Breeders Cup Turf

Sprint (Grade 1)

KEN and Sarah Ramsey’s Bobby’s Kitten, a speed type who never had raced shorter than a mile, went from last to first with a dramatic run to capture the $1 million Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

It was the third Breeders’ Cup win over the weekend for 35-year-old trainer, Chad Brown.

Bobby’s Kitten, a three-year-old homebred colt by Kitten’s Joy, finished third in last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

Bobby’s Kitten, ridden by Joel Rosario, finished the six and a half furlongs on the downhill turf course in 1m 12.73sec. No Nay Never was second, a half-length back, in a blanket finish, followed by Undrafted in third.

Bobby’s Kitten, winner of the $500,000 Penn Mile earlier this year, broke with the pack and quickly dropped back to 11th as the mare Reneesgotzip grabbed control and led the field through the first six furlongs.

By the time the field passed the half-mile mark, Bobby’s Kitten had dropped back to last.

No Nay Never, never far back, collared Reneesgotzip and gradually pulled away, but in the final half furlong, first Undrafted and then Bobby’s Kitten began strong runs that carried them into the photo finish.

Bobby’s Kitten got up to win by a half-length. No Nay Never held second by a nose over Undrafted.

Brown said he was concerned when he saw Bobby’s Kitten so far back, but he credited Rosario with a good ride.

“Joel rode him perfectly,” Brown said. “He knows (the downhill course) so well, and that’s one of the big reasons we put him on this horse. We had this race in mind, and it was a good decision. This makes up a little bit for the disappointment of this horse’s race in the Juvenile Turf last year.”

Dennis Ward, father of Wesley Ward, the trainer of No Nay Never, said the colt ran a “fantastic” race. His second-place finish gave three-year-olds the top two spots.

Bobby’s Kitten pushed his earnings over the $1.7 million mark.

“This is probably the best Kitten’s Joy I’ve ever raised,” a delighted Ken Ramsey said. “We bred him on the farm and raised him, but he has the making of a stallion. All he needs is that Grade 1 behind his name.”