Journeyman Stud's Cowtown Cat became the first Florida freshman to sire a winner when his 2-year-old filly Richie'slilcowgirl scored a debut win in the first race at Arlington Park May 11 (VIDEO).
The bay filly flashed good early speed from the gate for jockey Quincy Hamilton and impressively drew off to a front-running five-length victory in the $40,000 maiden special weight heat for debutantes.
Trained by Larry Rivelli, Richie'slilcowgirl was timed in :52.27 for 4 ½ furlongs over the Polytrack, earning a healthy 71 Beyer speed figure for the performance. The debut win earned $24,000 for owner Richard Ravin, who purchased the filly as a yearling at Ocala for $17,000.
Richie'slilcowgirl was bred in Florida by Sharon and Greg Carnivale of Full Circle Farm. The filly is the first foal to race from the winning Favorite Trick mare Tricks After Dark.
Cowtown Cat, by leading sire Distorted Humor , was a $1.5 million sale-topping 2-year-old. An impressive maiden winner as a juvenile, Cowtown Cat captured two Kentucky Derby prep races at 3, the Gotham Stakes (gr. III) and Illinois Derby (gr. II). He retired to Brent and Crystal Fernung's Journeyman Stud as the most accomplished son of Distorted Humor in Florida with earnings of $562,228.
Three from Cowtown Cat's first crop have sold for six figures at the 2-year-olds in training sales. One went for $120,000 and a pair for $105,000, and he holds a strong average of $51,464.
Out of the Storm Cat mare Tom's Cat, Cowtown Cat is standing 2012 in Ocala for a fee of $4,000, stands and nurses. He currently ranks second on the Leading Freshman Sires List for North America.
