Filly & Mare Turf Diary

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.