Admiral Kitten draws off in Secretariat

Emulating his sire, Kitten's Joy, Admiral Kitten gave owner-breeders Ken and

Sarah Ramsey another win in the Grade 1, $500,000

Secretariat at Arlington, part of Saturday's International Festival of

Racing at the Chicagoland course.

It was the second Grade 1 win on the day for the Ramseys, who, shortly before

the Secretariat, were represented by the older horse Big Blue Kitten in the

Sword Dancer Invitational at Saratoga.

The Ramseys campaigned and stand Kitten's Joy, who captured the Secretariat

in his turf championship season of 2004.

Facing a dozen three-year-old rivals in the 1 1/4-mile grass test, Admiral

Kitten took his customary position near the back of the pack while racing close

to the inside. Up front, longshot Golden Jason led through the opening

half-mile, setting splits of :24 4/5 and :49 4/5, but began his retreat

approaching the far turn as Stormy Len took over after three quarters in 1:14

1/5.

Admiral Kitten had just three rivals beaten with a half-mile to go, but began

to cut into his deficit around the far turn as he improved position between

rivals and then shifted outside at the quarter pole.

Stormy Len was up a length after a mile in 1:38, and then opened up a

three-length lead with a furlong to go. However, Admiral Kitten, who swung four

wide entering the straight, turned in a powerful stretch kick under Rosie

Napravnik, reeled in Stormy Len, and drew off to win by 1 1/4 lengths. Admiral

Kitten paid $12.40 as the 5-1 third choice after completing the course in 2:02

on firm ground.

Stormy Len, at 14-1, finished 1 1/4 lengths ahead of 2-1 favorite Jack

Milton, who was well clear of Draw Two. Completing the order of finish were

Visiyani, Amen Kitten, Balthazar, First Cornerstone, Tattenham, Yeager,

Rydilluc, Golden Jason, and Bethel.

A debut winner over the Keeneland Polytrack last October running for a

$50,000 tag, the Mike Maker-trained Admiral Kitten ran just once more at two,

capturing the $75,000 El Joven over the grass at Retama Park.

Returning to action in March, Admiral Kitten stumbled at the start of the

John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park and wound up trailing the field of 11.

He fared better on his return to grass at Keeneland, finishing a nose second

against second-level allowance company. Unfortunately, it would be the first of

four straight second-place finishes for the Kentucky-bred.

Runner-up to Noble Tune by 1 3/4 lengths in the American Turf at Churchill

Downs, Admiral Kitten fell just short as the favorite in the first two legs of

the Arlington's Mid-America Triple for three-year-old turf performers. One

length behind General Election in the May 25 Arlington Classic, he preceded this

win with a head loss to Infinite Magic in the July 13 American Derby. His record

now stands at 8-3-4-0, $459,080.

Admiral Kitten is the first foal from the winning Grand Slam mare

Reachinforthestars. Also hailing from this family is Grade 2 queen Funistrada,

the ancestress of Grade 2 winners Krisda and Spring Venture, and Grade 3 winners

Rahystrada and Lone Star Sky.

Further back, this female family yielded 1985 grass champion and prominent

sire Cozzene.

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