FILLY & MARE TURF DIARY
SEPTEMBER 29, 2005
by Jennifer Caldwell
Although this week’s Diary is supposed to focus on the distaff division, the
news that KITTEN’S JOY (El Prado [Ire]) has been retired requires me to deviate
slightly this week.
Named last year’s champion turf horse, the chestnut four-year-old wrapped up
his sophomore campaign with a second in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) to Better
Talk Now (Talkin Man). He immediately went on the shelf after undergoing surgery
to remove bone chips in his knee and wasn’t seen in competition again until
Independence Day when he captured the Firecracker Breeders’ Cup H.
(G2) at Churchill Downs. The only other start Kitten’s Joy has made this year
came as a second in the Arlington Million (G1) on August 13. He’d been gearing
up to defend his title in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (G1), but
after an examination revealed a cartilage tear in his knee, he’ll now head to
owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Farm near Nicholasville, Kentucky.
Kitten’s Joy retires with a 14-9-4-0 career mark and $2,075,791 in
accumulated earnings.
Now, back to the girls, although not much has happened in the past two weeks
for either gender. With four major turf events set to take place this weekend —
two for the girls (Flower Bowl Invitational [G1] and Yellow Ribbon S. [G1]) and
two for the boys (Joe Hirsch and Clement Hirsch Championship [G1]) — most have been
just biding their time, either pointing for this big weekend or training up to
the Breeders’ Cup.
On September 17, SINGHALESE (GB) (Singspiel [Ire]) took on a full field in
the Pucker Up S. (G3) at Arlington Park and fell short by just a half-length.
The James Cassidy-trained sophomore held the lead for a brief time in the
stretch, but couldn’t hold off the game rally of Royal Copenhagen (Fr) (Inchinor
[GB]) at the wire. She still earned a nice 100 BRIS Speed rating and was coming
off a nice win in the Del Mar Oaks (G1), so she’ll be tough in whatever event
she shows up in next.
Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) queen, OUIJA BOARD (GB)
(Cape Cross [Ire]) returned to the winner’s circle in only her second start this
season last Saturday. The bay miss finished an uncharacteristic seventh in the
June 15 Prince of Wales’s S. (G1) in her four-year-old bow and was given some
time off. She returned on Saturday to post an easy 2 1/2-length win in the
Princess Royal S. (G3) at Newmarket after racing near the back of that 1 1/2-mile test in the opening stages.
Trainer Ed Dunlop said his charge will most likely train up to a title
defense in the Breeders’ Cup on October 29.