7/3/08 - RAMSEYS CLINCH RECORD 13TH ‘LEADING OWNER’ TITLE –
With the regard to the chase for the leading owner of the 52-day Churchill Downs Spring Meet, just say that the fat lady is in full-throated song.
Ken and Sarah Ramsey, who had combined to win a record 12 owners titles at Churchill Downs, extended that mark to 13 with a pair of victories on Wednesday’s racing program.
Those victories opened a seven-win lead (19-12) over Maggi Moss, who was the leading owner of the 2007 Spring Meet and has only five horses entered races over the current meet’s final four days. The Ramseys’ title-clinching victories on Wednesday were supplied by Duty Roster in sixth race and Self Made Man, who added win No. 19 in the seventh race.
The wins by the Ramsey runners were part of a big day for trainer Mike Maker. He also saddled Rollin Fishback and Charles Logsdon’s Kippersol to victory in the third race to become the third trainer of the meet to enjoy a three-win day. Others who accomplished the triple were Ken McPeek on May 24 and Steve Asmussen on June 19.
The Ramseys won nine consecutive meet titles (Spring 2000-04, Fall 2000-03) en route to their record overall haul of 13.
CANNONBALL 4th Stakes Winner for Catienus in 2008
06-01-2008
Homebred CANNONBALL g. 3, Catienus - No Deadline, by Skywalker won the PEBO’S GUY S.in a scorching 1:08 and change on the turf at Belmont Park. He raised his earnings over a quarter of a million dollars
Precious Kitten Pounces Again in Gamely
05-26-2008
Courtesy of the Blood-Horse
Heavy favorite Precious Kitten got her first win in the Lael Stables silks when she collared pacesetting Diamond Diva at the top of the lane and cruised to a 2 1/4-length victory in the $283,000 Gamely (gr. IT) at Hollywood Park May 26.
Trainer Bobby Frankel won his record eighth Gamely with the 5-year-old mare, which began her career racing for her breeders, Ken and Sarah Ramsey, and was a finalist for the nation's 2007 Eclipse Award as outstanding turf female.
Roy and Gretchen Jackson purchased Precious Kitten for an undisclosed sum prior to the 2008 season. Precious Kitten earned her second grade I victory at Hollywood Park, following her 1 1/4-length score in last fall's Matriarch for Frankel.
Regular jockey Rafael Bejarano guided the millionaire Precious Kitten to her eighth victory in 21 lifetime starts, completing the 1 1/8-mile test for fillies and mares on firm going in 1:45.23, which was one second off the track record.
Just five contested the 2008 Gamely. English import Diamond Diva, looking for her third consecutive win in this country for Three Chimneys Racing, sped off to an early lead after breaking well from her inside post for Mike Smith, completing the opening quarter mile in :22.21. Diamond Diva continued to set a hot pace and led the stalking Precious Kitten by more than four lengths heading down the backstretch after a half-mile in :45.84 and six furlongs of 1:08.94. But the favorite, who settled in off the rail, cut into the advantage entering the final turn. Precious Kitten edged up on the outside of Diamond Diva leaving the turn to get command in upper stretch.
"I only had two choices, go for the lead or put her second." Bejarano said. "I let her break and tried to get her to the lead, but when I saw (Diamond Diva) rush up I let her go and sat second. I was a little surprised that the other horse wanted the lead, but my filly was very relaxed with the trip. It was a perfect trip and very easy for me today."
Diamond Diva stayed on for second by 1 1/2 lengths over Rutherienne, who could not make an impact on the winner this day for jockey Corey Nakatani. "I knew there wasn't much speed so I tried to steal off," Smith said. "That was the game plan. But (Diamond Diva) ran dynamite. She was a little aggressive early and I had a little trouble getting her to relax, but she still ran great." "I was pretty much where I wanted to be early," Nakatani said of Rutherienna.
"I was trying to track Precious Kitten, but turning for home they kicked away from me and I couldn't get to them.” Rutherienne, a winner of nine of 11 previous starts, captured the 1 1/16-mile Jenny Wiley (gr. IIT) at Keeneland April 12, with favored Precious Kitten running fifth in her first start of the year after a 4 1/2-month absence.
Precious Kitten ran extremely wide that day and came up empty in the Wiley. She was ready this time, however, and won without a danger while ridden out by Bejarano. "She ran good in Kentucky; she was a little wide but she needed the race," said Frankel assistant Humberto Ascanio. "I don’t know if he (Frankel) will ship her to New York or keep her here; he’s going to let me know later on.
” Precious Kitten is by Catienus, out of Kitten’s First, by Lear Fan. Catienus, the leading New York sire for 2006 and 2007, is standing at Ramsey Farm in Kentucky in 2008.
Kitten’s First is also the dam of 2004 champion male turf horse Kitten's Joy. The victory was worth $176,400 and boosted the Precious Kitten's lifetime earnings to $1,602,088. Sent off at odds of 6-5, Precious Kitten carried co-top weight of 123 pounds and paid $4.40, $2.60 and $2.10. Diamond Diva, winner of the opening day Wilshire Handicap (gr. IIIT) for trainer James Cassidy, returned $3 and $2.20. The $2 exacta was worth $9.60. Rutherienne, conditioned by Christophe Clement, was $2.10 to show. Lavender Sky nosed Solva for fourth.
PRECIOUS KITTEN SOLD TO ROY AND GRETCHEN JACKSON
January 11, 2008 -Nicholasville, Ky.—Ken and Sarah Ramsey announced that they have sold Precious Kitten, Eclipse Award finalist for Champion Female Turf Horse, to Roy and Gretchen Jackson’s Lael Stable. The details of the sale were not made public. The multiple Grade I winner and millionaire will remain in training with Bobby Frankel in 2008.
“We hope that she brings as much pleasure to the Jacksons as she did to us,” said Ken Ramsey. “Selling her was a tough decision and we’ll miss running her in the big races this year. We hope she wins a 2008 Eclipse Award for the Jacksons and goes on to an equally successful career as a broodmare. We will be following her closely and hope to see them in the winners circle with her often this year.”
In her 19 starts to date, Precious Kitten has finished in the money 16 times. In addition to Matriarch (GI) and John C. Mabee (GI) wins, she won the 2007 editions of the Palomar H. [GII] and Gallorette H. (GIII) and the 2006 Mrs. Revere S. [GII] and Martha Washington Breeders’ Cup S. In the Gallorette, she set a new Pimlico course record of 1:40.32 for 1 1/16 miles. To date she has earned $1,419,688.
Precious Kitten is by Catienus, out of Kitten’s First. Catienus, the leading New York sire for 2006 and 2007, is standing at Ramsey Farm in Kentucky in 2008 for a stud fee of $15,000. Kitten’s First is also the dam of 2004 Champion Male Turf Horse Kitten's Joy, who stands at Ramsey Farm for a $30,000 stud fee.
Roy and Gretchen Jackson’s Lael Stables caught the public’s attention when unbeaten Barbaro won the 2006 edition of the Kentucky Derby. Joining Barbaro in the gate in Louisville that day was stablemate Showing Up, marking the first time that two previously undefeated horses represented the same owner in the Kentucky Derby. The Jackson’s reaction to Barbaro’s severe breakdown in the Preakness—doing everything in their power to try to save the beloved horse—endeared them to racing fans around the world. The Jacksons also bred 2000 Guineas and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner George Washington.
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 over 160 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 winner Dreaming of Anna. 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, Wesley Ward and Tom Voss. The Ramseys were one of the top 10 owners of 2007, with earnings of $3,996,973.
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CONTACT: Damon Thayer
Thayer Communications & Consulting, LLC
(859) 621-6956
12/1/07- CATIENUS FEE TO $15,000
Nicholasville, Ky.—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.
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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.
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CONTACT: Damon Thayer
Thayer Communications & Consulting, LLC
(859) 621-6956
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