm

Multiple stakes winner Talent Search will stand at Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Ramsey Farm near Nicholasville, Ky.

Claiming Crown 2012

Listen to Tom LaMarra discuss the 2012 Claiming Crown with TOBA president Dan Metzger, Gulfstream Park COO Tim Ritvo, and Owner/Breeder Ken Ramsey.

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Always Kitten Heads Jessamine Field

Ken and Sarah Ramsey's homebred Always Kitten, winner of the Happy Ticket Stakes at a mile at Louisiana Downs in her most recent start, headlines a field of 13 entered for the $150,000 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (gr. IIIT).

Schwartz Filly Samitar Eyes Lake George

Owner Martin S. Schwartz's eye for a good horse has led him to Samitar, who bears watching in the $200,000 Lake George Stakes (gr. IIT) at 1 1/16 miles for 3-year-old fillies on turf at Saratoga July 25.

Prospective Heavy Favorite in Ohio Derby

Grade II winner Prospective figures to make his presence felt in the Ohio Derby (gr. III) Saturday, July 7, at Thistledown.

Carlton House Carries Royal Hopes for Queen

Carlton House will try to notch his first group I victory and add glory to an already banner year for The Queen when he takes on So You Think and nine others in the Prince of Wales's Stakes (Eng-I) at Royal Ascot June 20.

Horsemen React to New Derby Qualifying System

Trainers and owners share mixed opinions on the points-based system that will be implemented this fall for the Kentucky Derby and Oaks in 2013, but all agree the newly-announced system could use some tweaking.

Edgewood: Stephanie's Kitten Sets Stakes Mark

Last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IIT) winner Stephanie's Kitten returned to the Churchill Downs turf course and put in another dominating performance, setting a stakes record in the Edgewood Stakes.

Record-Setting Spring Keeneland Meet Ends

Keeneland's 2012 spring race meet ended April 27 with several records being set, including attendance and wagering.

Stephanie's Kitten Headlines Ashland

Stephanie's Kitten, a leading juvenile filly last year on both the main track and the turf, heads a field of seven 3-year-old fillies in the Central Bank Ashland Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland April 7.

Ramseys Win Breeders' Cup John Deere Award

Bolstered by homebred Stephanie's Kitten, Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey are the first recipients of the John Deere Award as outstanding breeders of the 2011 Breeders' Cup Challenge series and the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

Gung Ho Scratched Out; No Turf Workouts

Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Gung Ho, a 20-1 shot in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IT), was scratched out of the race Nov. 3, opening a position in the starting gate that will now be filled by Tequila Factor.

Breeders' Cup Interview: Ken Ramsey

Lenny Shulman talks to owner Ken Ramsey about his Kittens, including Dean's Kitten in the Turf, Holiday for Kitten in the Turf Sprint, and Stephanie's Kitten in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, plus Headache and Pleasant Prince.

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Dean's Kitten Tries to Overcome Odds Again

Dean's Kitten overcame a compromised first year to claw his way to Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. I) contention.

Sale Mares Come With Access to Kitten's Joy

Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Ramsey Farm will offer the buyers of Cardinalli and Blush the opportunity to breed the mares to Kitten's Joy in 2012 at no additional cost.

Stephanie's Kitten Rallies to Take Alcibiades

Ken and Sarah Ramsey's homebred Stephanie's Kitten came from off the pace and ran down Heart of Destiny inside the sixteenth pole to win the $400,000 Darley Alcibiades (gr. I) Oct. 7 on opening day at Keeneland.

Banned Euthanized After Foundering

Multiple graded stakes winner Banned was euthanized Oct. 1, a week after he underwent surgery to repair fractured sesamoids in his right front ankle.

Prairie's June 25 Card Handles $1.2M

Prairie Meadows announces its June 25 program produces its best handle in three years; second largest Saturday program in track's history.

Royal Ascot Interview - Mike Smith

Simon Burgess talks with Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith about what racing is like at Royal Ascot. Mike also mentions Zenyatta.

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Ken Ramsey - By Jacqueline Duke

Folksy ways and love of storytelling, belie his fierce competitiveness

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Derby Kitten's Date with Destiny?

Ken Ramsey hopes Derby Kitten lives up to his ambitious name.

Derby Kitten Gets in, Ramsey Overjoyed

Derby Kitten moved from No. 21 to No. 20 on the all-important graded stakes earnings list with the defection of Wood Memorial (gr. I) winner Toby's Corner.

Keeneland Concludes Strong Spring Meet

Despite the wettest April on record, Keeneland posts strong handle and attendance figures.

Kitten's Joy to Stand for $25,000

Eclipse Award turf winner Kitten's Joy will stand for $25,000 in 2011 at Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Ramsey Farm near Nicholasville, Ky.

Goncalves, Maker Among KTM Award Winners

Ken and Sarah Ramsey are the other award winners, and they all will be recognized July 4 at Churchill Downs.

Ramsey Realistic About Pleasant Prince

Owner Ken Ramsey was optimistic, but also realistic about Pleasant Prince's chances to pull an upset in the May 15 Preaknesss Stakes (gr. I) at Pimlico.

KY Derby Interview: Ken Ramsey

Lenny Shulman interviews Ken Ramsey, owner of KY Derby contender Dean's Kitten. Presented by Taylor Made Stallions.

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Derby Trial Has Added Significance This Year

A pair of Derby Trial (gr. III) starters could go on to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) with a win in the April 24 race at Churchill Downs.

Ramsey: Pleasant Prince to Derby Trial

Ken Ramsey reports that Pleasant Prince will start in the April 24 The Cliff's Edge Derby Trial (gr. III). With a victory in Churchill Downs' one-turn mile prep, the colt will be entered in the Kentucky Derby.

Kentucky Derby Trail: Paddy Cake

Saturday's Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland should be one of the more intriguing Derby preps of the year.

World Cup Notes For March 25

Blood-Horse correspondent Jason Ford makes his way around Meydan Racecourse for the March 27 Dubai World Cup.

Maker Has Two Chances in Turfway's WEBN

Trainer Mike Maker will saddle two sons of turf champion Kitten's Joy in the $50,000 WEBN Stakes at Turfway Park Jan. 30, one already a stakes winner and the other making his first foray into stakes competition.

Furthest Land Gives Ramsey 'Best Claim Ever'

Ken Ramsey is well known for having tremendous success with claiming horses, but the longtime owner pulled off his best claim with Furthest Land, who won the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) Nov. 7 at Santa Anita one year after being plucked for $35,000.

Retama's Wagering Average Drops

Retama Park reported mixed results with a 9% increase in average daily live attendance; a 15% drop in average daily live wagering, and a modest 4% decrease in average daily export wagering during the 32-day meet.

Another Stunner, Furthest Land Wins Dirt Mile

Another favorite falls in the Breeders' Cup, as Furthest Land took the Dirt Mile (gr. I) at 21-1. Ready's Echo is second and Midshipman is third. Heavy favorite Mastercraftsman ran out of steam at the rail in the stretch.

Blame Beats Elders in Closing Day Fayette

Blame, the only 3-year-old in the field, rallied from the back of the pack and ran down favored Parading in mid-stretch to win the $150,000 Fayette Stakes (gr. II), the closing day feature of the Keeneland fall meet Oct. 31.

Fasig-Tipton Makes Stem Cell Announcements

People listening closely to the announcements from the auction stand during the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall yearling sale heard something new during the auction's three-day run (Oct. 26-28) in Lexington. For the first time, Fasig-Tipton told prospective buyers when a horse's stem cells had been collected and stored.

KY Owners, Trainers React to VLT Bill Failure

In the aftermath of the failed passage of the legislation that would have allowed video lottery terminals at Kentucky racetracks, several Thoroughbred industry members voiced their opinions on how they will survive without the extra boost to the state's purse structure and breeders' incentive programs.

Ward's Dream Week Ends in Narrow Defeat

Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Cannonball nearly provided the perfect end to a dream week for American trainer Wesley Ward on the final day of the five-day Royal Ascot meeting June 20, when missing out by a neck in the Golden Jubilee Stakes (Eng-I).

Accredit Splashes Home in CD Handicap

Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Accredit cruised through the slop May 2 to win the seven-furlong Churchill Downs Handicap (gr. II), the first stakes race on the Kentucky Derby undercard.