Though he only has six points on the road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), the connections of Fear the Kitten said April 29 they are pointing the son of Kitten's Joy to the 1 1/4-mile Classic May 4 at Churchill Downs.
Trainer Mike Maker told Churchill officials owner Frank Irvin is interested in starting grade III-placed Fear the Kitten in the Derby. With the connections of only 19 other horses intending to enter, the runner-up in this year's Southwest Stakes (gr. III) will make the field in the 20th spot. Alan Garcia has the mount.
After placing in grade III events at Oaklawn Park and Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots this year (before the Southwest, he was third in the Lecomte), Fear the Kitten was fifth in the March 29 Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Spiral Stakes (gr. III), and followed that Polytrack effort with a fifth-place finish in the April 13 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland.
Fear the Kitten was bred in Kentucky by Ken and Sarah Ramsey out of the Dynaformer mare Dynarhythm. He debuted in a maiden-claiming race for his breeders Oct. 24 at Keeneland, where he was claimed by trainer Luis Cotto for $40,000 for Irvin. After winning two of three starts as a juvenile, Fear the Kitten was transferred to Maker.
Spots for the Derby began to open up April 29 when Bob Baffert announced he would not point Govenor Charlie or Code West to the race and Todd Pletcher said he would not enter Winning Cause. Titletown Five was also declared out by trainer D. Wayne Lukas, and Paul Aguirre decided not to enter Tiz a Minister.
