Precious Kitten

Precious Kitten

2003, Catienus - Kitten's First, by Lear Fan

Breeder: Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey (Ky.)

Owner: Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey

Trainer: Bobby Frankel

Regular Rider: Rafael Bejarano

Pedigree

Precious Kitten
Catienus
Kitten's First
Storm Cat
Diamond City
Lear Fan
That's My Hon
Storm Bird
Terlingua
Mr. Prospector
Honey's Flag
Roberto
Wac
L'Enjoleur
One Lane

Purchase Info

Precious Kitten raced for her breeders, Ken and Sarah Ramsey, for her first 19 starts prior to being sold privately to Roy and Gretchen Jackson's Lael Stables in January of this year.

Pedigree Highlights

Click on the highlighted stallion name near the top of the page to go to the Thoroughbred Times Stallion Directory page for Catienus.

Dam Kitten's First was a winner and has produced three stakes winners from only five foals to race.

In addition to Precious Kitten she is also the dam of Kitten's Joy, 2004 champion turf male, and multiple stakes winner Justenuffheart.

The latter is the dam of 2006 champion two-year-old filly Dreaming of Anna and Grade 2 winner Lewis Michael, both by Rahy.

This is also the family of Spectacular Bid.

Race Record

AgeStarts1st2nd3rdEarnings 
310341$329,688
49440$1,090,000
52100$182,400

At 3: 1– Mrs. Revere S. (G2), Martha Washington Breeders' Cup S., 2– Valley View S. (G3), Heavenly Cause H., 3– Regret S. (G3)

At 4: 1– John C. Mabee H. (G1), Matriarch S. (G1), Palomar H. (G2), Gallorette H. (G3), 2– CashCall Mile Invitational S. (G2), Jenny Wiley S. (G2), First Lady S. (G2), Honey Fox H. (G3)

At 5: 1– Gamely S. (G1)

Last Start

Second in First Lady S. (G2) on Oct. 6 at Keeneland

Contender Status

Precious Kitten has been on a roll this year, never worse than second in seven starts, all of which were graded stakes races.

Her only losses came at the hands of other current Breeders' Cup contenders Lady of Venice (Fr), My Typhoon (Ire), Wait a While, and Vacare.

The four-year-old filly, who set a course record at Pimlico Race Course in the May 15 Gallorette Handicap (G3), covering 1 1/16-miles in 1:40.32, is another turf specialist out of the barn of trainer Bobby Frankel.

Frankel threw everyone a curve when he entered both Precious Kitten, with Isaias Enriquez listed to ride, and Price Tag (GB), with Julien Leparoux, in the Palomar Breeders' Cup Handicap (G2) on September 1 at Del Mar.

Frankel had given every indication that only one would run, and it was generally assumed that Price Tag, because of the assignment of Leparoux, would be that runner.

Instead, Frankel scratched Price Tag and named Leparoux to ride Precious Kitten.

"Bobby [Frankel] called me and asked me how the two fillies were doing and I said they were doing good," assistant trainer Humberto Ascanio said. "Then he decided which one should run. I guess he thought it was best to run Precious Kitten."

Frankel's instincts proved correct as Precious Kitten led wire-to-wire to win the 1 1/16-mile turf race by three-quarters of a length.

"Mr. Frankel told me to just let her break and then see where you are," Leparoux said. "She broke very sharply; like she was in a six-furlong race. But she was relaxed out there and I just let her go along. I had some pressure, but I never felt like I was not in control. I trusted her all the way. You can do that with a horse like her."

Frankel decided on a final Breeders' Cup prep for Precious Kitten in the First Lady Stakes (G2) on October 6 at Keeneland Race Course where she was beaten only a half-length by Vacare.

"She felt really good," jockey Rafael Bejarano said after the First Lady. "Coming to the three-eighths pole, she really wanted to run and I was trying not to hold her too much. The other horse [Vacare] was just coming too strong."

Precious Kitten is a half sister to 2004 turf male champion Kitten's Joy.

Recent Works

October 21 - Four furlongs breezing in :48.60 at Keeneland Race Course, all-weather track fast. 16th best of 34 workouts at the distance.

Quotable

Jockey Rafael Bejarano, after winning the John C. Mabee Handicap (G1) aboard Precious Kitten:

"When you ride one for Bobby Frankel, they come 100% ready to run."