The homebred son of Kitten's Joy ran first for Ken and Sarah Ramsey, then was acquired by Calumet Farm at the end of his championship year and made three starts for that outfit in 2016. He will stand at Calumet.
Wake Forest, Big Blue Kitten, and The Pizza Man all have to prove they can regain past form when they square off against solid runners Danish Dynaformer and World Approval in 12-furlong turf test at Woodbine
Juddmonte Farms' Flintshire got the most patient of rides from jockey Javier Castellano, shot through on the rail at the top of the stretch, and easily held off a late drive from Money Multiplier to dominate once again on U.S. soil.
Trainer Chad Brown said 2015 champion turf male Big Blue Kitten has developed a foot abscess and will miss the Aug. 13 Arlington Million (gr. IT), a race in which he ran second last year.
Juddmonte Farms homebred Flintshire had plenty of excuses not to win the $250,000 Bowling Green Stakes (gr. IIT) but didn't need to use any of them as he overcame a slow pace and trouble in the final turn.
They have 10 group or graded wins between them. Flintshire has won at that level this year, and Twilight Eclipse is hoping to regain that form in Saturday's race.
Already enjoying success at distance races on the turf, Da Big Hoss found two miles also to his liking as he launched a big rally in the fourth turn on his way to a clear victory in the $300,000 Belmont Gold Cup Stakes June 10 at Belmont Park.
After finishing one-two last year, the Chad Brown-trained duo of Slumber and Big Blue Kitten will aim for more success in those familiar conditions June 11 in the $1 million Knob Creek Manhattan Stakes (gr. IT) on the inner turf at Belmont.
Big Blue Kitten, the champion older turf male of 2015, headlines a field of 13 for the 29th running of the $500,000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (gr. IT) May 7 at Churchill Downs.
The Mike Venezia Memorial Award is presented each year to a jockey who demonstrates the extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship that defined its namesake, who won over 2,300 races.
Pan American Stakes (gr. IIT) winner looks to carry on recent success April 23 at Keeneland.
After registering his biggest career win in his previous start, Grand Tito will try for a second straight grade II score when he stretches out to 1 1/2 miles for the first time in the Pan American Stakes.
Rating comfortably in second throughout, Grupo 7C Racing Stable's Grand Tito bounded to the lead off the turn and won the $200,000 Mac Diarmida Stakes (gr. IIT) by 1 1/4 lengths March 5 at Gulfstream Park.
West Point Thoroughbreds' grade I winner Twilight Eclipse is scheduled to kick off his fifth season of racing in the $200,000 Mac Diarmida Stakes (gr. IIT) March 12 at Gulfstream Park.
Javier Castellano was voted outstanding jockey after he exceeded his own previous single-season earnings record as his mounts in 2015 earned $28,120,767, surpassing his previous mark of $26,219,907 in 2013.
The consistent Big Blue Kitten won three of his six 2015 starts and never finished worse than third while racing almost exclusively in grade I company in earning champion turf male honors.
A visual look at some of the new stallions for 2016, arranged in alphabetical order. View Slideshow
Multiple graded stakes winner Al Khali has been retired and will stand the 2016 breeding season at Keane Stud near Amenia, N.Y., for an advertised fee of $2,500.
Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey have won the fifth annual John Deere Award as outstanding breeders of the 2015 Breeders' Cup Challenge Series and the Breeders' Cup World Championships.
After a fourth-place finish in the TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint this year, 2014 winner Bobby's Kitten will be campaigned in Europe in 2016 before returning home for another crack at the Turf Sprint at Santa Anita.
Leading turf sire Kitten's Joy will stand for a fee of $100,000 for the third straight year in 2016, Ramsey Farm announced Nov. 5.
The 3-year-old filly Found, second to Golden Horn in the Irish Champion Stakes (Ire-I), turned the tables on the 3-year-old colt to take the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) Oct. 31 at Keeneland.
Chad Brown's success has been synonymous with the Breeders' Cup since he handled saddling Ginger Punch to victory in the 2007 Distaff as an assistant trainer. That success has continued unabated.
Rejuvenated from a six-month winter/spring Florida vacation, The Pizza Man has come back remarkably strong this season and is now on-track to face Europe's best runner in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT).
Ken and Sarah Ramsey's couplet in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) could determine whether heavily favored Golden Horn runs away the winner's share of $3 million as is expected.
| Horse | Trainer | Breeder / Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Al Khali | William I. Mott |
|
| Big Blue Kitten | Chad C. Brown |
|
| Boisterous | Todd A. Pletcher |
|
| Exclusive Strike | Jason Servis |
|
| London Lane | Lawrence E. Murray |
|
| Nutello | H. Graham Motion |
|
| Optimizer | Jose Fernandez |
|
| Star Channel | Eddie Kenneally |
|
| Stormy Lord | Michael J. Maker |
|
| Tahoe Lake (BRZ) | Richard L. Valentine |
|
| Tannery (IRE) | Alan E. Goldberg |
|
| Teaks North | Eric J. Guillot |
|
| Twilight Eclipse | Thomas Albertrani |
|
| Race | Track | Date |
|---|
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