Kitten's Joy, Cool Conductor Work Toward Firecracker

Eclipse Award turf champion and a rising turf star turned in works at Churchill Downs in preparation for scheduled runs in the July 4 Firecracker Breeders' Cup (gr. II) at Churchill Downs.

Ken and Sarah Ramsey's turf champion Kitten's Joy continued his preparation for his 2005 debut in the one-mile Firecracker with a five-furlong move on the Matt Winn Turf Course. The 4-year-old son of El Prado breezed around the dogs on "firm" turf and covered the distance in 1:01.60. The move by Kitten's Joy ranked as the fastest of six at the distance.

The Firecracker Breeders' Cup will be the first start for Kitten's Joy since a runner-up finish to Better Talk Now in the John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) at Lone Star Park. The colt underwent surgery after that race for the removal of bone chips from his left knee.

David E. Garner's Cool Conductor, winner of the Dixie Handicap (gr. IIT) at Pimlico, breezed six furlongs on the main track in 1:14.60 for trainer Ralph Nicks. His victory in the Dixie was his first start for Nicks.