Admiral Kitten scores in Connally Turf Cup
|
Ken and Sarah Ramsey's homebred Admiral Kitten entered Saturday night's Grade 3, $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup at Sam Houston looking to snap a case of seconditis and got the job done when posting a neck victory under jockey Julien Leparoux. Trainer Michael Maker, who won the 2012 Connally with Papaw Bodie, picked up a second trophy when Admiral Kitten finished the 1 1/8-mile contest in 1:49 4/5 over the firm turf. The bay son of Kitten's Joy settled near the rear of the field as Fredericksburg led the way through splits of :25 3/5, :50 3/5, 1:14 4/5 and 1:38 1/5. Leparoux gave Admiral Kitten a patient and well-timed ride, angling his mount out four wide in upper stretch to power home a four-length winner. "He always runs well from behind," Leparoux said. "I knew Joe (Bravo on Vertiformer), Luis (Saez on Fredericksburg) and Rosie (Napravnik on King David) were the ones to watch, so I just followed them around. When I asked him to make his run, he did it nicely."
|
Admiral Kitten was sent off the 4-5 favorite and paid $3.80 for denying
Fredericksburg his first stakes win. The runner-up had a half-length to spare on
Vertiformer in third, while King David finished another 1 1/4 lengths back in
fourth. Michael's Gabriel, Arthur's Court and Cajun Don completed the order
under the wire after Marine Patrol was scratched.
Admiral
Kitten captured the Secretariat at Arlington Park on August 14 and had runner-up
efforts in five graded stakes throughout 2013, including the Jamaica Handicap
and Hollywood Derby in his past two. He's been unplaced just once during his
career, with that coming as a last-of-11 finish in the John Battaglia Memorial
over Turfway Park's Polytrack last March.
With this triumphant opener to his four-year-old campaign, the Kentucky-bred
Admiral Kitten improved his career record to 11-4-6-0, $726,680.
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.
Farther back, this female family yielded 1985 grass champion and prominent
sire Cozzene.
Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
Authors
Categories
FEATURED PRODUCTS
Daily Selections
Full racecard analysis/expert picks for major tracks from America's top handicappers.
Buy Nowe-ponies Picks
E-Ponies computer-based figures have been around since 1997. Using an algorithm written by the business owner and handicapper, Liam Durbin, and powered by BRIS data files, E-Ponies offers a unique, fact-based, dispassionate analysis of every horse in every race, assigning scores for speed, class, form, connections, and more. Forget which jockey owes you money! What does the data say!
Buy NowBruno With the Works
Bruno De Julio & team bring 30+ yrs experience observing racehorses to Brisnet with valuable insight into their morning routines & chances for success in the afternoons.
Buy NowValue Plays AI by Predicteform
Full race card program with easy-to-use win chances and contender classifications for every runner plus analysis of the Best Bet, Live Longshot, and Wagering Suggestions for every race.
Buy NowADVERTISEMENT