Gentleman’s Kitten dominates Guilliams Memorial

Gentleman’s Kitten was sent straight to the front and never looked back in posting an easy triumph Monday in the $50,000 Cliff Guilliams Memorial on closing day of the 2014 meet at Ellis Park in western Kentucky.

With Francisco Torres aboard, Gentleman’s Kitten returned $6.20 as the slight favorite after finishing 1 1/16 miles in 1:47.34 over yielding turf. Voodoo Storm was second, 8 3/4 lengths behind the winner, with That’s Plenty finishing third. Just five older horses started after four others were early scratches.

The stakes victory was the first in 13 overall starts for Gentleman’s Kitten, a 4-year-old colt by Kitten’s Joy. He is owned by his breeders, Ken and Sarah Ramsey, and is based at the Trackside training center in Louisville, Ky., with Mike Maker.

It was the fourth winner of the day for Torres.

The $2 exacta (9-2) paid $27.60, and the $1 trifecta (9-2-6) returned $41.80. There was no superfecta wagering.

The 28-day meet closed with 17-year-old apprentice Juan Saez easily winning his first riding title.

Live action on the Kentucky circuit moves to two fronts later this week, with Churchill Downs starting a 12-day meet Friday night and Kentucky Downs kicking off a five-day meet Saturday afternoon.