Big Blue Kitten

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Big Blue Kitten
Sire
Fort Marcy Handicap (2015)
Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (2015)
Awards
American Champion Male Turf Horse (2015)
Last updated on July 16, 2021

Big Blue Kitten (foaled May 1, 2008) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who specialises in turf races. Unraced as a juvenile, he finished third on his debut in 2011 and then went on a five race winning streak, culminating in a victory in the

Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes. Apart from his victories he finished second in the Arlington Million and third in the Breeders' Cup Turf. His performances earned him the title of American Champion Male Turf Horse
for 2015.

Background

Big Blue Kitten is a bay horse bred and owned by

Citation Handicap winner Fair Judgment.[3]

The Ramseys sent their horse into training with

undescended testicle. The "Big Blue" part of his name is a reference to the sports teams of the University of Kentucky, Ken Ramsey's alma mater.[4]

Racing career

2011: three-year-old season

Big Blue Kitten began his racing career by finishing third in a

John Velazquez he tracked the leaders before moving up on the rail, taking the lead in the straight and winning by one and a quarter lengths from Perregaux.[5] Commenting on the horse's successful step up in class, Ramsey said "We’ve offered this horse for a claiming price three times and no one claimed him. No more claimers!" [6]
The colt was then off the course for four months before finishing third in a minor race at Gulfstream in December.

2012: four-year-old season

On his 2012 debut, Big Blue Kitten was moved up to Grade I level for the

Royal Ascot in June. Starting a 50/1 outsider, he briefly took the lead a quarter of a mile out before fading in the final furlong to finish tenth of the eleven runners behind So You Think.[7]
On his only other start of the year he won a minor race at Gulfstream in December.

2013: five-year-old season

In 2013, Big Blue Kitten began his campaign by finishing third to Mucho Mas Macho in the

2.5/1 and the 2011 winner Teaks North on 7.6/1. After being restrained by Bravo in the early stages he made rapid progress on the rail in the straight, took the lead in the closing stages and won by one and a quarter lengths from Teaks North.[8] Chad Brown described Bravo's ride as "one for his highlight reel" and added that "this horse will run as far as you want".[9]

On August 17 Big Blue Kitten was one of twelve horses to contest the Grade I Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes over one and a half miles at Saratoga. His opponents included Boisterous,

Bowling Green Handicap) and Optimizer (Kent Stakes). After racing towards the rear of the field he began to make progress on the inside but failed to obtain a clear run in the straight. Bravo switched him to the outside in the final furlong and Big Blue Kitten produced a strong late run to take the lead and won "readily" by a length from Twilight Eclipse.[10] Brown said that he had been "super confident" before the race while Bravo commented "the happiest I was was turning for home. I'm looking at each rider and they're riding their horses, and I hadn't even asked the Kitten yet".[11]

Big Blue Kitten started odds-on favorite for the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park on September 28 but in a closely contested finish he was beaten a nose into second by Little Mike. On his final appearance of the year he finished eighth behind Magician in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita Park on November 2.

2014: six-year-old season

Big Blue Kitten missed the first half of the 2014 season, making his debut in the Listed Lure Stakes at Saratoga on 12 August. Starting the 1.7/1 favorite he came from well off the pace to take the lead in the last 50 yards and won by three quarters of a length from Bio Pro.[12] Brown was delighted with the performance, saying "What a great horse. I wasn't quite sure if I had him fit enough off the layoff. I told Joe if he won, it'd be terrific, but as long as he finished well we had some big plans for this horse later in the year. Lo' and behold, he got through anyway on heart".[13]

Later that month he finished second at Monmouth and in September he finished fourth to

Red Smith Handicap
in November but was beaten into second place by Dynamic Sky.

2015: seven-year-old season

Big Blue Kitten began his fifth season in the Grade III Fort Marcy Handicap at Belmont on May 2. Ridden as usual by Bravo, he started favorite in an eight-runner field and won by two and a quarter lengths from Howe Great with the

San Luis Rey Handicap winner Ashleyluvssugar. After being restrained by Bravo as usual, he produced a strong late run to take the lead a furlong out and won the race for the second time, beating Slumber by a length and a half.[16] Joe Bravo described the winner as "just like an old glass of wine, he keeps getting better with age".[17]

In August Big Blue Kitten was sent to Chicago to contest the

Bowling Green Handicap winner Red Rifle in a field which also included Slumber and Twilight Eclipse. He was held up as usual before overtaking the pace-setter Shining Copper in the last quarter mile. He opened up a clear advantage and held off the late challenge of Slumber to win by three quarters of a length.[18] The winning time of 2:23.9 was a new turf track record and the fastest mile and a half ever run at Belmont, beating Secretariat's 2:24.0 on dirt in the 1973 Belmont Stakes.[19]

Big Blue Kitten ended his season in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland on October 31. He proved the best of the North American horses as he finished a close third to the European challengers Found and Golden Horn.

In the

Eclipse Awards for 2015, Big Blue Kitten was named American Champion Male Turf Horse, taking 134 of the 261 votes to win from Golden Horn and The Pizza Man.[4]

2016: eight-year-old season

Big Blue Kitten went winless in three starts as an eight year old. He began his sixth year of racing in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, finishing fifth behind Tourist (who would go on to win the Breeders' Cup Turf Mile), Slumber, World Approval, and winner Divisidero. He then ran in the Manhattan Stakes, finishing sixth. After running last in the Northern Dancer Turf Stakes, the decision was made to retire him. Big Blue Kitten retired to Calumet Farm. His 2017 fee was set at $15,000.[citation needed]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Big Blue Kitten (USA), bay horse, 2008[1]
Sire
Kitten's Joy (USA)
2001 		El Prado (IRE)
1989 		Sadler's Wells Northern Dancer
Fairy Bridge
Lady Capulet Sir Ivor
Cap and Bells
Kitten's First (USA)
1991 		Lear Fan Roberto
Wac
That's My Hon L'Enjoleur
One Lane
Dam
Spent Gold (USA)
1997 		Unaccounted For (USA)
1991 		Private Account Damascus
Numbered Account
Mrs Jenney The Minstrel
Mrs Penny
Spend A Dream (USA)
1987
Spend A Buck
 Buckaroo
Belle de Jour
Mystical Mood Roberto
Mystery Mood (Family: A1)[3]
  • Big Blue Kitten is inbred 4 × 4 to Roberto, meaning that this stallion appears twice in the fourth generation of his pedigree.

References

  1. ^ a b "Big Blue Kitten pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
  2. ^ "Spent Gold - Statistics". equibase.
  3. ^ a b "Janus Mare Number 1 - Family A1". Thoroughbred Bloodlines.
  4. ^ a b Tracy Gantz (16 January 2016). "Big Blue Kitten Stands Tallest as Turf Male". The Blood-Horse.
  5. ^ "National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes result". Racing Post. 12 August 2011.
  6. ^ Jason Shandler (12 August 2011). "Big Blue Kitten Skims Rail, Scores HOF Stakes". The Blood-Horse.
  7. ^ "Prince of Wales's Stakes result". Racing Post. 20 June 2012.
  8. ^ "United Nations Stakes result 2013". Racing Post. 6 July 2013.
  9. ^ Claire Novak (6 July 2013). "Big Blue Kitten Pounces to United Nations Win". The Blood-Horse.
  10. ^ "Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes result". Racing Post. 17 August 2013.
  11. ^ Jack Shinar (17 August 2013). "Big Blue Kitten Makes Point in Sword Dancer". The Blood-Horse.
  12. ^ "Lure Stakes result". Racing Post. 2 August 2014.
  13. ^ Myra Lewyn (2 August 2014). "Big Blue Kitten From Last to First in Lure". The Blood-Horse.
  14. ^ "Fort Marcy Handicap result". Racing Post. 2 May 2015.
  15. ^ Jeremy Balan (2 May 2015). "Big Blue Kitten Finds a Way in Fort Marcy". The Blood-Horse.
  16. ^ "United Nations Stakes result 2015". Racing Post. 5 July 2015.
  17. ^ Jeremy Balan (5 July 2015). "Big Blue Kitten Takes United Nations". The Blood-Horse.
  18. ^ "Joe Hirsch Turf Classic result". Racing Post. 26 September 2015.
  19. ^ Ron Mitchell (26 September 2015). "Big Blue Kitten Takes Hirsch in Record Time". The Blood-Horse.
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