Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey's Catienus, leading sire in New York for 2006 and 2007, has returned to Kentucky and found strong demand from breeders. Due to recent successes by his offspring, his 2008 stud fee has been raised to $15,000, live foal, still among the lowest on the Top 40 General Sire List. Catienus is ranked 19th on the general sire list, ahead of Storm Cat, Elusive Quality, Malibu Moon, and Yes It's True.

Catienus (Storm Cat-Diamond City, by Mr. Prospector) is the sire of Precious Kitten (out of Kitten's First, by Lear Fan), winner of the 2007 editions of the Matriarch (GI) at Hollywood Park, the John C. Mabee Handicap (GI) and the Palomar Handicap (GII) at Del Mar, as well as the Gallorette Handicap (GIII) at Pimlico, for total earnings of $1,419,688. Precious Kitten is a half sibling to champion turf horse Kitten's Joy, who also stands at Ramsey Farm for a fee of $30,000, live foal. In the Gallorette, she set a new course record of 1:40.32 for 8 ½ furlongs on the turf, and in the Matriarch set a new stakes record of 1:33.63 for one mile on the turf, defeating champion Wait A While in the process.

Catienus is also the sire of Talent Search, who finished third in the TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (GI) and most recently placed second in the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (GI) at Laurel Park Nov. 24. Talent Search (out of Mrs. K, by Dixieland Band) was second in the Vosburgh Handicap (GI) at Belmont Park and also placed second in the Emirates Airline Maryland Sprint Handicap (GIII) at Pimlico Race Course. Catienus is also the sire of Cannonball, third in the inaugural Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

"With Precious Kitten, Cannonball and Talent Search's recent successes, the demand by Kentucky breeders has convinced us that it is time to increase Catienus' stud fee," says Ken Ramsey. "It's a nice problem to have."

"We will breed over 150 of our own mares to Catienus and Kitten's Joy," Ramsey added.

Overall, Catienus has sired 17 individual stakes winners and 27 stakes horses, with eight stakes winners and almost $5.4 million in 2007 earnings.

Catienus won five races out of 22 starts. In 1999, he won the Charles Staats Memorial Stakes at Delaware Park, finished second in the Suburban Handicap (GII) at Belmont Park and the Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap (GII) and third in the Whitney Handicap (GIII) at Saratoga. The following year, he finished second in the Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap (GII) at Saratoga.

In 1994, Ken and Sarah Ramsey purchased the former Almahurst Farm, birthplace of 1918 Kentucky Derby winner Exterminator and Standardbred legend Greyhound, and renamed it Ramsey Farm. Managed by Mark Partridge, Ramsey Farm now covers more than 1,200 acres in Nicholasville, Ky., and is home to 171 broodmares and stallions Kitten's Joy and Catienus. Kitten's First, dam of Kitten's Joy and Precious Kitten, also is the dam of stakes winner Justenuffheart, dam of champion and 2006 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies(G1) winner Dreaming of Anna, and Grade 2 stakes winner Lewis Michael. Kitten's First foundered and was euthanized in January 2006. The Ramseys have 65 horses in training with Bobby Frankel, Chad Brown, Mike Maker, Mark Shuman, Ronny Werner, Charlton Baker, Richard Schosberg, Wesley Ward and Tom Voss.