Big Blue Kitten pounces in Hall of Fame

Ken and Sarah Ramsey's homebred BIG BLUE KITTEN (Kitten's Joy) rated behind

the pacesetting Rustler Hustler (Ecton Park) in Friday's $150,000

National

Museum of Racing Hall of Fame S. (G2) at Saratoga, slipped through on the

rail rounding the turn and pulled off a 1 1/4-length victory with jockey John

Velazquez in the saddle. The Chad Brown trainee captured his initial stakes try

when running 1 1/16 miles over the firm turf in 1:42 4/5.

"The last start (allowance win at Belmont) really got my attention...Johnny

told me that horse could have won by five," Brown said. "He had his plan since

the last race. He said, 'Just leave me on the horse.' He's been planning this

for five weeks. Johnny won the race on the first turn. He got to the fence."

Rustler Hustler was joined on the lead soon after the start of the race by

Humble and Hungry (Limehouse), and those two appeared ready to battle it out on

the front end. However, Jose Lezcano managed to get Humble and Hungry to settle

just off his rival's flank through splits of :24 2/5, :49 and 1:12 4/5. Big Blue

Kitten, meanwhile, was behind saving ground just off the rail while running in

tandem with Street Game (Street Cry [Ire]).

As the field hit the turn, Velazquez kept Big Blue Kitten tucked down near

the rail and the move paid off as Rustler Hustler came out entering the stretch.

Big Blue Kitten surged through and continued motoring all the way to the wire,

easily holding the late-running Perregaux (Distorted Humor), who overcame Humble

and Hungry as well as Rustler Hustler on the line.

"It was a perfect trip. We definitely wanted to come out running," Velazquez

said. "I tried to save some ground on the first turn and I ended up being on the

rail. We wanted to have somebody in front of us; the horse in front of us stayed

in front longer than I thought he would. I got through on the rail and he made

me look like a hero.

"This horse just seems to get better and better with every race. Every time

they ask him to do something different, he does it. He keeps improving."

Big Blue Kitten was sent off the 9-2 third choice and returned $11, $6

and $4. Perregaux had a half-length up on Humble and Hungry with Rustler

Hustler another neck back in fourth. Crimson China (Giant's Causeway),

Benergy (Tapit) and 2-1 favorite Street Game completed the order of finish.

"There was nothing wrong today," said Ryan Curatolo, who piloted Street Game.

"He just got a little tired. Next time will be better."

Big Blue Kitten dropped his career debut when running third in a maiden

claiming contest over Gulfstream Park's turf on February 21 but hasn't been out

of the winner's circle since. The bay colt posted a 4 1/2-length victory in his

second start, once again in a maiden claimer on Gulfstream's grass, before

trying the Polytrack at Keeneland against $50,000 claiming rivals. The

Kentucky-bred was a front-running, five-length winner that day and returned to

the sod at Belmont Park for his past two races, a pair of 8 1/2-furlong

allowances, which he won by a nose and a half-length.

"We've offered this horse for a claiming price three times and no one claimed

him. No more claimers!" Ken Ramsey unequivocally stated.

The sophomore doubled his career earnings with the Hall of Fame victory, now

boasting $182,310 lifetime, and owns a 6-5-0-1 mark.

Big Blue Kitten is out of the Unaccounted For mare Spent Gold, who has since

produced a juvenile full sister to the Hall of Fame winner named England Swings.

Spent Gold is herself a half-sister to stakes winner Clever Tish (Clever Trick).

Big Blue Kitten's third dam is Mystical Mood (Roberto), who captured the 1981

Schuylerville S. (G3) and placed in that same year's Frizette S. (G1) and Matron

S. (G1). Mystical Mood would go on in the breeding shed to foal Grade/Group 2

hero Fair Judgment (Alleged) as well as the dam of champion Stevie Wonderboy

(Stephen Got Even) and Group 3 heroine Theyskens' Theory (Bernardini).

Others of note in this line include Group 1 winner Istidaad (Chief's Crown),

dual Grade 3 victress Ailalea (Pulpit) and Grade 1-placed multiple stakes vixen

Spritely (Touch Gold).