Kindergarden Kid made his third start in little more than a month a winning one at Keeneland Oct. 18, kicking on the afterburners some nine strides out from the line to pass Ioya Bigtime and Miami Deco in the $100,000 Sycamore Stakes (gr. IIIT) (VIDEO).
Claimed for $50,000 by Ken and Sarah Ramsey and trainer Mike Maker at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 2, the 5-year-old gelded son of Dynaformer completed 1 1/2 miles on the firm turf in 2:31.80 to get his first graded score by a neck under jockey Julien Leparoux.
Kindergarden Kid had been racing well and ambitiously for his new connections, finishing third in the Sept. 15 Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes (gr. IIIT) and rounding out the trifecta behind Point of Entry and Treasure Beach in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes (gr. IT) at Belmont Park Sept. 29. The Sycamore was his first win of the season; he took a Nov. 19 overnight stakes on the Aqueduct Racetrack turf when trained by Barclay Tagg for Lael Stables.
Unhurried to the half-mile marker, Kindergarden Kid tracked along in sixth behind a pace set by Ioya Bigtime, who opened up a sizable advantage while loping along through a half mile in :49.88. It was five lengths back to Canaveral, racing second without pressing the frontrunner, while Miami Deco rated third.
With the field strung out single file, Ioya Bigtime was still in command by 3 1/2 after a mile in 1:40.48. Kindergarden Kid bided his time along the inside in fifth, and was put under a drive approaching the far turn.
Straightened away for home after 1 1/4 miles in 2:06.53, Kindergarden Kid was bumped by Rahystrada, but found a seam up the rail and, after belatedly switching leads, continued to close ground. As Ioya Bigtime appeared set to hold on over Miami Deco, the Ramsey runner found a sudden surge of momentum and hurtled forward to split the leaders and get up in time.
Ioya Bigtime, ridden by Jeffrey Sanchez, finished a half-length in front of Miami Deco and Elvis Trjuillo for second.
Off at odds of 3-1, Kindergarden Kid returned $8, $3.80, and $2.80. Ioya Bigtime paid $3.80 and $3, while Miami Deco brought $4.80. Rahystrada, Seton Hall, Canaveral, and 10-year-old Musketier , the 5-2 favorite who trailed throughout, completed the order of finish.
Kindergarden Kid, bred in Kentucky by Alexander Groves Matz out of the Dixieland Band mare Amelia, improved his career record to 5-2-6 from 21 starts, with earnings of $338,959.