Belmont Park: Stephanie’s Kitten has summer options

The connections of Stephanie’s Kitten will meet in the coming days to discuss their summer options for the horse, who added a win in Saturday’s Grade 1 Just a Game to her résumé.

Stephanie’s Kitten, who improved her record to 7 for 12, flew back to Kentucky on Sunday and will spend a few sessions in the hyperbaric chamber at the Kentucky Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic in Lexington, said her trainer, Wayne Catalano, who flew back to Chicago on Saturday night.

Among the options for Stephanie’s Kitten are the Grade 3, $200,000 Modesty Handicap at Arlington on July 13, which would be used as a prep for the Grade 1 Beverly D., also at Arlington, on Aug. 17. Both races are run at 1 3/16 miles, farther than Stephanie’s Kitten has run. Stephanie’s Kitten is owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey.

The other option would be the Grade 1, $600,000 Diana going 1 1/8 miles at Saratoga on July 27. Stephanie’s Kitten won the Grade 2 Lake Placid at 1 1/8 miles at Saratoga last summer.

Stephanie’s Kitten prevailed in the one-mile Just a Game after a prolonged stretch battle with the Grade 1 winner Better Lucky.

“She was getting ready to run away from that horse at the end of the race,” said Catalano, noting that that may be a sign that she can handle a greater distance.

Stephanie’s Kitten, a 4-year-old daughter of Kitten’s Joy, earned a career-best 101 Beyer for her Just a Game performance.