Calder: Amen Kitten gets class relief in Tropical Park Derby

MIAMI – Kitten’s Joy won the 2003 renewal of Calder’s Tropical Park Derby. On Saturday, one of his sons, Amen Kitten, will try to follow in his footsteps when returning to southern Florida as the likely favorite in the 3-year-old turf fixture that for much of its 38-year history was one of the most prestigious races on the Calder stakes schedule.

The $70,000 Tropical Park Derby drew a full field of 12 and will be decided at 1 1/8 miles as the sixth race on a nine-race card that features three other stakes, including its filly counterpart, the $70,000 Frances A. Genter.

Amen Kitten registered his lone victory in 14 career starts when rallying to win a $75,000 maiden-claiming race over the Gulfstream Park turf course Jan. 11. Although winless in seven subsequent tries, Amen Kitten is stakes-placed and was able to finish in midpack in the Grade 1 Secretariat this summer at Arlington Park. In his most recent start, Amen Kitten finished fifth, beaten four lengths, going 1 1/2 miles in the Grade 3 Kentucky Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs.

The local contingent will be led by Midnight Cello and Offlee Fast, second and third behind the undefeated Dysprosium in the Needles Stakes here Sept. 14.

Grand Tito, a stakes winner this summer at Gulfstream Park, returns home off a last-place finish in Delaware Park’s Grade 3 Kent.

The Frances A. Genter also lured a full and very competitive lineup of a dozen 3-year-old fillies topped by Dreaming of Sophia, who made her turf debut a winning one when rallying to a one-length victory in the Judy’s Red Shoes Stakes here Sept. 14. She will face a group that includes the second- and third-place finishers from that race, Nicki Starshine and Dreamlicious.

The stretch-running Nicki Starshine had her two-race stakes winning streak snapped when falling a length short of catching Dreaming of Sophia in the Judy’s Red Shoes but should benefit from all the speed in this lineup. Dreamlicious is one of three fillies whom trainer Bill Kaplan will start in the Genter, along with Putitinmypocket and Putyourdreamsaway.

“All three of my horses are stakes winners,” Kaplan said. “Dreamlicious did not run well in her last start at Gulfstream, but I’m throwing that race out because she was strangled early contesting the slow pace, and that’s just not her style. Saturday will be the first time on grass for Putyourdreamsaway, and she could be dangerous if the turf moves her up. Putitinmypocket is an in-or-outer who can throw a great race at any time.”

E B Ryder is the only three-time turf winner in the field and could be a sleeper for trainer Marty Wolfson.