Kentucky notes: Admiral Kitten getting ready for Jamaica

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Admiral Kitten had his first breeze Saturday since his breakthrough victory in the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes and will make his next start in the Grade 1, $500,000 Jamaica on Oct. 5 at Belmont Park, trainer Mike Maker said.

Admiral Kitten went five furlongs in 1:02.60 at the Trackside training center in his first work since he rallied from well back to win the Aug. 17 Secretariat at Arlington Park. The colt contributed to a spectacular afternoon enjoyed by his owners and breeders, Ken and Sarah Ramsey, who also won the Arlington Million and Sword Dancer that day.

Admiral Kitten had finished second in four straight races and still was eligible for a second-level allowance condition when he rolled home by 1 1/4 lengths in the Secretariat.

“He’s done really well since then,” Maker said. “We’ll try to keep him happy until we send him up to New York for the Jamaica.”

Meanwhile, Maker said Dark Cove is back in training at Trackside in Louisville after being scratched from the American St. Leger on the Aug. 17 Arlington Million undercard. The 6-year-old horse incurred a tendon injury that Maker said was not as serious as originally feared.

“I think we’ve dodged a bullet there,” he said. “We gave him a little time and let him recover, and so far, so good. We’ll figure out a little later where he’ll run next.”

Dark Cove, claimed by the Ramseys for $50,000 in April 2012, has won three straight 1 1/2-mile turf stakes: the Grade 2 Elkhorn, the Grade 3 Louisville, and the Grade 3 Stars and Stripes.

As for several other standouts in the Maker barn:

◗ Kitten’s Dumplings will make her next start in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup on Oct. 12 at Keeneland. The 3-year-old Ramsey homebred, a three-time stakes winner this year, was fourth as the favorite in her last start, the Aug. 17 Del Mar Oaks.

◗ King David, the winner of the Jamaica last fall at 28-1, is very close to a race after being on a regular work pattern at Trackside since late July. The 4-year-old colt was claimed a year ago this week for $35,000 by the Scarlet Stable and has not raced since late January.

◗ Papaw Bodie, last seen finishing second by a nose to Desert Blanc in the Grade 1 Manhattan on the 2012 Belmont Stakes undercard, returned to training about two weeks ago at Trackside after recovering from surgery for a condylar fracture. The 6-year-old gelding was a $50,000 claim by Connie Apostelos in October 2011.

Little Mike works for Shadwell

Little Mike had his first work since fading to sixth in the Arlington Million when he breezed a half-mile in 47.60 seconds over the Churchill Downs dirt Saturday.

Owner Carlo Vaccarezza said Little Mike will shorten back to a mile when he makes his next start in the Grade 1, $750,000 Shadwell Turf Mile on Oct. 5 at Keeneland. The 6-year-old gelding won three Grade 1 turf races last year, capped by the Breeders’ Cup Turf, but is winless in four starts this year.

◗ Tommy “Cosmo” Cosdon, a former trainer and local entertainer who had innumerable friends on the Kentucky racing circuit, died at age 69 early Friday in Louisville following a long illness. A memorial gathering is scheduled for Oct. 6 at Jim Porter’s in Louisville.