LONGINES JUST A GAME S. (gr. I ), Belmont Park , June 08, 2013 , $500,000 Guaranteed , value of race $500,000 , 3 yo's & up , 1 mile , 1:36.27 Turf YL .

Owner/breeder Ken Ramsey beamed in the Belmont Park winner’s circle after his homebred Stephanie’s Kitten displayed a ton of heart in holding off the opposition through the lane in the $500,000 Longines Just a Game Stakes (gr. IT) at one mile June 8.

“Since it’s a Kitten’s Joy, I must say that I’m overjoyed to the max,” said Ramsey. “Another grade I win for him. Right now he has more stakes winners (on the year) than any other sire in the U.S.”

Turning for home in the Just a Game, jockey John Velazquez seized an opening at the rail and shot to the lead aboard the 4-year-old filly out of the Catienus mare Unfold the Rose, from the barn of trainer Wayne Catalano.

But directly to the outside of Stephanie’s Kitten, Godolphin Racing’s Better Lucky (by Ghostzapper) came running beneath jockey Joel Rosario with a tremendous rush.

“(Stephanie’s Kitten was) on the rail, so I didn’t know how she’d do. That other horse was outside of us. That’s usually where we are. But she showed a lot of heart,” said Ramsey. “I really think she’s the number one filly in the U.S. on the turf right now.”

Indeed, Stephanie’s Kitten dug in under left-handed encouragement, prevailing by a half-length in a thrilling stretch drive that didn’t deserve a loser. The winner stopped the timer in 1:36.27 over the yielding turf, in a field of six.

The Kentucky-bred runner notched her seventh win from 12 starts, with five of those triumphs coming beneath Velazquez, and raised her earnings to $1,580,404.

Better Lucky, from the barn of trainer Tom Albertrani, finished second and Emory A. Hamilton’s Hungry Island checked in third, 31/2 lengths behind the top pair. The division leader going into the race, G. Watts Humphrey Jr.’s Centre Court, was fourth.

“That’s two for (Centre Court) and two for us (in head-to head meetings). Maybe the rubber match is coming up over at Arlington Park in the Beverly D. (gr. IT, Aug. 17),” said Ramsey.

Kitten’s Joy is the sire of 36 stakes winners and has nine additional 2013 added-money winners. The 2004 turf male champion stands at Ramsey Farm near Nicholasville, Ky., where his 2013 fee is $50,000.—P.V.